The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 9

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1954 BLYTHEVILLE (ARK.) COURIER NEWS Willie Mays' Spirit Pays Some Say He's Best- Others Tab Him Tair' By JIMMY BRESLIN NEA Staff Correspondent N-EW YORK (NEA) Willie Mays, who must come close being all they say he is if the Giants are to do anything this year, started off the 1954 season at the Polo Grounds on a disconcerting note for those who take stock in hit semi-superman billing. To begin with Willie Walked into way then whirled and raced to his ttee Polo Grounds locfcer room on right. His cap flew off, as if he opening day and proceeded to hang has elobfass in a very human manner. The jacket to his light brown double breasted suit was bulging with envelopes and the pants were stopped on a hook. The shelf of locfcer no.

24, which is Willie's, was in a state of disarray. Why, he'd make just an ordinary housewife mad at him. As Willie walked down the long flight of stairs which leads from the Giants' center field dressing room to the playing field, he paused teeth in the bright sunlight to autograph a couple of scorecards for bleacher fans. "Look at this," one of them said. "The guy signs the card and you oen' hardly tell whether its 'Mays' or what.

I can't read his writing', He writes just as lousy as I do." On the field, a park' policeman stood in front of the, clubhouse entrance and watch- Willie flies which snag were being fungoed out by a coach standing in the infield, some 440 feet aw- makes the whole difference this year," the gendarme noted "The guy can do Willie Mays anything. I rem- I ember him here the year we won the pennant. He was out of this world. And haven't you been seeing what the papers are saying about him? "Those guys," he said with a motion toward the distance second- tier press box, "follow the club every day. They know everything.

Anfl they like Mays nearly as good as they liked Ruth. think this guy will be another With this, Willie got set to go after a fly. He took a quick step to his left, which was the wrong were a kid back trying out for a high school team. He stabbed his gloved hand across his body, but the ball went past him and banged harshly against the bleacher wall. The noise startled the guard, who smiled.

But Leo Durocher, something less than a bench superman last year, would do a lot more than smile if it happen in a game. In the press box, as the game began, an old-time baseball man, visiting for the day, began to talk. "You see Irvin down he said, pointing to Monte Irvin, the husky New York outfielder, "That is one fine hitter. Bin. strong wrists He controls the bat, no wild swinging.

That's why he hits anything. He cuts down on the percentage of missing with wrists action. "But you take Mays. He hasn't developed wrist action yet. He just swings with everything he's got.

They look for him to hit .300 this at least they're praying he he will. Well. I can't see him hitting much over .270 or so. And hit that until he develops the wrist business. "That doesn't come overnight.

"And this spirit business," the the guy went on. "Listen. These are professional ballplayers. That rah- rah spirit they say Willie gives 'em is just a lot of nonsense. These guys get paid for playing.

They'll play their heads off if it helps their paychecks. This spirit is a lot of talk." When the conversation was finished, and the rest of the day's doings, injected into the thinking, you begin to think that Willie Mays, the funny running No. 24 on the big playing fild, was very far from being the superman they say. That is. until he won the ball game by hitting one of the longest home runs in Polo Grounds history, an awesome shot into the upper stands at the 425-foot mark.

The entire Giant bench was up on the steps doing a little war dance as Willie Mays ran around the bases. NINE BATTING expects this batting order to wm tJhira consecutive pennant and beat the Yankees i series, for a change. They are. left to right. Junior Gilliam, WeeKeose.

Duke Snider. Jackie Robinson Manaccr Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Carl Furillo, Billy Cox and the pitcher, this case Carl Erskine (NEA,) in the World Walter Alston, Giant's New Bonus Rookie Just Sits On Bench and Serves Sentence By HARRY GRAYSON 4EA Sports Editor NEW YORK (NEA) Bonus rookies, no matter how common, always have been curious items to this department. When you speak of these well-heeled juveniles who come up to the majors, the talk invariably turns to the major bonus like Dick Wakefield, Paul Pettit and Frank House. FT. SILL, UP) Tom Mor- Knn.

New York Yankee rtphthand- er awaiting his Army discharge, pitched a no-hitter for the 41st group over the 77th Rroup in a Ft. Two Games Set for Manila Lions Get 24th Consecutive Win Kiimes will be run off In Manila's baseball park Sat- urdny when West Memphis comes to town. The undefeated Manila High School nine will take on the visitors In the opener at 1 o'clock and Dell will meet the West Memphians in the finale. Tuesday, Manila added its latest victory when the Lions gained a 4-0 win over Dyess on the four-hit pitching of Carol Morris who struck out eight in the seven-inning affair. Joe Dean Pierce, playing first base Tuesday, wits two for three a.s was Jimmy Miles.

