Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-11

KeII Tells Tigers
Family Comes 1st
Bv MORRIS SIEGEC

TWO MONTHS AFTER shaking up their managerial
department, the Tigers made another switch On August
they announced changes in their TVrado lineup for
1854 George Ke who has letered at the play-byplay
mike every year since 1889 will not be back next year.
The announcement said Kell quitting Of his own
accord to return home He will be replaced by Bob Schef
fling Scheffing in his last public appearance, was being
replaced himself by Charlie Dresser.
The i-tmed announcement, coming as it did in the
middle Of the season. made appear that KeS retire
ment voluntary Mickey Vernon'S. In broad
castings eternal guerrilla warfare, where most Of the
surgery performed in the back the unusual Kel deve
opment sounded fshy.
Kell had been eased out it seemed, and Scheffing
brought back into the baseball picture sop to dis
grunted Detroit fans who did not appreciate the firing
Of the popular skipper.
1T SEEMED TO MAKE sense. Nine times out Of 10
public Of designations fictitious
Mickey Spillanes works Usually crter has been
canned only 1t is presented as voluntary action Tor
Of health" pressure of other business"
However in the of Kel the Tiger statement
that he walking out job that pays him $4,000
year true. Baseball took George Clyde Kel out OF
the country than 81 but never has been
able to take the country out of him.
This to be his second retirement in six years In
1857 he his active playing at Baltimore when
plagued by bad back. This time the ailment was
mental, acute of inconsistencies.
For the last couple years Ke has been pinng away
to establish himself fu-tme resident of his native
SWifton, Ark Obviously he can well afford the luxury
OF retirement or ne would not De pdCA
of the bestpaying broadcasting Jobs in baseball.
AT SWIFTON HE'LL LIVE comfortably on the income
from an 11OO-acre cotton farm and Cadillac agency in
nearby Newport, Ark. More than anything being home
again to stay also will bring him the richer dividends
accruing from peace of mind.
Without being dramatic, Kell tried to explain his
decision last night. II loved playing ball, and like
broadcastng even more" he said But my wife and
children need badly Everybody, including me,
is happier when I'm in SWiftOn and that's the most
important thing"
Kelrs son, 1Syearold George jr, enrolled as fresh
man at the University Of Arkansas yesterday. He also
has 4-year-od daughter The children Of major league
ballpayers Ke thinks frequently subjected to prob
lens which are foreign to their contemporaries.
I'm small town like Swifton" he said, there is
natural resentment the part Of teachers and others
who to think kids regard themselves
thing special because their father happened to be big
Lacquer My kids, thank God, bent backwards to
avoid that impression, but 1t happened"
KEEL DOESN'T REGARD his decision to defect from
a once-n-a Lifetime job any kind Of sacrifice. Its
been goal Of mine for several years. he says His first
goal when the Philadelphia Athletics brought him up in
1914 to establish himself balplayer
This he did in number OF wayS-a lifetime batting
average of 3O6, batting championship and five
Secutve years at 42500 at Boston, Detroit and
Chicago When Connie Mack's impoverished AS first
employed him 20 years ago. the salary $4,000 year
From the start Kel now 43, top-fligh baseball
Unlike the joketellers with their firing
anecdotes sermonzers who explain the rules OF the
game with every pitch Kell is baseball reporter.
Kell naturally is house announcer. He is paid by
the Tigers, but he is not cheereader He was warned
against such simperng Servility when he hired.
Don't cheer for when win because you'll have to
explain when we ose" he told. Just tell what
happens"
While his comrades continue their bitter oral aSsassna
ton of another Ke is to be enved for walking out
where the air is healthier and the living is better