Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-08

Wynn's Shooting
For The Works
By MORRIS SIEGEL

WHEN EARLY WYNN came up with the Senators %
years ago, his pay best he remember it, was in
the neighborhood of $500 month"; $500 for
work.
The other day he signed to do the same manual
labor for the Indians for probably 10 times as much
Normally that's much below Big Gus scale He's been
$40,000-a-year man for several seasons.
But Gus isn't kicking. He realizes $25 900 isn't bad
for 43-yearold gaffer, especially when it comes at
time when he is unemployed Besides if he does well
there's where that Is grand FROM and Gus has
been kicking around baseball long enough to know how to
ask for it.
$3.50
THE FACT THAT HE'S part Indian had nothing to
do with Wynns decision to try comeback with the
Indians. 1t would have made colorful show-biz type
story but also would have been lot of hockey never
has been one to hoke anything up>
Gus is part Indian but he is not part pitcher. It's all
or nothing at all for him. and that's why he chose the
Indians proposition other offers from the White Sox
who released him. the Cardinals Athletics and Colts
All the others wanted to do was to exploit him. They
were willing for less than the Indians paid to get
him back to let him their pitching mound to
SOOth victory He's only shy of becoming the 18th
to turn the trick
Wynn wouldn't go for It, Couple of them wanted to
pay lot Of money for wn," he said, but 1 wasn't
interested think can pitch and win than one
game"
CERTAINLY WYNN WANTS to grab No. 800, but he
doesn't want to stop there He thinks he's capable of
winning more, just how many he doesn't know
IF didn't think could still win up here" he said,
II wouldn't be back At age this isn't play any
It's hard work"
Wynn not as obsessed with the idea of winning No.
800 as many of his rooters winning game isn't
that important to me- he said with characteristic blunt
IF I'm going to make the Hall of Fame get any
honor I'll do on 299 just much 800 At least that's
the way I feel"
Birdie Tebbetts is happy to have Wynn with the Tribe
II had pretty good luck at Milwaukee with a guy in
Wynn's bracket" the Cleveland manager explained
with reference to 42-year-od Warren SPAIN.
So
CURRENTLY WYNN is ON the flabby side He weighs
222 although he looks heavier He's gotten owly but the
extra weight doesn't figure to last long way he's going
at his conditioning program.
He as hard as his legs will carry him. He's been
doing that since the White Sox cut him adrft during
spring training The principal job his exercise schedule
is to throw He wasn't doing much Of that in Venice
Fla where his steak house kept him occupied until the
call came from Cleveland.
about the only throwing did was TO toss some guy
out who got too noisy at the bar" he chucked That's
not like pitching"
At his age wynn isn't tnkering with any new stuff
Just being able to his old tricks will be sufficient he
figures.
THERE is ONE PHASE of his program that Wynn is
concentrating more than any other His reputation
a tough cookie.
league may consider him washed up and that they might
have the idea they take liberties which they never
would have dreamed OF when Gus was at his peak
1t would be in their interest TO forget IT, Gus soon
hopes TO show he's soite He taking his time before
making his first appearance He not the Indian active
list yet.
"odtimers like me-" he says "have the same trouble
inexperienced kids have We both try 70 throw harder
than The youngsters haven't learned how pitch
with smooth rhythm we old guys probably have for
gotten it,
BY rhythm" wynn means brush-back pitch, once
the most dangerous gun In his arsenal you gotta make
em respect you" he says Reminded he said he'd
knock his mother down II he had TO- Wynn smiled
fright. My mother was heluva hitter"