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; — — ■ — ; r- r-— v Shantz Has Special Cheering Section Pull for Comeback By Little Pitcher Southpaws Recent Effort Against Yanks Big Boost To Kansas City Fans, Self By STEVE SNIDER United Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, N. Y., May 4.— Kansas City is wild about all the Athletics but the one with the biggest cheering section outside the frantic fringe is the little pitcher with the fighters heart — Bobby Shantz. After two bitter years in virtual despair, wee Bobby made a start up the comeback trail against the Yankees last week with a nifty three-hit shutout that brought back memories of 52 when he was the toast of baseball as the American leagues Most Valuable Player. Maybe he wont win many more but even his foes wish him well as long as he wins at the expense of someone else. The pros never knock a guy they regard as a "real pro" and thats Bobby to -the core. As pitchers go, Shantz still is comparatively young at 29. Yet there were times the last two seasons when his arm and shoulder felt like 50. "I dont know how much longer Ill be around," he muttered sadly - just a year ago almost to the day. "I havent the slightest idea whether Ill ever be able to throw normally again." Almost Called It Quits The miseries in his left arm were mysteries right through spring training this year and he was almost resigned to calling it quits. He has no trade other than throwing a baseball for large sums of money but he figured maybe somebody in Philadelphia — where he had played for six seasons — could use a willing worker who carried 138 pounds on a five-foot, six-inch * frame. "Ive been to some of the best doctors in the country," he said, "but they cant find anything wrong with my arm." Shantz continually felt pain and throbbing in his meal-ticket arm. And what" he showed in his first two outings for the new Kansas City As this year was completely discouraging. He blew his first one to the White Sox and nine days later tried it again when the White Sox came to Kansas City. In that one, wee Bobby was the first pitcher in what finally became a 29 to 6 rout. He lasted just a bit more than one inning. But he came back in less than a week to trip the Yankees with his three-hitter, winning so handily he not only didnt mention any pain but reported he "didnt get a bit tired" although he was on the bases con-""stantly. When he had it in his top year — 1952 — Shantz did everything superlatively. In ad-dition-to winning 24 and losing only seven, he fielded his position better than his contemporaries, hit well and ran the bases like a demon. "When that little fellers pitching, its like giving the Athletics a fifth infielder," said Casey Stengel of the Yankees in admiration for Bobbys fielding ability. "No wonder hes so hard to beat." But late that season, while he was batting, an errant pitch broke his left wrist. Then next spring he injured his shoulder and posted a 5-9 record. Last year, still hopeless, he won one game and then sat down for the rest or the season. He took the bad news with a wry smile much like the one he wore when he was on top. Thats why Bobby always has a big cheering section.
