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"I hope, eventually, to be a bench manager," says Stanky. "But all of these fellows will need a rest now and then [the average age of the Cardinals makes them one of the oldest clubs in baseball], and I expect to play plenty." One guess, if Bilko does not make it this time: Stanky will be on second and Second Baseman Schoendienst ("He can play anywhere") will move to first. Otherwise, Stanky expects to be yapping and howling in the third-base coaching box. His basic strategy, says Eddie, is bunt, run, squeeze: "We have paid too much attention to the home run. The time has come to return to primary weapons."
Old (66) Doc Weaver, who has seen nine changes in Cardinal managers since Branch Rickey hired him 26 years ago to ease the aches & pains of Cardinal athletes, sums up Stanky's managerial qualifications: "If a club owner wants a man that's all business, a real all-out go-getter, then he's got the right fellow." Branch Rickey, in a tone of deep respect, says it another way: "He's Gashouse."
* American League record: 170, set in 1923 by Babe Ruth, who got most of his because pitchers were afraid of his home-run power.
** The year that Durocher sat on the sidelines at the order of Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler.
*** Players call it the ulcer circuit