Sport: Casey at the Bank

In the 28 years since Casey Stengel began managing baseball teams, he has had more than his share of rags with the riches. Bouncing around between the major and minor leagues, Casey has gone through the familiar managerial cycle, sticking with his clubs when they are winning, getting the boot when they are down. Caroming from Worcester to the Toledo Mudhens (one pennant in six seasons) to Brooklyn (three raffish seasons) to Boston (six lean & lowly years) to Milwaukee (a pennant) to Kansas City (seventh place) to Oakland (three playoffs, one pennant), Manager Stengel has usually managed to rebound in the right direction. When Casey took over the victory-bent New York Yankees in 1949, he hit the top. But the open question was: Could he stay up there?

The question is now academic. With four world championships in four years, Stengel is easily the most successful man in baseball. Last week the Yankees’ President Dan Topping handed grizzled, durable (62) Casey Stengel a two-year contract for an estimated $80,000 a year, a record for baseball managers. Although the contract contains no special clauses, Casey, if next season parallels the last one, can expect a bonus that will shoot his salary up close to $100,000.