Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-06
SEGH ATNRGE
There's Only One
Willie Mays
By MORRIS SIEcEL

PHOENIX, ARIz, MAR. 6-The Giants regulars had
departed from Phoenix Municipal Stadium by yes
terday They were on the golf course for the teams
annual fairway frolics.
Alvin Dark the manager and also the teams best
golfer stayed behind There was work to do on the
diamond, where about IS Giants hopeuls held his eye.
We're in good shape" said the quiet Southerner whose
team came within a line drive of winning the World
Series from the Yankees last October We've got reser
vor Of talent now We can call the farm and get quick
capable requirements"
The visitor, fresh to the Giants wanted to knew If
there was another Willie Mays in the group?
NO." Dark smiled mot here, there or anywhere else
He's the greatest I've ever seem"
THE CONVERSATION SWUNG around to Mays con-
tract reputedly for than 100000 Horace soneha
the man who signs Wies pay checks strongly suggests
it may be more. When told the Yankees had shown
reporters the 100000 they recently gave Mickey
Mantle, Stonehom shrugged.
willie still isn't second" stoneham answered.
To Skipper Dark the 100 grand Willie got has more
than financial significance
1T means to me his status has finally been recog-
nized" Dark said II" he got $9o999 it wouldn't do it,
It's like pitcher winning 19-good but not a 2O-game
man.
How many others got 100 grandP Musia williams,
DiMaggio, Mantle? Willie is in that class financially
anyway To me, he's the greatest Couple Of ago
think said he could be the greatest Now he Is"
TO PROVE HIS POINT Dark cited statistic one Of
the Giants figure zeaots had given him the other day.
1t showed Mays had won six games in last Septembers
do-orde rally with home in the last three innings
willie has the most deceiving batting average in
baseball" Dark argued. II know If we told Willie we'd
give him money he went out and tried to boost
his average he'd do it. But that's not the way he plays
He plays to win games for the Giants not money for Mays
Willie has only one goal every year, to win the
pennant for the Giants You name 1t and he can do 1t
better than anybody else Look at him base runner
for example; he's got the greatest base running instinct
I've ever seen. He knows exactly how far he can go
when the ball is hit How he does it don't know, but
he does, thank God"
DARK IS STILL dumbfounded to explain how San
Francisco fans voted Orlando Cepeda, still holding out
the most valuable player Mays in 1885, the Giants
first year Of California operations.
Maybe they resented fastener" Dark laughed,
"but in newspaper poll Cepeda actually outballoted
Willie that year. happy to say fans have gotten
more knowledgeabe about what it takes to make COM
plete balIpayer now"
Dark wouldn't admit It, but it is believed he would
not be unhappy If the Giants traded away Cepeda the
bg-moose first baseman visitor showed Dark q set
of figures which had deep significance the manager
did you know" the fellow asked Dark, that in the
last two years Cepeda has hit 81 home runs but only
two only two mind you either tied ball game
in the seventh, eighth or ninth innings2"
EARLIER IN THE DAY, Willie was talking to reporters
about what it meant to him to be l0O-grander ut
means responsibility, know" Willie grinned
The message relsyed to Dark. He's right. Take
for instance exhibition schedule When the
road I've got to play Willie in every game, not every
inning but certainly in every game He's l00grander
now Fans expect to him play and they have right to
Invariably managers are asked to make comparisons.
Dark was asked to stack Mays VS.. Maury Wills the
base paths.
Nov when it comes to stealing, I've got to give it
to Wills Nobody like him." he replied willie can't
do it for one simple Wills gets about 200 hits
year. most of 'em singles. He's always on first base
Look at Willie, last year he got 1S9 hits but So Of
em were doubles, five triples and 40 home runs Willie
doesn't get Just to first base much Wills I'm happy
to say We like Willie Just the way he is, thank you"