Evening star., 1962-08-23

Maybe the Reds
Are for Real
By MORRIS SIEGEL

PRESIDENT KENNEDY conceded yesterday that the
Reds leading the outer space league understandable
for concern but what worries the Dodgers consider
ably the internal threat the Reds pose in their
league
In the last games the hopped-up defending
champions have taken dead aim the league-leading
Dodgers and reduced what sevengame spread from
first to third place to four spaces The fact that
the Reds making progress bugs the Dodgers in ITSELF
but the Manager Fred Hutchinson gang is knocking
off the opposition is, should be- enough to make em
really fry.
Take yesterdays 9-5 job the Cubs example.
Hank Foes slugged three-run homer pinch-hitter
to tie 1t and Eddie Kasko poIeaxed grandslam homer
in the 10th to unzip it. 1t merely continuation Of
the modus operandi the Reds first employed to bump off
the Dodgers Monday evening Gene Freese in action for
the first time since fracturng his ankle in spring training
raped nnthnning single to tie the Dodgers and Frank
Robinson orbited grandslam shot in the 10th to unite it.
THIS is FRANK MERRIWELL stuff. 1t also is the
kind of stuff which will do than routine win to
convince the Reds they grab the whole pot again.
They don't figure to keep getting the Hoywoodnish
victories they've sprung this week. but the impetus and
momentum accompanying this storybook type formal is
undeniable.
Aside from the commercial phase of winning pen
nan the Reds have very special for wanting
repeat this year. Last years pennant their first in 81
years, is still regarded fuke, especially since the
Yanks polished them off in five games in the World
Series hurt the Reds especially Manager Hutchinson
when their victory regarded accidental thing.
Some writer's thought the Reds should have apollo
gzed the Dodgers and other conenders among the also
rams.
1t got bad during the World Series that Hutchinson
the most regular guy you'd want know blew his
stack when it suggested after Yankee victory his
team perhaps wasn't the best in the National League
Listen Hutch growed he rules say the team that wins
fhA univ thu
That's what did beat the Dodgers the Giants the
Braves and everybody had to beat. We played 154
games, everybody else The Dodgers don't have
lock on the pennant, maybe some Of you chowder
heads don't want to think So"
9
IN THE 81 PRESEASON speculation not one of the
2S2 voting members of the Baseball Writers gave the Reds
tumble for the jackpot possible knowing how some
Of the dmwited writing brethren regard their ability to
expert that this dictated their lucky stiff attitude to-
ward the Cincinnati victory Some Of us simply can't
be wrong, even when we are.
The stigma made an impression on the Reds them
selves On their World Series press Identification buttons
gaudy red and white oval lapel job they had message
Instead OF engraving Just the team other series
participants do Cincinnati struck back at its critics THE
Reds Are for Real" the inscription told skeptics.
The Dodgers and the Giants are not alone in roofing
against an encore for the Reds The Yankees 1t is
pected would not be offended if the Cincinnati drive was
aborted They'd much prefer the financial benefits be
derived from the of the $4,000 capacity Of Chavez
Ravine or Candlestick Park to the $4,000 limitations Of
creaky Crosley Field where the Reds bivouac.
OF the 81 games they have left the Reds have nine
against Los Angeles and rnnerup San Francisco four with
the Dodgers and five against the Giants They split the
first "A games against Los Angeles and trail the Giants
nine four in the skirmshing thus far. Last year.
their historic breakthrough, the Reds showed 26-game
improvement their 1850 season.
They would gladly settle for a smaller margin this
season. Just enough to get them in first place for keeps