Dick Young Had a Way With Words--Colorful

New York Post columnist Dick Young, who died Monday at 69, wrote some of his best leads when he covered the Brooklyn Dodgers for the New York Daily News during the 1940s and ‘50s, recalls Fred McMane, assistant sports editor of United Press International.

Once, after the Dodgers had routed the Giants, 21-6, Young began his report of the game: “This story belongs on Page 3--with the rest of the ax murders.”

When 6-foot 8-inch pitcher Gene Conley of the Milwaukee Braves made an error that contributed to a costly loss for his team during the 1956 pennant race, Young parodied a watch commercial of the day: “Long Gene made the world’s most honored botch.”

Young covered the Mets after the Dodgers left Brooklyn for Los Angeles and chronicled their division-clinching victory in 1969 with these words: “In the most momentous accident since Columbus set out for India, the Amazin’ Mets last night clinched the National League East. The rest will be easy.”

Young, however, never got credit for his one of his best leads.

After Don Larsen, widely known as a man about town, had pitched his perfect game against Brooklyn in the 1956 World Series, the writer for the Daily News struggled for a way to begin the story.

Young, always willing to help, leaned over and said quietly: “How about, ‘The imperfect man pitched the perfect game yesterday.’ ”

One Potato . . . To scuffballs and corked bats on the list of innovative baseball tactics in the 1987 season, add potatoes.

Williamsport catcher Dave Bresnahan threw a potato to third base Monday during an Eastern League game with the Reading Phillies.

Reading’s Rick Lundblade, not realizing that the object was a spud, raced for home, where Bresnahan pulled a baseball from his mitt and tagged him out.

Lundblade and Reading Manager George Culver protested, however, and plate umpire Scott Potter ruled Lundblade safe at home.

Williamsport Manager Orlando Gomez didn’t think much of Bresnahan’s ploy. “I fined him $50,” he said Monday. “It was an unthinkable act for a professional.”

On Tuesday, Williamsport released Bresnahan.

Ohio Governor Richard Celeste long ago abandoned his hopes that Ohio could have an I-71 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians.

Cleveland is in last place in the American League East, and the Reds have plunged from first to third in the National League West in recent weeks.

Celeste, addressing a road contractors’ convention, said that he had suggested earlier in the year to Warren Smith, Ohio’s director of transportation, that the state prepare to improve and widen Interstate 71 between Cincinnati and Cleveland to handle possible World Series traffic.

“Warren, you can forget about that project until next year,” Celeste said to Smith.

Only in New York: The San Diego Padres ran into some trouble last week on their way to Shea Stadium for a game against the Mets.

The driver of the team bus turned against a traffic policeman’s wishes and eight officers quickly surrounded the vehicle, forcing it to stop.

It was then discovered that there were problems with the driver’s registration, so the Padres had to abandon the bus downtown during rush hour and wait for another. The Padres got to the ballpark just in time for batting practice.

Quotebook

Syd Thrift, the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager who has traded away nearly all of the team’s top-priced players: “No one in baseball has done a better job than I have. It ain’t easy resurrecting the dead. If this club was worth ‘X’ dollars when I took over, it’s worth a whole lot more now.”