Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-25

PiersuII Saw sE
The Ak Falling
By MORRIS slEGEL

- --- BY MORRIS SIEGEL
THE NEW BREED" LOST It's non-playing captain the
other day when the Nets decided they longer needed
Jim Piersall to help them finish 10th and again.
BY replacing one former Senator with another
$OOOO-a-year man Joe Hcks-the Nets obviously weren't
looking to reduce the 29game gap which separated them
from the Dodgers They only interested in reducing
the payroll They did, by $27,5oO. .*ta
Despite his fast getaway, Hicks alone is not enough
to help the Nets shun another lastpace finish His Sena
tors background atteStS to that. -.
Piersal took the of his dismissal calmly This
strange attitude probably cost him his job Lately he
also had been taking too many third strikes the
way.
II DON'T EXPECT ANY difficulty catching on with
another big league team Piersa said You have to admire
the guy for his eternal optimism Any other player who
had been dismissed by two lOthplace teams the same
season would have sought out the Peace Corps for
poyment.
But not PiersaI His ls4 average as Met disturbed
Casey STengel who doesn't disturb easily after
and half with basebas champion losers but apparently
it doesn't bother Jim too much.
The arrival Of Hicks from Buffalo wasn't the only
warning for Piersal that his days with the Nets
numbered stenge did not play him week before waivers
were asked Piersa himself admitted he the teltale
sign Of unemployment when they had Choo-Choo Cole
man. 100 hitter pinch hit for guy who has made
1929 big league hits"
What Persa failed to say was that very few of the
1929 hits he owns had been made recently.
PIERsALL CAN BE convincing talker when money
is at stake but he'll have to be al Churchian level to
land anything better than part-time job in the majors
this time
At 50 he is undoubtedly through except with team
desperate for oneshot gate attraction Even that Is
unlikely Persas routnes old stuff by now in both
leagues Both the Senators and the Nets too discreet
to say but 1t Piersals nssence Glowing which
got him canned almost as much as his inability to produce
IT don't mind clowns" George Selkirk remarked last
winter during contract negotiations with his stubborn
outfelder but they've got to be able to play little bit
too played with Lefty Gomez who gagged it up pretty
good He also pitched pretty good"
Piersans chief value to the Nets the last few weeks
was serving as umpire for and Patterson base
ball games Joan PaySon the Nets owner isn't cheap but
apparently she longer could see the necessity of
$37 500-a-year gag man on her payroll
JUDGED SOLELY ON his play since the Senators
unwisely acquired him from Cleveland in 1861 after 1922
Piersa could be written off overrated ball
player.
He wasn't In his heyday Persal was the best fly
catcher in baseball His better than average his
speed good and his zeal unquesoned Even with the dis
NAL for Washington and the Nets he still
.265 lifetime average 81 % @f w
This may not warrant ss7 500 contract but 1t is not
disgracefu either Rarely has any established player
gone down fast Piersa has the last two
his talents tobagganed his vocal chords became more
active. ts ia 1850
Teammates couldn't stand the sight of him and many
threatened to dismember him. Most jealous of his
financial and also UNDERSTANDABLE annoyed
by his constant immodesty He's the only guy know
hitting 235 and popping off like Hall Of Famer Gene
Woodling who knew his subject WE'LL said acidly.
THE 1Oth-PLACE SENATORS of 1861 evidently thought
they were acquiring one-package to all their woes
when they traded for Piersa AS 1t turned out seldom
has so much been given for so little.
The Senators gave away Dick Donovan who responded
by winning 20 for the Indians the next season. Gene
Green, dangerous pinch-hitter; Jim Mahoney minor
league utility player whose loss wasn't felt and $4,000 for
Persa who had just off the first 800 season of his
stormy career.
Piersall expressed ubation his trade to Wash
ngton He also felt the Senators should be happy having
him. I'm going to ask for contract for the combined
salaries of the players they traded for me- he boased
He got what probably was more, $12,5OO raise to
$425Oo after weeks Of hagglng with the then general
manager, Ed Dohery, who tolerated Persa above and
beyond the call Of their long friendship.
Pete Quesada eated when Piersa finally agreed
to terms that the rookie president wired his congratula
tons to his outelder This teed off woodng consid
erably Twenty years in baseball" he boiled land I've
never heard Of president congratuating player for
holding him up"
In taking Piersal off the Senator's hands the Nets
sent Gil Hodges Immediately and promised to deliver
player at later date. r
Neither Selkrk Hodges felt short-changed when
the Nets did not think of returning Persa to complete
their unfinished business here. Their oversight was
appreciated.