Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-07
WIN LOSE OR DRAW
This Is Tom McKenno Speokino
By FRANCIS STANN

POMPANO BEACH, FLA, FEB Tom
McKenna isn't professional optimist. He's
been around for while, training hockey,
baseball and football teams. Toms hair
line is in full retreat and he's long since
hung up his hockey skates. In short
McKenna is a practical man.
But when the sun shines warmly and
the waves at night wash the beach with an
unfailing rhythm, it isn't hard to turn
optimistic, and that's what the trainer for
the Senators was doing at his beach cottage.
He has a bunch the Washington clubs
search for catcher is over,
II have bunch the Washington clubs
search for a catcher is over" were indeed,
his very words bob Schmidt can . or
could do it ALL He can catch, throw,
run little bit and hit the long ball.
It's just possible that McKenna,
although not manager or an ivory tower
BRAIN is as well qualified to speak of the
Senator's new catcher with more authority
than anybody else, at least in this area.
Schmidt and McKenna put in the season
of 1857 together at Minneapolis, when that
chilly metropolis was member of the
American Association.
WHAT'S THE FIRST LESSON that
managers preach?" Thomas asked isn't
the line always strong up the middle?'
Well, we've got Cottier at second base, and
nobody's flasher. We may have Bob Johns
&. son to play shortstop, but to stay down to
earth let's not count on him, definitely.
But we've got Jim Piersall in center
field, and there's none better at stealing
base hits. And-we've got Schmidt"
1t seemed as if McKenna was liberal in
mentioning Schmidt in the same defensive
breath with Cottier and Piersall After all.
Schmidt sat out the 1861 season with his
bum wheel. And if the Cincinnati Reds
could see no great future value in the guy,
what makes him so good for the Senators?
The Reds, as you must know, were
hurting for catcher all last year but,
almost miraculously, won the pennant in
spite of it. They traded Schmidt to Wash
ington not long ago for Outfielder Marty
Keough and Pitcher Johnny KlippStein.
Give got to stand up for this guy"
McKenna said. "He was with me in ST
(this is borrowing freely from the personal
pronoun as copyrighted by fight managers)
I'm training the Minneapolis club, which
was the big farm for the Giants, and
Schmidt is there, stopping on the way up
to the big leagues"
SCHMIDT WAS THE American Associ-
atoms all-star catcher that year. Then he
graduated to the Giants and became their
regular backstop in SO. He hit IA homers
and averaged pa when he was Is.
II try never to knock ballplayers," Nc
Kenna said. II don't mean to rap Gene
Green when I say there is no comparison
between Gene and Schmidt when it comes
to handling mitt.
Green was part of the price-Dick
Donovan being the bigger end-that was
paid to Cleveland in exchange for Piersall
Big Gene was the Senator's top home run
hitter 18) but, while he won some games,
he lost more. Defensively, Gene was a
liability
He was one of three-Dale Long and
Willie Tasby being the others-who were
cited by President Pete Quesada for "loaf-
ing" This came with about two-thirds of
the season gone. Green perhaps took it
hardest
Gee whiz!" he uttered. What do they
expect me to be in one season. Pete
Daley?"