WHY DUROCHER WAS FIRED
Insiders Say Leo Wanted To Stay On
"Leo Durocher quit a job he didn't have. No deal was proposed for 1956 by Owner Horace Stoneham of the Giants. The manager, who realized it was all over at the Polo Grounds, tossed in his hand.
'It was a face-saving solution all around,' explained a guy who is close to both of them.
Friends of Durocher insist he would come back to baseball if the price is right. He wanted to return to the Polo Grounds next year, they insisted.
Stoneham is a guy who is deeply loyal to his employees, but this time he played it cozily. He took Durocher to the Marciano-Moore fight but no mention was made of his manager's future. It was Stoheham's desire to force Durocher to make a move. They have never been close and a series of unrelated incidents precipitated Durocher's departure.
Stoneham doesn't like to bounce anyone who works for him. The reluctance of the Giant president to confer with his manager about 1956 before the last Saturday of the season should have convinced Durocher he was through. The result pleased Stoneham because no hostility appeared to mar the breakup. And Stoneham, a true baseball man, is fond of Bill Rigney who succeeds Durocher.
The parting appeared to be a cheerful one. No animosity was revealed at their last press conference. They praised one another, the club president and his unwanted manager. They publicly split, but Stoneham was relieved that he did not have to publicly can Durocher.
It is impossible to denounce Durocher as an incompetent manager. Few are his equal when he has a team that's up close to the leaders. But he becomes bored with a club that's drifting aimlessly. It is also wrong to blame him because the Giants, who won the World Series from the Indians in four straight games last year, folded up. Their ineffectuality didn't influence Stoneham.
Their first quarrel occurred over tickets. It was Stoneham's contention that Durocher's demand for a Brooklyn-Giant series was unreasonable. The situation was duplicated again before a World Series. Once more Stoneham insisted his manager's request was impossible. The manager didn't ask for passes but he wanted to buy more than were available.
Their first argument in the middle of the season infuriated Durocher. He raged out of the clubhouse when informed he couldn't have what he wanted. It is understandable because Durocher has been in baseball a long time and has a lot of acquaintances in many towns.
'I may not be here tomorrow,' Durocher said when a guy reminded him of an engagement for the next day.
It also irritated Durocher because he claims he wasn't consulted about player personnel.
The trip to Japan also caused concealed friction but there were no specific clashes.
'Durocher just didn't fit into Stoneham's idea of the Giant family,' is the way one guy described it.
There was an unfortunate incident which offended Stoneham. At a stag party in Hollywood, Danny Kaye, the comedian, gave an unflattering imitation of Stoneham. The act was reported in the Hollywood columns. It wasn't Durocher's idea.
In spring training there was more proof of Durocher's stubbornness. It has always been Stoneham's belief that Durocher functioned best when he coached third base. It surprised those who knew this to read that Herman Franks was stationed in the coach's box.
'I think Franks is as good a third base coach as Charlie Dressen,' Durocher told reporters when asked about this.
The sale of Sal Maglie to Cleveland was a business deal. Stoneham didn't think it was right when Durocher denounced Maglie as lazy shortly before the pitcher was sent to the American League club. It could have lowered Maglie's price but Stoneham was also concerned with the pitcher's dignity. It might be recollected that Stoneham didn't see Bobby Thomson hit the home run that won the 1951 playoff. He was on his way to the clubhouse to console Maglie who had been taken out of the game. It is the opinion of those associated with Stoneham that Maglie will return to the Giant organization when his playing career is over. Stoneham stands up for guys who put out for him.
The big mistake was bringing Durocher across the river from Brooklyn. Giant partisans loathe any Dodger manager. They expressed their dislike for Durocher by not buying tickets. Some of them refused to accept him although he won two pennants in the seven and half years he worked for Stoneham. They were wrong, as all prejudiced people are. He's a baseball man and this was the best job he could get.
'Leo's a bright fellow,' said one of his friends recently. 'He'll make a good living no matter what he does. But I'll bet he's not through with baseball.'
I agree with him."
-Jimmy Cannon, New York Post (Baseball Digest, November 1955)
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