anity Rushing returns this season as manager of the short season Manitowoc Shipbuilders. Among the last of Fate Norris's personnel decisions was hiring Rushing, who had been enjoying his retirement in Homestead, Florida, after a long career as a siding salesman for Canton Aluminum and Vinyl. Since his retirement, Rushing had taken to working with Greens' minor leaguers during spring training, helping the youngsters with strike-zone judgment. Rushing's own career lasted until the mid-1960s, when a knee injury ended his hopes. Rushing still owns the Midwest League record for batter walks in a season with 150 for Waterloo in 1962. "Yeah, I still got that record and I put it on my plates: 150BB 1962."
About his name, Vanity is humble. "That was my mother, a religious woman she was. After her father run off to work in show business, she didn't want any son of hers doing likewise. So she figured to keep me in line with my first name. I guess it worked some. Mostly, I learned patience. You learn patience, see, with a name like that. You also get around to reading Thackery and Ecclesiastes."
Mrs. Rushing is a true baseball wife. "Good woman there, and smart. Been married 39 years, happily. What you need in life, good woman and good work." The Rushings are enjoying their new life in Wisconsin. "Not so different from Ohio," says Vanity. "When we went up there to look for a house, the people seemed real friendly. It's been like that the whole year. Good people, Midwesterners. We like that."