Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-18

Summer Vacation
Strange to Vernon
BY MORRIS SIEGEL

WHEN THE SENATORS FLOGGED the Tigers,
liz, here Monday afternoon two of the handful of
observers sitting in this economy-size epic were
Pete Quesada and Mickey Vernon
If the Senators had been as productive during their
respective regimes is highly probable both would still
be employed at D. C. Stadium instead of being currently
at large.
For the Senators to score II runs in week is often
incredible and making II runs in regulation game is
practically unheard Of It has happened only six times
in the first 41s games of the towns new" team.
Vernon watched the stampede" wistfully. How
many days and nights had he prayed for Just two
runs to fend off disaster, but they seldom came.
VERNON MISSES THE Senators almost as much
he misses not managing them For the first time since
he broke into baseball in 1886 he's got the off
d. TITS a strange feeling" he said, softly II don't
know what to do with myself I go into Philadelphia
occasionally to watch the Phllies play went to Wild
wood, N j., for week. First time I've been to beach
in the summer that can remember"
Mickey never will forget the shock Of being fired,
although he came to expect it the occupaonal hazard
of managing It was the first time in his baseball life
he had been told he wasn't wanted Ironically, the
Finger had to happen in Washington where he cut his
baseball eyeteeth.
Since his honorable discharge eight weeks ago. Vernon
has had ample time to think. One Of the things he
apparently had not been thinking about was what he
did wrong manager Of the Senators, except not to
produce q winning team.
Mickey was asked what would you do that you didn't
do when you managed Washington"
Mickey smiled that slow, infectious smile OF his.
II don't know really don't know" he answered,
IT never told what did wrong here except not win
They said the team wasn't winning and they had to
make a change.
1.-THE next time" he continued, "Td like to have
few more ballpayers to manage. That always helps"
Vernon never was and never will be known as any
thing but mice guy" brand name applied to players
and
so quietly they are sometimes labeled indifferent
tits not in my makeup to be anything but what
am" this pleasantest Of pleasant people said. i've
played for all kinds the febals the nice guys, all kind
I'm just not cut out to be the so-called tough guy.
1--WE BEEN ON TEAMS with blood-and-guts man
ayers who got the players mad they were ready to
kill him. He stood personal challenge to his players
Sometimes this brought out the best in the others I've
seen sulk and brood, so who knows what's best?"
Jim Piersa whose PIP batting average helped short
circuit Vernons stay in Washington offered partial evil
dence of vernons ability to crack down.
'I didn't see the sign on a hit-and-run play one day
in Boston" Persa said In his vaedctory before showing
off to torment the Nets land Mickey chewed me out He
told me had been paying attention to the game
than to people the stands wouldn't have loused up the
play
"1 couldn't believe the words coming from Mickey
Vernon That shocked more than what he said. I
started to argue back, but Mickey outshouted me-.
RECENTLY VERNON WAS blamed by General Man
ager George Sek for delaying the departure of Tommy
Brown to the minors Selkirk quoted as saying he
wanted to farm the Maryland bonus boy out but Vernon
insisted he remain with the Senators.
THAT is not true" Vernon said. THE day before we
broke camp in Florida talked with Brown He had not
yet signed major league contract He had had great
spring and we had to do something about him quick.
81 told Tommy thought it would be best for us to
send him to the minors where he could play every day
then called George and told him what had done Sekk
asked me to ask Brown what he would like to do.
"I did, Brown said he would prefer remaining with
Washington Who wouldn't? That's the truth about the
Tommy Brown case"
When Vernon saw his interviewer make note of the
answer Mickey asked: "Are you going to write that?
Told it would be printed Mickey shrugged his shoulders
81 don't care" he said, II won't be here to read it."