Evening star., 1963-09-19

Economy Move
Put Men There
BY MORRIS SIEcEL

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19-Theres new and unex-
pected entry in the Dodgers hero of the day contest The
latest honor belongs to native Californian whose short cut
TO fame Is exceeded only by the brevity of his
Men is the name, folks, Richard Leroy Men.
He will be forgotten once the World Series begins He
isn't eligible to participate in any role except that Of
spectator Until last night there doubt even
about that.
He wasn't expected to join the Dodgers until to-
day here in Los Angeles but because circumstances
abled him to be with the Dodgers in ST. Louis last night
there's stronger feeling that nothing not
the Dodgers themselves prevent them from meeting
the Yankees
Men slipped into st. Louis at yesterday from
Oklahoma City, where his Spokane team had been
eliminated from the Pacific Coast League payoffs Last
night Manager Walt Aston slipped him into the Los Angeles
lineup and the native Californian cracked ninth
inning game tying homer that enabled the Dodgers to
finally Stave off the Cardinals in the 18TH
%%%*
e MEMS APPEARANCE NOT only came as welcome
relief to the Dodgers who boast four-game bulge
with only nine to play but his presence welcomed by
printers and radio announcers alike.
He barged into the tense scrap at time when both
the Cardinals and Dodgers had their neupS crammed
with PerranoSks Bucheks KolbS Tracewsks and other
jaw breakers 1t didn't take the first sacker with unique
singlevoweled handle long to make for himself
With one away in the ninth and the Dodgers down
rum Men powered Ron Taylors second pitch into the
righted pavilion for 375-oo shot that killed off what
appeared to be Cardinal victory and new hope that
the Redbrds were still alive.
Fairly at first Men claimed minimum of attention for
himself by lining out to centerfield This only his
first appearance major league batter although the
Dodgers had given him long look in camp last March,
BEFORE LAST NIGHT" he said breathessly in the
Dodgers derious ST. Louis dressing quarters only
hoping could buy two tickets the World Series through
the Dodgers think might not have any trouble now
You'd better believe he won't He'll also have fist
full of money to buy something more expensive than
World Series tickets Don Drysdae and Coach Leo Duro
cher Immediately began drive to have the new 2S-year-
old No boy voted full share of the Dodgers series melon
Dick liked this idea too. The Dodgers picked him up
several years ago off the Wilmington Ca sandlots for
modest He batted 284 at Spokane this year after
terrible start He recently recalled, along with
several other farmhands the Dodgers rate as future stars
but told to report here tomorrow when the Dodgers play
s again.
The other day. as an example Of how fate has worked
Los Angeles this year. he told to report instead to
st. Louis while the Dodgers battling the Cardinals
It was dictated more by economy than anything
else The Dodgers operate their own plane and were
merely saving additional transportation costs by having
Men report to ST. Louis and return to the Coast with the
team.
Luckily for the Dodgers Spokane ousted from the
payoffs Tuesday night Men hustled into St Louis at
noon yesterday Several hours later he was taking part
in another elimination contest This time it involved the
Cardinals Mems homer the shot that feed them
HE EASILY WAS THE center Of the mob as the
small army of reporters swooped into the Dodgers quarters
after the 6-5 struggle finally ended IN the 18th.
Men was certain Of only thing-that nobody In
the world was happier than he was.
MY name2 How did get it? really don't know
sir" he answered ItS always been just plain MEN My
father is of Russian descent and that might explain It,
He drives truck back home"
Mems locker next to Ron PerranoSk who survived
the overtime match to emerge the winning pitcher
The big former Michigan State wonder leading the
cheers for the newest Dodger benefactor
mo sir" Men answered courteously, II am not bit
nervous"
Don't worry kid" Perranosk interrupted you will
be when you read the papers"