Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-08
Schmidt's Bid for Job Rests on Homers
Bob Fighting
Curve Boil
And Retzer
BY MERRELL WHITTLESEY
Star Staff Writer

AUU N0CZ6I
BY MERRELL WHITTLESEY
Star Staff Writer
PoMPANo BEACH, Fla, Mar.
8. = Bob Schmidt will hit 20
home runs this year, according
to Bob Schmidt, but the big
Senator catcher has a provi-
sion in his prediction. He must
bat at least 400 times.
Smitty hit 10 homers in 256
at-bats last year, second to
Don Lock in percentage of hom-
ers on the ball club. His ma
jor-league high was IA, with
the Giants In 1858, the year
he made the National League
All-Star team.
There are a couple Of rea-
sons that Bob probably will not
reach 400 at-bats this season.
One is Ken Retzer and the
other is Schmidt's trouble with
a breaking pitch. Curve-ball
pitchers can tie him around
their fingers. They are mainly
responsible for holding his life
time major league average To
.243.
OF course. Schmidt's answer
is the same one used by all
ballplayers: LET me play every
day and I'll learn to hit the
curve" BY the same token,
Retzer wants to play every day
so he can learn to hit south
paws.
Valuable Man
But whether or not Smitty
reaches his goal, he's a valu-
able man to have around. He's
a tireless worker, a chatter
guy around the batting cage,
keeps the squad in a good
humor during calisthenics by
riding Coach George Susce,
and is an excellent defensive
catcher.
Smitty was insulted the other
day when somebody called him
the slowest man on the club.
He was seated on his locker
stool, putting a cigarette, and
he suddenly got up and walked
around the room, looking at
the Municipalities on the lockers.
He made a half circle of the
room before he stopped in
front Of a locker. There's a
man I can beat" he said. The
locker belonged to Don Leppert,
the catcher purchased from
the Pirates. He walked a few
feet farther and said, Here's
another" 1t was Tom Bakers
locker.
Between the three, it might
be close to a dead heat, and
somebody suggested adding
Don Rudolph.
To Defend Golf Title
Schmidt will defend his SEN
ator's golf title March 10, the
only open date between tomor-
rows opening exhibition game
with the Dodgers at Vero
Beach and the day the club
breaks camp, April 4.
With Danny O'ConnelI and
Harry Bright among the miss
ing. Schmidt could almost bet
his score against the field.
There probably would be no
takers. although Jim Piersall,
Tom Cheney or Sid Hudson
could take him If Smitty has
an off day.
Bob will be 30 years old next
month, but he believes he can
play in the big leagues until he
is IS. and then he wants to
coach. He is a good coaching
prospect.
Schmidt is the most talka-
tive player in camp and spends
considerable time in horseplay,
but in a game he studies OPP
posing hitters and Is the play
ers' foremost authority on the
subject. He also has a good
arm and is excellent on foul
popups.
Likes Three BELIEVERS
Bob's desire at the moment
is to help Manager Mickey YER
non develop at least two capa-
BILE relief pitchers. I'VE threw
away too many games last
year by not having q stopper"
Bob said.
I'VE have three good relief
prospects from what I've seen
this year - Jim Duckworth,
Jim Hannah and Baker. I like
this kid Duckworth. and Baker
knows what he's doing. Han
nan needs control.
Relief pitching and the lack
Of power hurt us last year. and
I've got the power" he said,
with a big grin. I'm hit 20I
homers II Mick lets me bat 400
times. or maybe q few more"
Practice starts at 10 in the