Stengel's Staff

There was nothing surprising about the scores; the New York Yankees were supposed to beat their kissin' cousins, the Kansas City Athletics--even if the A's were in second place. Still, there was something special about the doubleheader that dragged through a damp afternoon and evening at Yankee Stadium last week. For those two games told the story of American League baseball in the summer of 1958: when Yankee hitters were hot, their pitchers held off the opposition and they breezed home (10-2). When Yankee hitters were helpless, their pitchers held off the opposition and they squeezed home (2-1). Whatever the bats banged out, Yankee Manager Casey Stengel could produce a pitcher to pull out the ball game.

Out of his remarkable pitching roster, the Old Perfesser can pick such aces as Southpaws Whitey Ford and Bobby Shantz and his reformed playboy. Righthander Don ("Perfect Game") Larsen; if they tire, as a reliever he has Fireballer Ryne Duren. who has saved nine ball games, struck out 40 of the 80 men he has faced. And every four days, he can send out the burly (6 ft. 2 in., 218 lbs.) insurance agent who is currently the best pitcher in the majors: Robert Lee Turley.

Bob Turley wins all by himself. So far this season, he has started twelve games, finished and won ten. He boasts 74 strikeouts, is nursing a stingy earned-run average of 2.21. After five years of firing baseballs just about as fast as anyone in the big leagues, "Bullet Bob" has finally figured out how to keep his shots on target. In the second game of last week's doubleheader, Turley stayed zeroed in until the Athletics' veteran reliever, Virgil Trucks, walked home the winning run.

The secret of his new steadiness surprises Turley himself with its simplicity: he has learned how to breathe. Before every pitch, he takes a deep, relaxing breath, and "it loosens my shoulder muscles." Turley considers pitching "an exercise in psychology," is willing and anxious to learn from anyone who can help. From Don Larsen he learned the no-wind-up style that aids his control and concentration. From careful observation of his own failures, he learned to shorten his stride so that he no longer bangs his right elbow against his left knee when he follows through after a pitch. Unnecessary bases on balls and a chronic soreness in the elbow of his salary arm have disappeared almost overnight. "All I throw," says Turley, "is a fast ball, a curve, a slider and a changeup." The record proves the repertory to be more than rich enough.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.