Aug. 30, 1964 - Leo Durocher was sizing up just a couple of the many Cardinal heroes today after the Redbirds scored their sixth straight victory, 5-1, over the hapless Dodgers behind Curt Simmons’ four-hit pitching.
“Simmons is a much better pitcher now than when he threw that big fastball,” the L.A. coach said. “Sometimes he threw a curve, but mostly it was his fastball. It was a good one, but you knew it was coming, and you could get set for it.”
As for Simmons’ fielding, Durocher said of Curt’s play on a bunt by Maury Wills, “Maury was out from here to the next block.”
Durocher grew even more admiring when he talked about Bill White (pictured), who again delivered a key blow, a sixth-inning double off a lefty, Larry Miller. The two-bagger drove in Dick Groat, who had doubled also, and White came home with the go-ahead run on a third double by Julian Javier.
Recalling that White signed with the Giants when he was managing that club, Durocher said he watched Bill work out only 15 minutes before a game in Pittsburgh.
“That was enough for me,” Lippy said. “I said to hide him in the clubhouse and lock the door until we could sign him. We had to be careful. Branch Rickey was there, and George Sisler.” (Both were with the Pirates.)
Durocher was out of baseball when Bing Devine obtained White from the Giants for pitcher Sam Jones.
“I understand the Cardinals tried to get Leon Wagner first, then Willie Kirkland, but had to settle for White,” Durocher said. “I said then that I wouldn’t have traded White for nine Sam Joneses.”
White’s memory is as sharp as his batting eye and his fielding have been in a surge that has lifted the Cards within seven games of the first-place Phillies.
“All I asked from the Giants was enough of a bonus to cover the cost of my college education, but Leo said, ‘Give the kid $500 extra,’” White recalled. “He didn’t have to do that. I got $4,700, including my first-year salary in the minors.”
White had another special reason for being grateful to Durocher.
“Leo gave me my first pair of new baseball spikes,” White said. “You don’t forget those things. When I tried out with the Giants, I had a pair of spikes two sizes too big, and they had yellow laces.”
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