Those Versatile * v N. Y. Yankees By FRANCIS STANN RUTH was more than the most dominating figure in the Babehistory of baseball. He also was one of the most versatile, a great pitcher who became a greater hitter. For all his bulk, he was a fine outfielder, defensively, and in exhibitions often performed ca- pably at first base. By design or happy accident. Casey Stengel's present-day Yankees, who open the American League season against the Senators in Griffith Stadium on April 17. owe much of their success to their own versa- tility. Not since the great clubs of 1936-1939 have the Yankees un- qualifiedly been called great, yet their record over the last nine seasons has been unparalleled, to wit: Seven pennants. r Six world championships. 1/ 'Bnp sb A second-place in 1954 twinning 103 games!i. A third-place in 1948. when Bucky Harris was fired as manager //r for finishing two games from the top. ij i Last season, the Yankees had two of the best hitting pitchers in Don Larsen and Tommy Byrne, who not only broke up games for themselves but for other pitchers when used as pinch-hitters. Now they have the best three on any club, with the addition of Maury McDermott, late of the Senators CONTINUED ¦mm * 4 fBBBy p 4 S* am 4- m . S Wm. ‘ Hts mr . 4pjF ’ tf'* r . .. Star Photo by John Mueller Photo by Jack Ramsdell Named three times as the most valuable player in the American League, Irv Noren, familiar to Washington Senator fans os centerfielder and first Yogi Berra, Yankee catcher, has other talents: he con field and play third. baseman, ploys left field for the Yonks, but con still pick them off at first. 10 THE SUNDAY STAB MAGAZINE. WASHINGTON. D C, AMIt ». 1956.