Sport: The Gentleman

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Back in the locker room, the Dodgers had an easy explanation for their success: Walter Alston. At first, Captain Peewee Reese saw it all in terms of baseball tactics: "A manager's biggest problem is selecting pitchers, knowing them, knowing when to bring in another. Alston's brought in the right pitchers at the right time." Just as important" is Alston's other talent, the patience and ability to get the most out of all his men. All season, by winning for such a nice guy as Smokey, the Dodgers had been refuting Giant Manager Leo Durocher, a man devoted to the argument that the big leagues are no place for nice guys. Said Peewee: "Alston is easy to get along with. I don't know whether he knows how to hold his fork, but believe me, he's a real gentleman."