Thursday, October 2, 1975
rHE MICHIGAN DAILY
rage Nine
Thursday, October 2, 1975 [HE MICHIGAN DAILY vage Nine
Even -i
it Hurts
Leba Hertz -
Casey Sten el ...
.amazin'
CHARLES DILLON STENGEL passed away late Monday night.
But the man known simply as "Casey" will live forever in
the hearts of baseball fans throughout the country.
Spartans demote Smith;
Michigan's Lund in line?
I
Stengel broke into baseball in 1912
ers. Casey was the only man to be a
another, of all four major league clubs
Dodgers, Giants, Yankees, and Mets.
with the Brooklyn Dodg-
member, at one time or
in New York City - the
In 1948, the '01' Perfessor' became manager of the Yankees.
In 12 years with the organization, he won 10 pennants and 7
World Series. But in 1960 when his ballclub lost the Series in the
seventh game to Pittsburgh, Dan Topping, president of the Yan-
kees, announced that Stengel had retired. Casey said, "I was
fired."
The old man's career in baseball was apparently over.
The man, despite his clowning and colorful language, was
perhaps one of the most successful managers in the game.
But George Weiss, the general manager of the newly
formed New York National League franchise, had a different
idea. He wanted Casey to pilot the club.
Little did anyone. know what the world was in for. In 1961,1
Casey Stengel became manager of the worst ball club in the
history of baseball - the New York Mets. In the Macy's Thanks-
giving Parade, Stengel claimed, "the Mets are gonna be amaz-
in"'. And amazing they were. Stengel contributed much to their
laughable success.
Had to endure defeat
In the Mets' first season they won 40 games and lost 120-
a major league record. As a matter of fact, the Mets finished
dead last for the next four years under Casey. In those years,
however, over five million people came out to see this team.
One of the main reasons was Stengel. From the beginning,
he knew the Mets couldn't be very good, but even he had no
concept that they would be that bad.
On the very first day of training camp in 1962, Stengel de-
cided to teach his team a few basics of the game. He marched
his players from base to base and said:
"Let me show you where the bases are. (he stops at first)
Now if you get to first base you can make a living in New
York because everybody wants to support a new team and
the public expects their best and the Polo Grounds is an old
friend, but a new one (Shea Stadium) is being built."
Stengel then proceeded to second and third base, and con-
tinued with the same sort of explanation. When he arrived at
home plate he remarked, "This is where you make your living
when you score, and they tell you that the distance is the same,
but you will find out that is not so, 'cause it's longer to get here.
Everybody got it. Let's commence playing."
When someone in spring training asked the Professor where
his team would finish that year, Casey accurately reported
"Chicago". He also felt there was some hope for the outfield.
Gus Bell had eight children, Richie Ashburn and Frank
Thomas had six apiece. "If they produce as well on the field as
they do off the field, we'll win the pennant," quipped Stengel.
The Mets, however, lost their first nine games and finished
the month of April with a 5-16 record.
By RAY O'HARA
Michigan State University an- "
nounced yesterday that Burt II l ,IV
Smith has been removed fromv<f
the job of Athletic Director. He
will continue at MSU in an un- Io
specified role, unrelated to ath-
letics. NIGHT EDITOR:
In a statement made yester- SCOTT LEWIS
day morning, MSU Executive>
Vice-President Jack Breslin
stated that Smith would be re- trative responsibilities.$
assigned "in the best interests Breslin vigorously denied any'
of the university's athletic pro- connection between the removal
gram." of Smith and the NCAA investi-
The statement continued to gation into MSU recruitingE
say that the "high pressure" practices.z
of the job had adversely af- Nick Vista, Assistant Director
fected Smith's health and his of the MSU Sports Information
ability to handle his adminis- department, observed that thel
SHINES IN SCRIMMA
Porter paces
By RICH LERNER Trapp took scoring honors for
Forget Dave Bing, forget you the blue team with 31 points.;
ever heard of him. Lindsay Hairston, a fourth-
Kevin Porter, acquired from round draft pick from MSU,
the Washington Bullets during snared 13 rebounds, stole the#
the off-season in a trade for ball four times, and totaled 211
Bing, delighted an estimated points, to finish third among
1,800 fans at Crisler Arena last the scorers for the whites. AlI
night in the Detroit Pistons in- Eberhard tallied 24.
