Four Outfielders for Yankee Garden: Stengel Says He Can Get Along with Mapes, Bauer, Woodling and Di Maggio, Daily Racing Form, 1950-05-12

article


view raw text

Four Outfielders For Yankee Garden Stengel Says He Can Get Along With Mapes/ Bauer, Woodling and Di Maggio By FRED DOWN United Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, N. Y., May 11 UP.— Casey Stengel, who juggled New York Yankee outfielders like tenpins last year, figures he can get along with only four this year. "Switching guys around is O. K.," Stengel said today. "But its like carrying four watermelons. It gets mighty tiresome after awhile." Stengel said he would use Cliff Mapes in right field against all types of pitching and would alternate Hank Bauer and Gene Woodling in left. Joe Di Maggio, of course, will see regular duty in center field, his health permitting. "Id hoped to give the college kid more work," Stengel said, referring to bonus player Jackie Jensen, "but he doesnt have the experience." Stengels new outfield plans establish Mapes as a regular for the first time in his Yankee career. He batted only .247 in 111 games last season, but proved to be one of the best defensive outfielders in the league. "He oughta hit pretty good," said Casey, stroking his chin and with a characteristic wink. "Big and strong— hits the long ball-runs good. Hell be all right." Impressive Young Player Bauer is rated the Yankees most impressive young player by many American League managers and scouts, but saw little service against right-handed pitching in 1949. "I hit all pitching in the minors," Bauer moaned. "How can they tell I cant hit em fall if I dont get a chance to swing at em all?" Stengel admits Bauer has the power and speed to become a star, but respects Wood-lings steady hitting and bear-down play. The sturdy little left-handed hitter played 112 games last season and finished with a .270 batting average despite a late-season slump. "He helped a lot in the early going," Stengel recalled. "He kept hittin around .320 through June, and hes been hittin good this year. I cant pull him now. And who says Ill ever have to?" The Yankees have been hitting hard, with Di Maggio the lone regular below .300. Joe is bogged down at .247, but the Yankees arent worrying. "His timings off, and he knows it." says Stengel. "But I aint going to worry about him. The big thing is his health. As long as his is good, the pitchers are going to be bad."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1950051201/drf1950051201_2_3
Local Identifier: drf1950051201_2_3
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800