Evening star., 1961-03-10
WIN, LOSE OR
6NAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Don Larsen From Up Close
By FRANCIS STANN

WEST PALM BEACH Mar 1O-A folding chair 30
feet from home plate and close by the third base line
dubious vantage point for neutral to sit during live
baseball match Especially when the Kansas City Athletic
pitchers were far ahead Of the hitte and since of
every six hitters seemed to be lefthanded
But that's where Joe Gordon was stationed and both
duty and Gordon had beckoned The Amberjacks were
playing the Barracudas in squad fracas 1t
less game in the second inning and Manager Gordon
vtaly interested in closeup of big righthand pitcher
That" Gordon mumbled as pitch buzzed, was
darn good slider"
Who's the pitcher" his visitor asked.
Don Larsen" Joe said. Don't you recognize him?"
Not from here" the other replied. From the gray
heights of Yankee Stadium yes Now know how Larsen
must have looked to the Dodgers in the sc World Series
HE looks real good" Joe said. Yeah, I'm thinking
Don might be third starting pitcher Bud Daley and
Ray Herbert already Nos. and 2.
LARSEN WAS 1-1O with the AS last season-so bad
that early in July he shipped to Dallas to do penance
Any time the doorous AS send guy back doing
well at all Don the only pitcher in history to pitch
feet World Series game was pathetic Now Gordon was
talking Of big comeback for Larsen.
There's nothing wrong with his arm" Joe said. II
think it must have been lack condition much any
thing Or he have lost confidence IN his fast ball
out pitch. I wasn't here"
Larsen stands 6-foot-4 and weighs about 22O. From
this closeup sitting in chair he appeared IA feet high
And mean too He to the AS in December of 1859,
along with felow-Yankees Hank Bauer, Norm sebern
and Marv Throneberry, for Roger Maris.
Larsen coming out to pitch his last inning and
Gordon beckoned to Jo-Jo White, Of his coaches
who was managing" the Amberacks.
Tell Don nothing but fast balls this inning" Joe in
struced Tell him it's the last inning of real game and
he's got a one-run lead"
To his visitor Joe said II want to study his fast ball.
If he's still got it."
IF this were real game is that what you'd doP
Throw only fast ballS?" he asked
IF the pitcher has a fast ball, yes" Gordon said.
"T4AT PEN6TNDS Mt" q ney interlonar from, Neu,
York sad of the time Bill zuber just Joined the Yankees
during McCarhys regime You know that story
Let's hear it," the manager invited
"Zuber in the bulpen and the Yankees were in
trouble They having lots of trouble at the time,
and Mccarthy and laying his everything,
including his suspicion that most clubs knew the Yankee
sign. AS I said, zuber had just joined the team"
"Rolle Hemsley catching for the Yankees.
Mccarthy called him and sad I'm bringing in Zuber
and you he throws nothing but fast balls hear?"
Rollie said Tn give him bunch of signs but tell him
to ignore them"
IGNORE them% Mccarthy screamed. Don't tell me
Zuber knows our signs, tool"
LARSEN RETIRED THE first hitter. As Haywood
Sullivan stepped up Gordon went "Ssssst Everyhings
fast ball, SuLy." The batter nodded.
Isn't that underhanded trick telling Larsen what
he must throw and warning Suivan?" Joe asked.
Gordon grinned II want to Dons fast ball If he
get em out when they know it's coming, he's fast
Larsen retired Sullivan, but then came error and
stolen base. young man named Frank Cipriani was
coming up
In real game Larsen still throws nothing but fast
balls2" Gordon was asked
Depends" Joe said Nov if that Mickey Mantle
at bat -" .
cipriani flied out ending the inning and the mag
inative game.
"You won it, Joel You did It'll" his guest shouted in
mock congratulations
I'VE did it," Gordon said, going along with the fun.
Nov we've got only 161 to CO." .....