Press Journal from Vero Beach, Florida • 51

(Mouse Rudy but the the fif thef major TED (Pea Wee Runt PETE If Pete Mikkelsen been such a capable reliever last season he might have returned to the ranks of starting pitchers when Don Drysdale retired But skipper Walt Alston likes to keep a strong bullpen use a reliever in a start and you lose him for four or five days" said the Dodger manager in ex plaining his decision not to go to Mikkelsen Pete had been a highly capable starter for Tulsa in the Cardinal system in 1968 but he has spent much of his career trudging in from the bullpen Pete's contract DON (Sut or Ninth in the league in strikeouts (215) and topped only by erguson Jenkins in starts (41) Don Sutton came close to joining Bin Singer and Claude Osteen as a 3rd 20 game winner on the same staff last year and certainly has that potential in 1970 Don scored his fifteenth victory August 15 but was able to pick up only two more the rest of the way Much earlier (June 23) he had an 11 and 5 record when he won seven out of eight in a month (May 24th through June 23) He lost four straight including two Dodger shutouts and blew his chances of being selected for the National League All Star team Adding a knuckle ball to his repertory during the year Sutton was particularly effective against the Braves (3 0) Pirates (2 0) and Phillies (2 for ten of his victories On May 1 he fired a 1 hit shutout against the Giants at Candlestick Park with a double to left by Jim Davenport ruining hfs bid for a no hitter after one out in the eighth was of course his selection by the Baseball Writers of America as 1969 Rookie of the Year There were however many dramatic episodes enroute to that award He had been a so so catching prospect in the Dodger farm system driven to the outfield In Spokane (1968) by an Injury Then there was the decision to give Ted (in Arizona Instructional play) a trial as a second baseman Next his former manager in the Pacific Coast League (Roy Hart sfield) insisted Ted was good enough to play so he opened the season for the Dodgers at that position Along came the Maury Wills from Montreal trade and it was back to second for Ted He was the No 1 vote getter on the Topps All Rookie team He played more games than any Dodger (MX (Sing Sing or Billy Bidding to become one or lop pitchers In baseball Bill er passed ms zo victory tone eany tn ms ms season as a maker league liar Bill won No 20 his last time beating Houston 5 to 4 after unsuccessful thrusts at that Third in strikeouts behind (Is Mik ins and Bob Gibson and ith on the National League LsL Bill tied Claude Osteen In ipkte games (' 16) Singer wd 316 innings ano was toppeo ng the Dodgers only by Osteen had a great shot at the NL run crown until he urea aown irtrh After a shutout win over SeoL 8 Singer had an VKrageo(20L Bill took part in four outs but needed renei neip In another game against the He hurled a magnificent two for nine innings Mdgers lost that one In ManthltoO Jl JRutgers) Rated one of baseball's nest receivers Jett loroorgsuum xikine for the chance to become a jiegular with the Dodgers Or inmp other club Jeff doesn't ft' relish sitting on the sidelines while outers oo me ouix or me uun mask duty Behind John Roseboro and Tom Haller however he has been asked to do a minimum of "work Last year was a sample of 'iJefs frustration As late as mid une be was batting 370 but he had been up to the plate in only a dozen jggames (30 at bats) He wasn't to see orat deal more action thereafter veither for his 124 times at bat 'represented one of his lighter yearsTorborg contends (and he has plenty of support) that you just expect a man to come up with much of a batting average in so few games Jeff a graduate of Rutgers has been on the Dodger roster since 1964 3 after a brief tune up at Albuquerque His biggest thrill was catching a Sandy fourth no hit no run I game (a Perfecto against the Cubs Kin 1965) Dodgers landed him in a straight swap for a minor league pitcher Jim Ellis Control was Pete's biggest problem as he wandered from town to town in the lower minors He credits Rube Walker the ex Dodger catcher now on the Meta coaching staff with a change in pitching style which turned Pete toward the majors CLAUDE A long sought goal was achieved by Claude Osteen in his final outing of 1969 Beating the Houston Astros he became a 20 game winner Gomer' had won seventeen in both 1966 and 1967 and in the latter year seemed assured of joining the 20 game Golden Circle when he was the first major leaguer to win eleven games But he won only six of his last twenty starts that year The 1969 season also was best in the earned run 266 and his seven shutouts (second in the National League to Juan Marichal's eight) was another personal high Osteen had twelve wins and a 280 earned run average before the All Star Game but wasn't selected for the NL team Walt Alston terms Claude one of the most consistent pitchers he has managed "He rarely pitches a bad ball Osteen tied Bill Singer in complete games (16) and in only one of his wins did he allow more than three runs He was tagged for five (one unearned) by the Expos as he won 9 to 5 WILLIE Only one Dodger drove in more game winning runs than Willie Crawford during a highly encouraging season for Ulis powerful prospect tor future star don A 8100000 bonus player Willie saw more action with the Dodgers in 1969 than he had in five previous seasons witn me club Willie followed his year by playing in the Caribbean during the Winter and he was one of the leading hitters in Winter ball until called home by illness In his family Willie was one of Dixie more productive hitting students in 69 and batted home thwr run eves games one behind wes Vark era pace setting dozen He was one of four Dodgers who hit homers in the same game (April 16 vs Padres) for a club record in Dodger Stadium A month later he broke up a game with the Pirates with a two run blast which capped a ninth inning come from behind effort against the Pirates ftp No trade the Drvlvm made in years proved more ar man me Los AnsI Montreal deal which brought Maury Wills back to the CoasL When Maury jjss honored as the IjJaSebrity" at one of the tames play had to be held up as the was gave Maury a standing ovation 297 batter with the Dodgers last he was brilliant al short and team began to jell once he re ined his Dodger uniform Maury course had gained his tremen populanty with some sen campaigns tn pennant 1959 1963 1965 andT966 He' Pirtles Cubs and Cams before the i spark which ignited the i 59 flag chase with a great against the Giants He it base stealing back into Il's spotlight when he led the 1 1 League six straight years set an all time major league with an amazing 104 thefts in WES As leaguers took time out for the AH or Sizey) The highlight of Ted Star Game last season Wes Parker Sizemore's first year in the majors had his finest season rolling along He was hitting 296 He was well on his way to his third successive Golden Glove as the classiest first baseman in the National League He had made a dozen hits in his last seven games Including two doubles a triple and two homers and he had driven in nine runs in that span The Dodgers were only a game behind the first place A Ganta Braves in the Western Division and Wes was one of the big reasons they were there Then misfortune in the form of a balky appendix struck him down in Chicago and Wes was rushed to the hospital for surgery Placed on the disabled list Parker made a rapid recovery and in mid August picked up where he left off with five hits including two doubles his first three games back in action fey AL jfip i MMr MB SflflssSaHBESBa IK MURI Mr Ht the Stager K'taries W9Ugh tw I wjir iMi Bl I I I I 11 I 1 I :23 I I i i i Mr 4 JEW Bl' BbBRIMI IBB Jmmnb OB BB wmBfi uLmx uAse Br iraM 11 HaV' Bttl Triuiii JMMMiifc Thurs eb 19 1970 Vero Beach ia PRESS JOURNAL 11E ln iHf fei fl Ai Jll 1 HP TO 4 I RE rL JK I 4wB il iMU flBBMMMfc dS Jji Be" BBt' BMBBWwl i HB i DICK With six seasons of minor league experience behind him 25 year old Dick Arm strong is prepared for the challenge to make the Dodger club this season Armstrong started the 1969 season as a relief pitcher for Spokane but he was summoned out of the bullpen at mid season and did a good job as a starter finishing with a 6 5 record A graduate of California State at Los Angeles Armstrong has flashed outstanding potential throughout his baseball carter Pitching for Cal State in 1964 he struck out 194 batters for the third highest mark in the country among NCAA sc cds In 1966 he led the California League in strikeouta 186 in 207 Innings And in 1968 Armstrong pitched a no hitter for Albuquerque the first for that team since Jose Santiago recorded one in 1960 A consistent report on Armstrong is that he working hard to improve" The payoff may be near ftr Dick Arm strong LEN (Gabe) Pinch hitting is not a chore Lcn Gabrielson enjoys but he's mightv good at it In 1968 Gabe hit 259 coming off the bench cold and in 1969 he became the best in the league in this department at 333 making twelve hits in thirty six appearancesa a sub sw atter He was batting 450 as a pinch hitter as late as mld July but despite this success ten yearned for more regular work Obtained from the California Angels for John werho had played earlier with three other major league organlzatlons