tra-squad game, leading the The "other Porter," Howard,
white team to a 142-139 victory scored 25 points on twelve for
over the Blue unit. eighteen from the floor and one
Seemingly all over the court, from the foul line, for the Blue
Porter collected 32 points and team.1
dished out sixteen assists. Thir- Earl Williams, a 6-8 center ac-
teen for fourteen from the floor, quired from Phoenix for Willie
the third-year pro out of St. Norwood, was impressive under
Francis (Pa.), continually drove the boards, especially offensive-
down the lane for buckets from ly, caging 19 caroms, including
short range, and passed off to 12 on the offensive side of the
teammates for equally good court. Williams scored 20 points,
shots. exclusively from short range.
THE NBA assist leader last THE PISTONS displayed their
year, Porter relished his as- new running style, and Coach
sists more than his own points. Ray Scott stressed the import-1
"I want to direct the offense. ance of last night's game. "ItI
I don't want to score," Porter means a lot, we're changing the
said. "I have to get the big guy whole system, and there's noth-
the shot and the off-guard the ing to be complacent about,"
shot." Scott said.
Thirteen players scored in Six-eleven center and captainI
double figures, and George of the Pistons, Bob Lanier
removal "had all the earmarks
of being involuntary" as far as
Smith was concerned. When ask-
ed if the administrative respon-
sibilities referred to in the state-
ment might be connected with
the investigation, Vista replied,
"Well, of course, you can draw
any inference you want."
Smith's health has been less
than excellent for some time.
He collapsed on the field while
he was an assistant coach in
1960 and was operated on in the
spring of this year for an ab-
dominal condition. At the time
doctors found several ulcers.
MSU recruiting has been the
subject of two investigations:
one by the NCAA's Dave Berst
and another by a committee
of MSU officials. There is
evidence that Smith's ouster
may have been the result of
the committee probe.
A high-ranking source on the
MSU committee stated that the
news "leaked a little premature
ly" but that the move had been
"in the wind for some time.'
The source also insisted that
Smith was not removed because
of the NCAA investigation.
Berst, the NCAA investigator
assigned to the MSU case, ex
pressed surprise at the incident
when contacted at the NCAA
offices in Shawnee Mission, Kan-
sas.
"You're the first person to
tell me about it," said Bers
who insisted that he did not
know of any plan to fireSmit
nor even that Smith had been
removed until he was telephoned
about it vesterdav afternoon.
T 'l;f if+~ AMf h
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1975 UAC Homecoming
Photography Contest
Entry deadline: Oct. 21, 1975
Theme: "Students Interacting"
Information and entry forms available at:
QUARRY PHOTO, State St.
PURCHASE CAMERA, S. University
t U CELLAR lower level, Michigan Union
UAC, 2nd floor, Michigan Unin
r SCHOOL OF ART
If you are interested in working on HOME-
COMING or need more information concerning
Homecoming events call R. Sherry or D. Lovett,
763-1107._
GE
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Jleft Elliott, vDrector of ine
sit Ten Service Bureau,
stated that MSU was to av-
played a little over half the near before the NCAA Infrac-
game while coaching the White tions Committee on October
team, scoring 16 points and met- 13 to formglly answer charges
ing out five assists. of recruiting violations. He
John Mengelt netted nineteen 'added, h o w e v e r, "I 'don't
points, Eric Money scored 11 imnine they'll (the NCAA)
points, and Jim Davis and Lon rle rieht away."
