Not Such A Tough Cookie

Although the Senators finished last in Cookie's first two seasons as manager, the team won more games each time than it had the year before. In 1959 young players like Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison joined the few standouts of the cellar season, Jim Lemon, Pedro Ramos and Camilo Pascual. Last year Cookie and Senator Owner Calvin Griffith made a fine trade, parting with Roy Sievers for Earl Battey and Don Mincher. Battey quickly developed into the best catcher in the league. Together these young players got the Senators out of last place. In fact, the team almost finished in the first division, falling to fifth in the last days of the season.

This year, as the transplanted Minnesota Twins, the team looks even better. There is a fine young shortstop, Zorro Versalles, and two good young left-handers, Jack Kralick and Jim Kaat. It is a coming team, not a pennant winner this year perhaps, but a threat for the future.

Recently Cookie was asked if, after all the attention he has received as manager, he could ever again be satisfied with coaching. A minute passed, and then Cookie said, "I just don't know. I can't tell. We'll just have to come to that bridge when we come to it."