the Braves Cubs and Len led Hie Dbdgefslh hohie runs in I9ta with ten and had personal highs In several departments After a great Spring he was caught in the Dodger youth movement and relegated to pinch hitting duty Nevertheless he matched his 1968 batting average of 370 Len is a member or a baseoau playing family CARROLL BRINCER (born Aug 14 1928) spent 13 seasons in the minor leagues hoping for an op portunity to wear a Dodger uniform As a player that dream never was fulfilled Carrol! Berlnger however has become a Dodger and a very important one the man they call and ready to accept any assignment in his dual role as a batting practice pitcher and bullpen coach He loves the game and his enthusiasm is an encouragement to everyone on the club best season as a player was tn 1959 when ho led the Texas League with 19 vk: ku ics a nd wjs rcw'ardi'iJLhy hel ng named the top pitcher in the longue In 1961 he joined the Dodgers as a batting practice pitcher and in 1967 he was named a full fledged member of the coaching staff CB is where he always wanted to in the major and a major leaguer in every way WARREN JENKINS I first heard the news I thought somebody was kidding recalls Jack Jenkins is my big chance and I'm going to make the most of It" The news Jenkins received last September was that he had been purchased from the Washington Senators' Savannah club by the Dodgers Ho worked only one inning for the Dodgers and came away with three quick outs The Dodgers sent Jenkins to Arizona during the winter and he displayed a good fastball while making 15 pounds disappear Signed to his first IcpntracitniWLbyjVashington scout George McQuinn Jenkins has been with nine minor league clubs while receiving brief flings with the Senators in 1962 and 1963 Jenkins has been plagued by control problems during his career but he credits Hub Kittle with helping him last season Jack says his biggest thrill in baseball was pitching to Mickey Mantle in 196X BBBKP yTfS4 wi bb9k 'l ihht 4 Uf gf JIM jhhflBMlMsB5BB sBIwkjf1 (3 There ANDY KOSCO (Clark When the Dodgers sent southpaw pitcher Mike Kekich to the Yankees for Andy Kosco they got just what they were looking right hander! punch Andy led the club In home runs at 19 and runs batted In at 74 and did some devastating clouting particularly In the early months of the season On April IS ho hit the WILLIE were times during the 1969 season when Willie Davis must have felt like a clay pigeon He suffered a broken arm when hit by Claude Raymond in Spring training His cheek was smashed by Dan McGinn In June and Juan Marichal decked him with a pitch behind hia right ear In July It too long after that Willie following an for 6 night in Pittsburgh talked of retirement and the thought he might join the pro golfing tour in 1970 But a strange thing happened to him on the way to the links He hit In thirty one con secutive games for an alUime Dodger record and the third best National League streak Suddenly Willie found his name associated with Joe Dimaggio Rogers Horn sby Stan Muslal Tommy Holmes George Sisler Ty Cobb and other streakamiths of the past Willie's consecutive game fling was the result of a change in batting style first Dodger Stadium grand slam home run by a Dodger since Willie Davis socked one in September of 1964 His six runs batted In that day tied Loa Angeles Dodger club records set by rank Howard and Ron airly Twice he had HB1 Sarnes and over the season he rove in three or inore runs nine times In August he had a five game RBI streak driving In nine runs during the string Originally the property of the Minnesota Twins a club which sought his return during the interleague trading phase last Winter Kosco went to the Yankees in 1968 8 X' 1 WSBBik liM 9M IK TOM Aformcr University of Illinois quarterback Tom Haller came to the Dodgers In one of tho rare duals with their deadly rivals from San rancisco The ex Glanl quickly proved the deal a good one when no won top honors among the Dodgers in 1968 He was their "Mr Clutch" and the Long Beach Independent Brest Telegram named him Dodger of the Year an honor also awarded him by the baseball Writers of Los Angeles at their annual banquet In Haller delivered more game whining hits thun any Dodger hit337 ut Dodger Stadium and hnd a acason mnrk of 285 thirty points higher than his career average He also was the tofhhitting catcher in the major leagues His 1969 season was not comparable but Haller nevertheless caught in 147 games and only two National League receivers saw more action I JSBri' bbMmK i IlWT 1 14 1 BOBBY Bobby Valentine is a graduate of Rippowan High und If that sounds like something out of a fiction book well read on