Scouting Report Braves

PITCHERS

21 WARREN SPAHN
Throws L, 20-11, 3.08 ERA
One of the great pitchers in the history of baseball, Spahn this year had a 20-victory season for ninth time, more than any other left-hander who ever pitched—and that list includes Lefty Grove, Carl Hubbell, Eddie Plank and Rube Waddell, among others. Now that his fast ball isn't what it used to be, he's developed a screwball and a slider to compensate. Has great control, deception. Always pitches to spots; when his control is off he's in trouble. An excellent fielder and a fine hitter.

16 CARLTON WILLEY
Throws R, 9-5, 2.52 ERA
Tall, lanky down-Easter from Maine had a fine minor league record last year (21-6) but was farmed out again this season, didn't get real chance until he was called back to Braves in June. Along with fellow youngsters Jay and Pizarro he came through beautifully, really saved the pennant for Milwaukee. Willey is primarily a fast-ball pitcher; his fast one "moves" well. But it's best as a high pitch, and as a result it may not be too effective against fast-ball-hitting Yanks.

34 JUAN PIZARRO
Throws L, 6-3, 2.25 ERA
Came out of Puerto Rico to sensational debut in Sally League two years ago, moved up quickly to Milwaukee. Bounced up and down between parent club and minors until this summer, when he finally seemed to mature as pitcher. Has a great fast ball, complemented now by two varieties of screwball, one fast and one slow, that serve as change of pace. Experience has helped: Juan has poise now. He's a fine athlete, and Yanks should find him a good hitter, a fast base runner, a capable fielder.

33 LEW BURDETTE
Throws R, 19-10, 3.01 ERA
The man who smothered the Yankees last Series (two shutouts, three victories) had a bad spring this year, but when summer started so did Burdette. Won 11 of 13 over one stretch, pitched some of best ball of his career. Uses fast ball sparingly around other pitches (some curves but mostly sinker and screwball). His effectiveness against Yanks was result of near genius in keeping ball low, low, low. Constantly fidgeting on mound. Very colorful. Good hitter; fair fielder.

10 BOB BUHL
Throws R, 5-2, 3.60 ERA
One of mainstays of the Braves' staff in previous three seasons, Buhl suffered disabling arm injury in May, did not pitch again until September. Looks to be in good shape physically and probably will start against Yanks, though he failed twice against them last year. Throws fast ball, with occasional slider. Works quickly, has good control. Used to have herky-jerky motion, but in recent starts seems to have smoothed it out considerably. Poor hitter, ordinary fielder.

20 DON McMAHON
Throws R, 7-2, 3.86 ERA
If Series should develop into duel of relief pitchers, Braves are in splendid shape with big, young Don McMahon. This massive New York Irishman has a baby face and a grownup fast ball. He's the "short" relief man in Fred Haney's bullpen: he comes on late in the game and simply rears back and pours the ball through for an inning or two. McMahon had one of the best earned run averages in the National League and he's been similarly effective this season. Not much with bat or glove.

BOARD OF STRATEGY
Prior to mid-June of 1956, when he was placed in charge of the Milwaukee Braves, FRED HANEY'S (2) big league managerial career was notably unsuccessful: he had managed two teams, Pittsburgh and the St. Louis Browns, and in five full seasons had finished last four times, sixth once. He had been discharged, as Casey Stengel would put it, from both positions. With Milwaukee, however, it has been different. He has won two pennants, and it would have been three had not the Braves collapsed on the final weekend of the 1956 season. Fred Haney, 5 feet 6 without spikes, is the shortest manager in baseball. He began playing professionally during World War I, was an infielder with four major league clubs during the '20s. He started managing in 1935 with Toledo, gave it up for radio announcing from 1943 to 1948 before returning to the dugout and eventual success. Shortly after Milwaukee won the 1957 World Series, Manager Haney fired most of his coaching staff. He hired WHITLOW WYATT (31) as pitching coach, and it is Wyatt, a veteran of 16 years in the majors, who is given considerable credit for the outstanding performances of Milwaukee's trio of young pitchers: Carlton Willey, Joey Jay and Juan Pizarro. Coaching third and first will be BILLY HERMAN (8) and JOHN FITZPATRICK (3), two former players with contrasting careers. Herman played in 10 consecutive All-Star Games and four Series. Fitzpatrick played 22 years and never made the majors.

THE BENCH
Except in pitching, the Braves do not have first-rate reserve strength. Two best bench men are FELIX MANTILLA (5) and ANDY PAFKO (48). Felix is the lithe, graceful Puerto Rican who filled in so well in the field for Red Schoendienst in last year's Series. A shortstop by trade, and a good one, he proved himself a surprisingly capable outfielder this season, platooning in center with Billy Bruton. Trouble is, he can't hit. Pafko is, at 37, Milwaukee's answer to New York's Enos Slaughter. All hustle and drive, Andy is still a good outfielder, a good pinch hitter, a player who gives all that he has all the time, DEL RICE (7), famed as one of the slowest runners in baseball, is a smart catcher; he's not much of a hitter, though he does have power, HARRY HANEBRINK (6) is a versatile infielder-outfielder-pinch-hitter, but he's not one to worry rival managers into insomnia. Nor is CASEY WISE (27), who earns his salary primarily as a defensive infield substitute. GENE CONLEY (22), 6-foot 8-inch stringbean, was once one of Braves' pitching mainstays, but now he's mostly a fill-in man, unlikely to see much Series service, BOB RUSH (17) is an erratic pitcher, but when his sinking fast ball is working right he is a most effective workman and could bother the Yankees, JOEY JAY (47) is considered by many to be the best of the fabulously good young Milwaukee pitchers, but an arm injury sidelined him through the late weeks of the season. He has speed, control, a fine variety of pitches, great poise and confidence. Right-handers BOB TROWBRIDGE (30) and HUMBERTO ROBINSON (49) are Fred Haney's "long" relief men, the "middle" men who hold the opposition until it's time for Don McMahon. Trowbridge, a big man, throws breaking stuff mostly. Robinson, a Panamanian who is as reedy as Trowbridge is husky, has a sidearm sinker that can be very annoying.