Hacker doubled in three trips. Coach Wayne Taylor's iuds now have won 2-5 consecutive ball games. Sill baseball game last Only two men reached first, on an error and a walk. is scheduled to rejoin the Arkansas Gets Lumps Again PAYETTEVILLE (Jfl For second time in a row, Hutchirwon, of the Western Association defeated the University of Arkansas. 7-1, in an exhibition baseball game here yesterday.

The power came from Negro terflelder Reggie Orenald who accounted for three runs with two homers. Arkansas' only run came in the fifth when centerfielder Ronnie Wcstphall singled home Francis Long. Small Home Loans Available now. No PHA requirements If you own your lot and have a small down payment. Five years to pay.

E. C. Robinson Lbr. Co. Yanks in New York Tuesday.

Pettit, in particular, always interested us. Just the other week, he was released by the gave him Hollywood ot the Pacific Coast League. If Pittsburgh owner John Galbreath can afford to toss money like around for a minor leaguer, the notion here is to make a serious pitch to him for the outright sale Gate bridges. This interest caused us to take a good look at Joe Amalfitano, who is destined to spend this season, and probably the next one, too, seated fortably at a far end of the New York Giants' bench. Amalfitano.

who got a cool $30.000 or so for signing a Giant bonus paper, serves as a striking example of Joe Amalfitano the odds a kid stacks against himself when, he enters baseball that way. AS LEO DUROCHER'S YORKERS streamed onto the field before a game with the Brooklyn Dodgers, a sturdy round-faced youngster trailed behind the pack and when he reached the bench he sat down quietly. "Oh, I like the ideo of being up here," the 19-year-old kid from think a puy can leam up here, if he stays on the ball. Alvin Dark and Leo and Henry Thompson, all the guys, they've been showing me things. "I'll just stt around here this year apd watch them and then maybe get a chance to break into a game here and there and pile up a little experience.

I was so nervous while in spring training at Phoenix that I couldn't buy hit, but I think I'll settle down and maybe make the grade after awhile." How he is going to learn to play baseball while sitting on the bench in a league much too fast for him at present is something which defies and explanation. You just don't watch the way Carl Erskine throws a pitch and then step up there and begin to hit horn. Nor will all the words of wisdom Al Dark can give teach the kid shortstop how to make a double play pivot correctly. WHEN THE GIANTS SIGNED Amalfitano, they probably were figuring the way Casey Stengel did when the Yankees handed first sacker Frank Leja a whopping bonus. Stengel felt it would be for the better if Leja went into the Army as quickly as possible so that the kid could at least get two years of service baseball experience before cpming'to the Stadium.

Amalfitano aoesn't figure to be called up immediately because of a physical disability, as far as the Army is con- southern California said. "And I 1 cerned. As Jmrmon a miracle mesh Summertime is "Miracle Mesh" time for the man who likes footwear featuring breezy comfort and smart styling. These cool, cool Jarmans with the built-in breeze are ailable at our store in handsome styles and colors for both dress and casual wear. Come in right away and let us fit you with one or more "windswept" pairs.

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If he could get some good farm play- under his belt, we believe he would be a fine player." Amalfitano doesn't seem, on the face of things, too worried about the strange situation -he is cnught up in. Of course, it's pretty tough to worry much about anything once you stick $30,000 or so into the bank. "The situation will resolve itself, anway you look at it." Schumacher says. "Right now the clubs can't afford to keep more than one of these kids on at a time. They take up the place of a.

player who might help. But there's nothing the matter with a good bonus he makes vour club some day. "Of course, it is a lot better to find a Mel Ott or a Mickey Mantle and sign them up for carfare." Joe Cascarella, former American League pitcher, now ic executive vice president and secretary of the Laurel Race Course. ONLY MORE DAYS TRADE-IN ALLOWANCE For Your Old Living Room Suit KROEHLER On New HUBBARD and SON Furniture Ph. 3-4409 Blythevillt tune in! BASEBALL PLAY BY PLAY KLCN-FM with HARRY CARAY BROUGHT TO YOU AY ANHEUSER-BUSCH, INC ST.

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