| Show SPORTS PARADE i By Oscar Fraley J r NEW V YORK April 10 UP Bob UP-Bob Bob Elliotts Elliott's march into the baseI baseball baseball base base- I ball sunset may have been hastened when he was traded to the New York Giants but you wont won't be able to sell that theory to the 11 big blond with the chin like a chisel Plans call for the Giants to keep Bobby Thomson at third and shift Elliott back to the outfield which he played early I t in his career Y ELI At 35 most ball players would be reluctant reluctant reluctant re re- to surrender the limited territory i rf 5 around third base to roam again the themore themore i. i a r more vast reaches of ever-changing ever major 2 league pastures But Elliott a team man manof manof manof of the highest caliber insists Ive always always always al al- d ways kept In good shape and recalls f xi that third base once looked even more morer r r r j I difficult than playing the outfield I 4 Back in 1942 when I was playing I t the outfield for Pittsburgh Elliott recalls reI recalls re re- calls Jeep Handley was injured in an r 4 automobile accident and the Pirates i and were re t desperate for a third baseman I was as Bob Dob Elliott nominated Frankie Frisch then piloting the Bucs went to big Bob and told him Third base is a breeze It will add 18 years to your playing career Walloped in Stomach The very first day Elliott was walloped in the stomach by bya a a. line drive and knocked flat Frisch hurried out to him and Bob looked up grinned wryly and gasped There go 10 of those 18 years ears But he stayed with it and by 1947 was named the National r Leagues League's most valuable player The honor pleased him but the theman theman I man his Boston Brave mates called Mr Team celebrated by predicting the club would win sin the pennant the next season With Bob starring in the hot corner it did In the years since Frisch shifted Elliott to third Bob has become become become be be- come one of the most proficient third basemen in the game gamer So it itis itis itis is a tribute in a way to Thomson Thoms n that the Giants Giants plan to keep brawny Bobby on third and send ElIi Elliott tt to the outfield Will Vill Have to Work York But it will have to work or a quick switch will be made For there is no question that the Giants bought one of the biggest clutch sticks in the league when they sent Sheldon Jones and a neat package of pocket lettuce to the Braves for Elliott They may have incidentally bought the pennant Monte l Irvins Irvin's broken ankle made it necessary and the Giants came up with a big man Proof is that Elliott EIliott is the only active National Leaguer with more than 1000 runs batted in to his credit I In 13 years he lie has driven home 1099 Country Slaughter has in 11 years Stan in 10 Bill Nicholson in 14 years II I and Phil Cavarretta but in 18 years I And that left field fence is almost 60 feet closer in the Polo grounds than it is in Braves' Braves Field Which in itself should compensate compensate compensate com com- Elliott for the threat of reduced years years years-a a team player who would willingly swap a couple of seasons for a pennant |
