, the legendarily irascible character who returned to the major leagues in 1966 after a 10-year managerial absence, as skipper of the Chicago Cubs. Leo didn't like a lot of things, and his mood wasn't improved any by the fact that the hapless Cubs finished a dreadful 59-103 during Durocher's first year with the club.
"I've ordered sneakers for our next trip to Houston," Leo said."You can't grab that phony grass with spikes. I've seen their man, [third baseman Bob] Aspromonte, charge in and go astern over teakettle. You can't make quick stops on that stuff.""Then, we'll change into spikes," he said."Let the umpires holler, if it takes time. I don't care. I have a right to protect my men.""No," said Durocher."Just the outfielders.
Bill Giles is a liar. That's the most bust thing of all, that and the business of the shower when a pitcher is taken out of the game. They play all that sad music, and the cartoon shows the manager coming out to get him, and the guy bowing his head and walking to the shower. They made me so mad the other day with [Cubs pitcher Dick] Ellsworth. You heard about that?""Well, he pitches the ball, and something pulls in his side.
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