Kruger tallied five and two Smith's duties will be taken
points respectively to round out over by Jack Shingleton who is
the scoring for the Whites. nrrePtlv MSU Placement Serv-
Curtis Rowe knocked in 19 ice director. Shingleton w1ll oc-
Coints otheknlue9joining c'v both jobs simultaneously
points for the Blues, 'mg ntil a permanent Athletic Di-
Chris Ford and Archie Clark in r-tor can be found.
double figures. Oe of the names mentioned
The Pistons top draft pick is a possible replacement is
.L'pthat of Michigan Assistant AD
Walter Luckett of Ohio, played rTn T,"nd. "Lund might be a
nine minutes, scoring six points. ,didnte, blt that would be
Luckett missed free a ent- r vr r a rtivea on m art
&Jt*.t..LL fl~..t J. ~ ~ sfL ~ t *, tt Vt tSI *l3 jfl "
Special
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rookie camp because he had not n fr7ed Vista.
yet come to terms with the ,Llind cliamed that he h-d not
club, and appeared to be out 't eMSLT rost but that, "V
of shape as a result. SU ition hast plwas been that
On October 15 the Pistons will one is nresented with a
retrn o Cislr t ply te n,nrt,lnitv like that. me wo'l-
return to Criser to play the to investigate it." Fe said!
Cleveland Cavaliers and Cam- 1 the first he had heard of
py Russell in an exhibition con- hi; beine considered was from
test. I ,thni l 4 on Tuesday night.
Reg. to $12.00
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Reg. $13 to $15
Reg. $16 to $25.
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$5.00
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$9.00
Larry MacPhail diesa
IN DOWNTOWN
I MED'SANN A RBOR
Frnm R71rP V.Prvirr! R.pnnrtc
In addition, Stengel and his Mets found themselves on a Larry MacPhail, the baseball
broken down bus, a stuck elevator, and a double header that pioneer of his day, who brought
lasted 10 hours and 23 minutes. Of course, they lost the electric lights to the playing
doubleheader. A few weeks later on Father's Day Jim field and winning clubs every-
Sunning of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a perfect game. where he went, died yesterday
Stengel said, "I thought losing long was rough. Losing short morning at the age of 85.
with no men on ain't easy either." MacPhail built pennant win-
ners in Cincinnati and Brooklyn,
and returned the New York
Casey left a legacy Yankees to their glory years as
president and general manager
Stengel finally left the Mets in 1965, when he received a: of the club.
fractured hip five days before his 75th birthday. "I'm not going "He was dynamic, bombastic
to take any pitchers out with a cane, so I'll have to quit." ancurrent pesaident oGa he Ne
Before he left the Mets, Stengel left a legacy. His comments York Yankees. "He made many
on his players, whose names he couldn't get right half the time outstanding contributions to
-catcher Chris Canizzarro was called Canzoneri and first base- baseball, including the bringing
man Tim Harkness was Harshness-and his anecdotes on the of night baseball to the majors
inept play, showed his ability for making the most out of a bad at Cincinnati in 1935."
thing. When MacPhail brought lights
to Brooklyn's Ebbets Field in
One time, against the speedy Los Angeles team, Casey 1938, Johnny Vandermeer of
rambled on and on in true Stengelese style, "We come in Cincinnati tossed his second con-
I
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,
there and you never seen anything like it in your life. I find
I got a defensive catcher only who can't catch the ball. The
pitcher throws. Wild Pitch. Throws again. Passed ball.
Throws again. Oons! The ball drons out of the glove. And all
the time I am dizzy on account of those runners running
around in circles on me and so forth.
"Makes a man think. You look un and down the bench and
you have to say to yourself, 'Can't anybody here play this
game."',
Casey Stengel knew how to play the game. From his win-
ning years with the Yankees to his losing years with the Mets,
he always made an impression on the people who heard him.
No more will the fans be able to cheer Casey on Old Timers
Day as he draws more applause than Joe Dimaggio, Stan Musial
and Mickey Mantle. No more will the fans see a bird bly out of
his cap when he comes out to the mound. But his memory will
live on. His name is synonmous with baseball.
secutive no-hit game to cele-
brate the occasion.
But not all of MacPhail's
genius was in the area of
electrical innovations. Dubbed
the "Barnum of Baseball,"
MacPhail helped tear down
some of the national pastime's
stuffiness with promotions like
Old Timers Day, now a staple
on the baseball beat.
VETERAN
MAKE YOUR WEEKEND PAY
Michigan National Guard
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483-3184
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Everyone likes to keep snapshots.
We'll snap the ones you can't.
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MICHIGANENSIAN
U-M's Year in Review
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