1952 Yankee of the Past: Paul Waner

CALLABLES ARE SWINGABLES
"Paul 'Big Poison' Waner, recently voted into the Hall of Fame, was talking about protesting called strikes:
'One year I was called out on strikes nineteen times but I never squawked. I always figured that if the umpire missed the pitch, he didn't miss it by more than two inches- and if I didn't take a cut at a pitch that was within two inches of the corner, I deserved to be called out on strikes.' "

-Bill Bryson in the Des Moines Register (Baseball Digest, March 1952)

HE HAD A SEE-ING EYE BAT!
"Paul Waner had his nights out even when he was Pittsburgh's and the National League's best hitter.
Waner showed up for a game with the Chicago Cubs after one of those nights, a bit wobbly and with a big head. Pat Malone, who was scheduled to pitch that day, strolled behind the batting cage, watching the Pirates at their hitting practice. He had a habit of throwing the high, hard one under Waner's chin in an effort to 'loosen' him up at the plate.
Paul turned to Malone and said, 'If you want to knock me down, this is the day. I couldn't possibly get out of the way of a duster.'
Result: Waner hit two home runs that day.
It must be remembered, however, that Paul Waner was one of those extremely rare exceptions in baseball."

-Sec Taylor in the Des Moines Register (Baseball Digest, August 1952)