Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-04

Idle .22O Hitter
Asking $4,000
By MORRIS SIEGEL

AMONG THE NATIONS 3ha million unemployed is
one James Anthony Piersall, who is seeking job as
skilled laborer The fact that his qualifications have been
suspect for quite time doesn't bother him.
Piersall has made himself available for seasonal
ployment only Despite more objective observations he
stubborny persists he is adequately equipped to perform
his peculiar talents best from April through September
Professionally, he is, was major league baseball
player References substantate his claim He also does
odd jobs at odd times Here too, he highly
mended.
1t is this unpredictable phase of his moonlghting
activity that probably encouraged the Senator'S Nets and
Angels all to include him in their reduction pro-
gram last season.
ALTHOUGH HE is A bona fide statistic on the Labor
Departments big board of sdeined employabes Piersa
is by no means problem for the welfare bureau Of
Hyannis Port Mass There he his wife, Mary brood
of eight settled in comfortable dacha that very few
idle can afford.
centerfieder by trade extrovert by instinct
Piersa could deactivate himself from the unemployed
any time he chooses The Angels the last Of three teams
last to learn they could get along well without
him. willing to give Persa another chance to prove
they wrong
They have offered him contract for 1884 1t calls for
considerably less than the $500 arrangement he became
accustomed to in 1883 but still is well above the $115
hourly Federal minimum.
If he makes the team the Angels tell him. his pay
will be upped accordingly So far Persa has not been
willing to join this seemingly sporting offer He prefers to
exercise the option Los Angeles gave him. you get
a better job. take it.
He has not been close-mouthed about his availability
anything else This could be the main reason he still
is looking. The baseball market is glutted with S4yearod
220 htters willing to accept less than $4,000 for their
diminishing talents.
FOR PIERSALL THE season of 1868 was one he would
like to forget He worked for the Senators the Nets and
the Angels leaving Houston the only expansion team
denied or spared the privilege of his acquaintance
He is uninterested in the Colts which makes it
mutual He also will not be offended If the Senators and
Nets fail to offer him second go-round.
"How can anybody play for those teams?" he asked
visiting here recently tits too discouraging" Persals
presence the two clubs failed to improve either team
But didn't hurt Them" he reminded "They were
10th when Joined EN- and 10th when left EN- so you
can't blame me-"
Never one to underestimate himself Piersan regards
himself something of value particularly at the box
office This is personal opinion necessarily shared
by the Senators Angels who both sumped by almost
10000 each last year.
THE PRINCIPAL DELIGHT PiersaIl found in 1868 was
in being paid, Joy he didn't discover Just recently
"As much as love to play he sighed, 81 Just couldn't
with the Senators and Nets You knew you couldn't win
and Just got tougher and tougher dScouraging even"
Another disappointment for Persan the fact he
never got to team up with Bo BelinSky in his own right
celebrated nonconformis also loosely attached to the
colony OF the Angels By the time PerSa arrived in Los
Angeles Belnsky had gone west way west to Honolulu,
I'VE might have hit it off, it could have been a
problem, Piersa smiled grafied at his ability to under
state the potential danger involved in conformation of
this nature
I'VE have different styles suppose I don't plan
anything do. Bo does"
During his involuntary dlenesS, Piersall has spent
considerable time practicing talking, which always has
been his best game However he is channeng his vocal
efforts toward in broadcasng in his baseball
talents permitted to 60 unclaimed
who knows?" he sad struggling his shoulders "I may
even wind up managing If Yogi did, surer n hell can"