Evening star., 1962-02-27

itchy feet, and would be easier
to talk to.
Hell be the highest paid
ball player in Washington's
history, and by a considerable
Margin" Doherty said.
Piersall's 1922 average with
the Indians last year was a
talking point, but Jimmy's
worth to a new team in a new
stadium cannot be measured
in statistics. He won a $45,0O0
contract because he is the
Senators most colorful ball
player in many years. He is an
exciting, unpredictable per-
former whose fancy catches are
legend, who plays up to the
fans, bats the umpires, feuds
with baseball writer's, and can
turn dull ball games into one
man shows.
Maris Grabs Headlines
Piersall probably would have
been annoyed at his timing if
ne had known that Roger Maris
had signed a $4,000 contract
with the Yankees just an hour
or SO sooner.
Piersall has claimed all win
ter that he is a bigger draw
ing card than Maris, but on
the day that Jimmy might have
grabbed the baseball spotlight
for being Washington's high
est paid player in history, Maris
commanded the headlines.
The Griffith family never
had a $9O,000-plus payroll for
its outfield. But with Piersall
making $4,000, Gene Woodling
$36, 900, and either Willie Tas-
by, Chuck Hinton or Jim King
commanding more than $1O,-
600, it will have one this year.
That cannot compare with
the Yankees triumvirate of
Mickey Mantle, $S2, 900; Maris,
$4,000, and Yogi Berra, $48,-
600, but the present Washing
ton administration is only two
years old.
PierSall started weakening
yesterday morning when Do
herty spoke fondly of the
beautiful weather here. Jimmy
asked if he would room alone,
and when assured that he
would, he followed with a cou-
pie OF routine questions and
said he would call Doherty
later. Ed and Manager Mickey
Vernon were in Doherty's cot
tage at nearby Lighthouse
Point when Piersall called, won
the small raise. and gave in.
President Pete Quesada of
the Senators must have estab-
llshed a precedent when he sent
P1ersall the following wire:
"Jim. I am more than de-
lighted that we have demon
strated a mutual faith. We
are counting on you to give
us a big and helping hand,
and you can count on us. It
is my fondest wish that our
association be long and pleas
ant. I am sure the WASH
1ngton fans will share our
enthusiasm"
NOTES-Doherty threatened
to shift the Senator's training
camp yesterday. He thought
he felt a raindrop because there
was a cloud in the sky, but it
was only the spray from a near
by sprinkler.
Pitcher Tom McAvoy was ax-
cused from practice because of
a 1O1 temperature, a touch of
the flu. ;. Pompano Beach
has an advance sale of $1,000
for the Senator's exhibition
games this year, compared to
$1,000 at this time last year.
The March 81 game with the
Yankees in Fort Lauderdale
has been moved from day to
night. It's the same day as
the Florida Derby at Gulf
stream. Harry Durkin, an
infielder who was the most
valuable player in the Eastern
League three years ago, is
working out with the Senators.
He quit baseball for a law
course and the bar exam, but
is asking a tryout. Vernon will
look at him for a couple of
days.
Bennie Daniels reached into
the soft drink box during prac-
tice yesterday and his left hand
touched the jagged edge a soft
drink bottle that apparently
had exploded. Fortunately it
Bennie's right hand, and
Il Il