He scored 53 touchdowns in high school and was AU Conncctlcut for three years He received 250 college scholarship offers but he turned them down to Sign with tho Dodgers after being their No 1 selection In the Spring draft of 1968 Bushing off to Ogden and pro baseball the day after he was graduated from high school Bobby was selected the league's bcstccn terf Iclder Converted to shortstop In spring training of 1961) Bobby played shortstop for Spokane last season and hit 19 doubles 5 triples 3 homers and drove In 35 runs while stealing 34 bases He finished the year with the Dodgers and although he didn't have an official at bat he scored three runs He has attended classes at both USC and Arizona State 1 I IW JBHrl Bj'J A 1 a JIplSA bH JT 1 if isfeo hL I wi BILL (Young Blood or Super Tabbed as "Super by his teammates Bill Russell hopes to make that title an alliterative "Super In and he may be doing it at a new position All year long as the kid from Kansas was playing the out field for the Dodgers he was working out before games as an infielder After the aeason was completed he joined the Winter Instructional League and Tom Lasorda and scout Monty Basgall continued his tutoring in that direction At the end of Arizona play no one had any doubt Russell could play the infield but there was some controversy whether he looked better at third base or short He was scheduled for a lot of both in Spring training Russell one of the fastest and smoothest runners the Dodgers have owned in some time showed early season authority at the plate He broke into the majors with a pinch double off Jim Merritt and in his "first full game got three hits in cluding a triple and homer He went into May with a 300 plus average RAY The Dodgers get involved In heavy trading during the off season but vice president Red Patterson proposed one deal just for laughs considering trading (Ray) Lamb to quipped Red "That way the Pirates could offer Lamb (Bob) Veale and (Bob) The Dodgers had no serious thoughts of trading Lamb He was one of the pleasant surprises in the relief department working in 10 games and compiling a 190 earned run average Ray on the Dodgers' 40 man roster last Spring but he looked good in lorida and was on the Dodger team which headed West He was sent to Spokane just before the NL season opened but was called up during the late Summer to bolster the Dodger bullpen Lamb lost 15 pounds in Arizona during the winter of 1968 and he credits the weight reduction as a big factor in his improvement in 1969 Ray was born and still resides in Glendale As a pitcher at Hoover High he developed late in his prep career and then came on strong and helped USC win conference titles in 1964 and 1966 BILL (Suds or Another of the unusual experiments which have studded Dodger history will be attempted in 1970 when Bill Sudakis will try to make the change from third base to duty behind tho plate gave it a whirl at the urging of Tom Lasorda during Arizona Instructional League play and in its first chapter the trial met with great success Bill came up from Albuquerque of the Texas League in 1968 and broke in brilliantly as a Dodger He hit a home run In his first big league game was hitting 444 after a week of action and had a grand slammer to his credit Sudakis had been the co winner of MVP honors in the Texas League and his 363 average in Arizona that Winter put him in a spot to nail down third base with the Dodgers for some time to come Now in the ever changing Dodger picture he finds himself wearing a mitt pads and a face mask During 1969 Sudakis had a notable batting streak of eighteen games the longest until Willie Davis put together a 31 game skein JOE One of the candidates for the No 4 starting berth with the Dodgers this season is Joe Moeller Joe started four times last year and the Dodgers won three of the games he opened In April he went 6 1 3 Innings against the Padres and was credited with a 2 to win In July he allowed the Braves only two runs in eight in nings but the Dodgers didn't win It until the ninth Joe was battered by the Giants his next time out and In his final start (In September) the Dodgers finally won 3 to 2 in the twelfth by which time Joe had been shaved and showered A bright prospect when he was signed for a hefty bonus in 1961 Joe moved from Reno to Greenville to Spokane in his first season Sundry injuries and lack of his early sharp control kept him on the Spokane Los Angeles shuttle mucn oi nis career ms year with the Dodgers was in 1966 when he started pitched long ana short relief and finished with a 251 earned run average Skipper Walt Alston commended Joe for handling "the toughest job you can give a a.