The Key West Citizen

Temperaments Flare In Major Sign-Ups
Loes And Conley Vie For 'Bad Boy' Title

By MIKE RATHET Associated Press Sports Writer
Temperamental Billy Loes and Boston Gene Conley today were running neck and neck for designation as major league baseball's No. 1 bad boy.
Loes, the only ballplayer ever to claim he lost a ground ball in the sun, ended another brief feud with the Baltimore management Monday and signed his contract.
The 29-year-old pitcher, long known for his eccentric actions, oftimes has clashed with Oriole Manager Paul Richards since he was sold by Brooklyn in 1956.
Loes signed for an estimated $20,000 taking a slight cut after a dismal 3-9 pitching performance last year. He reiterated a statement he has often made: "I'd like to be traded to another club."
Conley drew a blast from Milwaukee executive vice president Birdie Tebbetts. He has been playing professional basketball with the Boston Celtics and refused to report for spring training. The Braves pitcher, who had a 0-9 mark last year, insists he will not report before the hoop season ends.
Said Tebbetts: When we gave Conley permission to play basketball it was with the understanding that he would quit that sport by Feb. 15. Now he feels he owes an obligation to the Celtics. He must feel no obligations to us.
The Braves, however, did receive some good news when infielder Casey Wise and Del Rice signed, leaving only Conley, first baseman Joe Adcock and pitcher Don McMahon as holdouts.
The Washington Senators brought two holdouts into the fold, getting signed contracts from Jim Lemon, who hit 2 home runs last year and Albie Pearson, the American League's rookie of the year.
Among the holdouts, Bob Cerv, the Kansas City A's long-range belter, remained firm in his demands. Seeking a reported $35,000 Cerv said, "I'm standing pat." He and the club are still about $5,000 apart.
An optimistic note was struck at the Pittsburgh camp where Dick Stuart predicted he would hit 30 homers if played regularly "and maybe we'll all be playing in the World Series."
But a nostalgic note broke the routine at the Los Angeles camp. Flanked by two attendants and confined to an electrically powered wheelchair he calls his "Cadillac," Roy Campanella, now a Dodger coach, rejoined his former teammates.