Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-30
SEGH Ar LARGE
Long Rewarded
With Demotion
BY MORRIS SIEGEL

* RALPH HoUKS PATRONAGE LIST is nowhere near
as long President Kennedy's but a dispenser of
goodies for workers who have served him well the Yankee
manager tops the President from here to Hyannis Port
Remembering the sacrifices" Dale Long made in the
successful campaign 1862 and in the current bid which
also destined for Houk yesterday created
job for Long F''"
He appointed him assistant bulpen catcher 1t pays
in the neighborhood of $4,000 The fringe benefits prob
ably will be worth at least half again much If the
Yankees win the World Series
UNDERSTANDABLE there was no hesitancy whatever on
the part of the 3year Long to yield the little glamour
left to the re of understudy first baseman to become
secondstrng bupen catcher In accepting his demoton
to obscury and security, Long yielded none Of the re-
wards of varsity status
WHEN THE YANKEES receive their World Series
checks next winter Long will receive the treatment
accorded Houk Whitley Ford Tony Kubek Eston Howard
Jim Bouton and others who giving everything asked
of them.
Dale also gave everything he asked to give but
he wasn't asked to do much except show for the games
time In the 100 he was on active duty Long
spent most of them as a noncombatant
His services were required only is occasions all
pinchhtter. He responded successfully only three
times performance which figured heavily in yesterdays
decision to transfer him to the nonplaying
for pitching insurance brought up from Richmond
Long, officially listed coach, thus set another
baseball record In 1855 empoye of the Pirates he
became the first player to hit eight home in
elgnI CONSECUTIVE games NOW mes the ILSC player ever
to become second-strng warmup catcher luxury only
the Yankees seem able to afford.
UNTIL LONGS APPOINTMENT Jim Hegan the one
time Cleveland catcher warmed up the Yankee pitchers
Now he has time, expensive assistant in Long, who
also probably becomes the first fullme efthanded bull
pen catcher.
Bob Fishel, the Yankee spokesman, pointed out that
Dale also will have collateral duties He rooms with
Roger Mars" Fshe explained and that's good for
rae This assignment far physical and mental
strain than any mundane bulpen chore MariS is not
easy man to keep happy when he's hitting 81 home
a year.
Morale coaches" not new in baseball. The Sen
ators had several years ago in Ellis Cary scrappy
pepperpo He revealed his duties to the late Bobo New
som day in Orlando, Fla.
$50 you're the morale coach, huh?" Newsom snorted.
That's the trouble with Washington They finish eighth
every year but the morale stays good"
WHILE OTHER PLAYERS dream of Cooperstown as
their baseball Valhaa the Bronx home of the
Yankees has always been heaven for Long He played in
only 26 games for New York in 1860 when they claimed
him from the Giants but nevertheless he voted $50OO
half Series share.
Last year the Senators waited until July II before
swapping Long for Don Lock- and the Yankees were even
kinder this time They cut him in for the full winners
share-$98 82-of the World Series swag. as 81, .xs
Besides collecting $4,000 for two World Series plus
the likelihood Of much as $4,000 for the upcoming
October showdown, the Yankees have not tempered with
his $4,000 salary.
The Senators, it is recalled in Kansas City last
July when they snapped Long to New York Reporters
who went to the Washington dressing to interview
Long unable to locate him hour after the trade
was announced.
'By this time Dale is probably 200 miles ahead of the
plane that's taking him to New York." they were told