Show ONeill O'Neill Is Tribes Tribe's Forgotten Man ManIn In American League Flag Race Key Performers Were Developed By Great Catcher By HARRY GRAYSON NEA Service Sports Editor BUFFALO Aug 28 Steve ONeill O'Neill is confident the team he built bunt will win the American league pennant and world series ONeill O'Neill the famous blocking backstop who caught of games for Cleveland's last championshIp championship championship cham cham- 20 years ago Is the forgotten man of the Indians' Indians drive First to Catch Feller FeHer ONeill O'Neill currently managing the Buffalo caught the first ball Robert Feller threw in professional pro pro- baseball in the exhibition ex ex- game with the St St. Louis Cardinals in which the fantastic farm boy then 17 struck out eight in three innings July 6 1936 It was ONeill O'Neill who rubbed the rough edges off Boy Bop Feller The youngster nearly cried when he heard that the fatherly Irishman was not to return as the Cleveland manager in 1938 The Jersey City manager wouldn't wouldn't would would- nt stand for Johnny Allens Allen's outbursts outbursts outbursts out out- bursts in 1931 so ONeill O'Neill took the fiery North Carolinian to Toronto Lectures Allen You remind me of a fighter claiming foul ONeill O'Neill told Allen AHen when the big right-hander right challenged challenged chal chal- an umpires umpire's judgment Get in there and pitch Allen did bagged 21 games I in the International league ONeill O'Neill recommended the trade which brought him from the Yankees Yankees Yan Yari- kees to the Redskins for Monte Pearson and Steve Sundra In the winter of 1935 It was ONeill O'Neill who first tried to get Al to throw sidearm when h he had two strikes on a lefthand lefthand left- left hand land hitter Recommends Smith ONeill O'Neill helped Al Smith develop I a screwball and urged Cyril Slap- Slap nicka to give and two vo players for th southpaw just before before be- be fore ore he was eligible for drafting last September 10 Larry Gilbert didn't want Hal Trosky in New Orleans in ONeill O'Neill took the large first baseman baseman base bas man to Toledo where he manufactured manufactured manufactured manu manu- 45 home runs Ken Keltner and Jeff Heath first reported to ONeill O'Neill in the fall of 1937 ONeill O'Neill had a hand in the development of Roy Weatherly But O'Neill's biggest contribution contribution contribution tion to the Tribe was his polishing of Lou Boudreau and Ray Mack Boudreau had been a third baseman baseman baseman base base- man and catcher when he reported to o Buffalo in the spring of 1939 Like his second base partner he had only one and a half haf seasons season's experience Taught Them the Trade ONeill O'Neill and Gregory the old White Sox and Red Sox shortstop helped au and Mack to quickly become one of the greatest double play combinations in n history Meanwhile Boudreau made Shortstop a coach Boudreau was taking my job but it was a pleasure to help those two kids beams Greg who is playing again The tricks were to correct their habit of pulling their throwing arms too far back in starting double plays thus hiding the ball from one another and losing precious precious precious pre pre- cious seconds and to get them to tolean tolean lean can In the direction in which the ball bail is most likely to be hit Leaning In n the right direction gives an Infielder a jump that is equal to two steps It Puzz Puzzles s Him lIim ONeill O'Neill Is among the many who vho cant can't understand the Cleveland mutiny None of ol the boys ever gave m me methe methe the slightest trouble he explains ONeill O'Neill was dismissed by bv the Cleveland club at the conclusion on of the 1937 campaign although although the club won 40 of its last 60 games I finished fou fourth h only a hop skip and jump out of second despite a leaky Infield and th the fact that Feller FeHer and Allen were out for weeks Feller had a elbow Allen an appendectomy ONeill O'Neill is as popular with the I Indians as aj Oscar Is lar Several of ot the Indians say that If Vitt is retained next spring Alva Aha Bradley will vili have to get a anew anew anew new club Alva Bradley might save hImself himself him hIm- self sell a lot of trouble by giving the club back to the man who built Its It's tou foundation Steve foundation datlo Steve ONeill I F ri r i- i ii t t fr it i- i I 4 STEVE ONEILL O'NEILL |