You Know the Names

To the baseball fans, lazily sunning themselves in St. Petersburg, Fla. last week, it was just another exhibition game. To New York Yankee Manager Casey Stengel, artfully juggling 16 players into the lineup, it was another chance to solve his three most pressing problems: 1) a man to replace retired Centerfielder Joe DiMaggio; 2) an infielder to fill the gap when Second Baseman Gerry Coleman goes back to Marine flying duty; 3) another starting pitcher to rotate with his three proven performers, Vic Raschi (21-10), Ed Lopat (21-9), and Allie Reynolds (17-8).

The particular problem of beating the Boston Red Sox that day was of mere academic interest. It was solved in typical Yankee fashion: a two-run pinch double by lumbering (230 lbs.) Johnny Mize, now 39, but still able to wield a potent bat. Final score: 7-4. After the game Stengel said happily: "A hitter like John can rifle that ball even if he has to be wheeled up to the plate.* He'll win or help win some games for us in the pinch this year, same as last."

"I Got . . ." Stengel was truculently happy about a lot of things. As if answering unspoken criticism, and, as usual, rarely mentioning a player by name, Stengel talked with pride of his world champions: "I got the best outfield in the business . . . I'm five deep ... No other club's got more than two . . . What's the matter with Hank Bauer and Gene Woodling? Nothing! They could play for any team. I got those three kids [Mickey Mantle, Jackie Jensen and Bob Cerv]. They can hit; they can run; they can throw.

"I got the best shortstop in baseball [Phil Rizzuto, Most Valuable Player in the American League in 1950] ... I got the best catcher [Yogi Berra, 1951 M.V.P.], and I got two others to back him up [Ralph Houk and Charlie Silvera]. If he [Berra] wasn't such a good hitter, I'd play the others more. They can catch as good."

"I've Been Saying . . ." Stengel paused to take a swig of beer, and went on: "I got this guy [Infielder Gil McDougald]. He may look funny at bat [average: .306], but he was the best rookie last year. He can play second or third. I don't know where I'll play him . . . I'm still experimenting ... I still got the best utility infielder [Billy Martin*] in the majors . . . And how about that guy [$65,000 bonus-boy Andy Carey] on third today? Got three hits, didn't he? . . . What's the matter with my man on first [Joe Collins]? He can hit [.286]. He can field. Name me a better one in the league.

"I've been saying all along that our pitching would be better this year ... I got those three [Raschi, Lopat and Reynolds], and that other fellow [Johnny Sain] could come back. We'll have [Tom] Morgan (9-3) for the whole season. And that other fellow [Frank Shea] looks twice as good as when he finished up last fall [5-5], Cleveland may have better pitching than we do, but no one else."

By week's end, Stengel's optimism seemed more than justified. His champions, eying their fourth straight pennant, were already playing at a pennant clip. They had won six out of seven games, had pounded out 89 hits, scored 47 runs. And Stengel's much-criticized two-platoon outfield was hitting at a .400 pace. Despite the' Yankees' pre-season getaway, Stengel is too canny to come right out and predict another pennant: "Hell, every club is better this year. Cleveland's got that new pitcher [Sam Jones]. Detroit will be tougher now that he [Pitcher Art Houtteman] is back. Hornsby will make them [the St. Louis Browns] tougher . . . It'll be quite a season."

* The modern view. Cobb, rickety afoot after 24 years in the majors, hung up his spikes after a season (1928) in which he batted a thumping .323.

* Who broke his ankle in a freak accident last week while demonstrating how to slide for his good friend Joe DiMaggio's television film.

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