Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-03

Houk Responds
Like Good Loser
By MORRIS SIEGEL

i.
painfully experienced in the grim art Of holding losing
press conferences would have proud Of the way
Ralph Houk handled his yesterday.
Although not total stranger to the losers SIDE the
Yankee manager is relatively new especially in World
Series play.
He wasn't as voluble as Joe valach but Houk showed
enough promise to rate serious consideration manage
oaseballs most compusve winners, the Nets and
Senators. He talks eloquent losing game.
His nterrogators practically dared him to deny that
Sandy Koufax was the greatest pitcher since Walter
Johnson The major wasn't quite ready to endorse the
Yankee conqueror for the on-the-spot immortality.
H%S$
HoUK EASILY ROSE above the line Of questioning
which often irrelevant it even too farfetched
for congressional investigation committee.
punches hurt.
How good would you say Koufax WASP" Houk was
asked 1t like asking Floyd Patterson if Sonny Listens
Good" Houk replied biting down in his cigar.
Have you ever seen him any better?" the next
query Houk paused before ousng with this filtration
with inanity
Hes struck out u.s. didn't heP He couldn't have been
much better"
There was momentary silence from the inquisitors as
few new troops struggled in to join the small army One
man. fresh from the mob the Dodgers side had
a beaut
II notice Koufax wasn't perspiring much out there
today" he said did you notice that? hope you haven't
been asked this aready?"
The mans fears unfounded. Nobody had been
anywhere penetrating in the scattershot inter-
duties Yankee manager did not require him to observe
the sweat glands of any ball player not even his own
$3.50
FROM LEFTFTELD came new line of attack. A
West Coaster made out like Koufax had violated some
Federal law whiting is Yankees He suggested Houks
artillerymen were swinging at bad pitches.
Houk fieded it the first hop. II thought all our
baters did everything pretty well at the plate except one
thing" he said.
"And what was thatp" the latent quiz kid breathlessy
asked They didn't hit" Houk gfumbled.
One skeptic convinced Koufax had taken the
Yankees by surprise that the Dodgers had kept him
ceaed all year and uncrated him only to bambooze New
York in the World Series.
He apparently had forgotten that Koufax, in the
of winning rs games had gotten his in the
papers several times this year. "Your scouting reports
must not have been too good on him." he persisted
Houk somehow continued calm. I'VE didn't have any
scouting reports on him." he replied acidly.
"You didnt?" the interrogation said incredulously.
How did you know about him thenP"
From box scores" Houk said.
THE PATIENT MANAGER after steadfastly refusing
to nominate Koufax for the Hall of Fame Immediately
also called to defend keeping Whitley Ford in the game
during the four-run Dodger uprising in the second
They got only two solid hits off him. Towards double
and Roseboros homer" Houk explained land left him
in because he's helluva pitcher"
Again a latecomer wanted Houk to agree that Sandy
the best in the business Houk wouldn't bulge
He pitched heuva game, but we got two runs off
him. There are lot Of guys in league didn't get
two runs off Of this year"
On the other side of the wato-wa carpeted dressing
quarters Mickey Mantle, deserted except for his agent
was signing papers.
"These contracts guaranteeing never again have
to play against firebaing lefthanded pitcher" Mantle
smiled.
Yogi Berra, Nantes locker-mate, was glued to the
coaching line and wasn't exposed Koufax but Berra had
been told what it must have been like out there.
Boyer said he doesn't understand how Koufax lost
five games this year. Me- neither"
Judged Koufax's frst-game performance, the Yam
KEGS may not learn how Koufax will lose World Series
game. Either.