Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-06

Nets Moy Miss
Consistent Craig
By MORRIS sILeEL

CASEY STENCIL, SOON 70 begin his third volunteer
term as rngmaster for the Nets faces problems
than ever next spring when he musters his msfts
TO rehearse for another misadventurous season.
The mastermind of the Nets, producer of two back
tobaek place finishes favored to do 1t again. but
won't be as easy it has been in the past.
Even on the Net pitching staff where several of the
lIkeest candidates assembled the Old Professor viii
have all his vast managerial wizardry to pop
up with another sure-fire 2O-game loser
Caseys most dependable man. Roger (the ex-Dodger)
Craig is gone The Nets traded him down the Mississippi
River the Cardinals For the Nets who have lost 23l
games with in two years. the deal might prove en-
barrassing.
without Rogers reliable help they might not reach
their annual quota of at least 100 losses this year
FOR THE NETS AND the New Breed who to
cheer adversely Roger money in the bank Craig real
lied the Nets to lose but nobody was truer to
the image than Craig.
If you're dedicated to the proposition that If you
gotta lose big Craig must be man. He is one OF
basebas few 4sgame losers He accomplished this mega
tive honor In two Often there were times while
he was oilng for the Nets when appeared Slim Craig
might do it in the course of 162-game schedule
The fact that he didn't his fault He can't COM
plain that he didn't get the chance. He may have been
given too many chances by stengel who always likes to
go with his best, win or lose
Craig not only stengeS osingest pitcher but the
busiest also In two years he started 10 times He made
the least Of his opportunities losing only 90 ANY o1ner
pitcher, given the nonsupport the Nets provide,
also marred by is victories.
THE APPARENT RELUCTANCE Of General Manager
George Weiss to part with his redoubtable nonwinner
was not shared by Craig When he got the news he had
been emancipated Craig must have felt like the slaves
when they got news Lincoln had made them free agents
ITS one of the best things that happened to me since
I've been in baseball" said Craig He couldn't have been
happier If Mrs. Jean Payson had given him the Nets
franchise.
This trade gives me an opportunity to show can
still be a winning pitcher with little more support,
Craig added The inference obvious The Met infeld
which played behind Craig about as affective as the
Redskins secondary against Y. A. Title.
General Manager Weiss, who rarely compliments an
employee was practically ecstatic when he talked OF
Craig you've certainly got to give Roger an for eff
fort" Weiss grumbled Weiss this was tantamoun to
Presidential Citation for loyalty above and beyond the
call Of duty.
weiss then explained why the deal was made. ANY
time man loses 46 games it's time for change Craigi
feelings were not hurt.
CRAIG Is A LIKEABLE North Carolinian VINO &C
ceped his fate with the Nets phosophicay Once hailed
as one of the best prospects the Dodgers he was pucked
by the Nets In the National League expansion draft
At last summers Al-Star game, which briefly inter-
uted Crags successful bid to become co-hoder OF the
major league record Of 10 straight whippings friends
were worried he might not lose 20 again last season
Craig assured him that they had nothing to fear.
casey made 1t tougher by sending Marv Throneberry to
the minors but stll think can do it, Craig smiled
He did Despite several close calls, losing four 10
he finally breezed through with az defeats This was
two off his brilliant 1862 pace when he logged "a ckngs
only two-shy of the modern al-time high.
The champion single losers were Johnny Town.
send and Robert Groom, who were flattened % times
anece to become co-holders Of the record.
rJnsurprisingy both reached their peak with the
senators townsend in 1904 and Groom In 1909