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Show SATURDAY, APRIL TUB JOURNAL Page 6 , SPORTUGHT Kell and Robinson Facing Competition By GRANTLAND A ri ; f RICE up the batting leaderships. They were George Kell of the Tigers and Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers. You could have gotten any price you wanted against them last April. Ralph Kiner took over the home-ru- n crop but Kiner really belonged. Hes been' the best home-ru- n hitter baseball has known in many GrantlandRlce years But the three who were supposed to lead the double pack barely missed. They were Ted Williams and JoeDiMag-gi- o for the American league and Stan Muslal for the National. actually led his league but he wasnt in enough games to draw a count. All three look to be in shape now and this should mean that two of the three should take over the top spot again. Here are the 1949 records: Di-Magg- 1 ! Joe, like Ted and Stan, looks physically ready for a big year. This is also serving notice on Kell and Robinson that both have a battle on before taking over the lead again. A young fellow by the name of Country Slaughter might cut In. YEAR AGO a brace of outsiders broke in and scrambled Dl-Maggl- .346; Williams, In the way of distance hitting, Ralph Kiner has left the others buried in a snowdrift. His last three seasons with the Pirates have been years that almost matched Babe Ruth. The outfielder hit 51 home runs in 1947, 40 home runs in 1948 and 54 season. You have to get away good to have even a chance to reach 60. With Johnny Mize not playing too often and Joe DiMagglo getting no jrounger, the main American league Job falls to Ted Williams. Ted blew himself to 43 homers last mark of year, the best his career. Stan Musial had 36 and this Cardinal is another who may make his challenge. But . the job of catching Kiner looks to be big-leag- ue out of range now. in 1949. . lo o, .343; Mus- lal, .338. This is a good close finish. Their lifetime marks are Williams. .353; Musial, .348; DiMag-gi.331. DiMagglo is 35 years old; Williams is 31 and Muslal is 29. Ted Williams Is still the top hitter in baseball for value. But his margin isn't too far above DiMagglo or Musial. Unless some ragged breaks arrive all three should have big years years that rank close to their best. All three are in shape . and all three have been hitting well in the Citrus Cir cult, which doesn't mean too much. Musial got away badly in 1948 and 1949. He came from .240 last season to .338 but he admits he needs a faster take tt. I wasnt too well in 1948, ; says. 1 just wasnt hitting Jit the early part of the 1949 season. Enos Slaughter had the 1 same experience and it was some time before he got going A again. I never felt better than $ 1 do now. so therell be no reaIn a : V! son for another early slump." ! U If Ted Williams worries about his hitting, he never shows it. He never shows that he has tightened J , up. Ted has the finest action, the best coordination between eyes and hands, Ive ever seen. No one else in baseball can wait so long before starting his swing. "Right out of your glove," Bill Dickey says. DIMaggtos 1949 mark was remarkable, considering his late start and his other ills. But o. all-arou- nd ' ? it hand-and-wri- The Leading Slugger "I think Babes mark of 60 is pretty safe," Kiner said In California, a few weeks ago. "Youve just got to keep hitting home runs all the time. I hit 20 in the last 30 days and still fell six short last st times on the boulevard he met said. Joe stared at her. someone he knew and would get "You dont mean that!" talking and perhaps get a line on Dusty thumped his tail on the something. He put Dusty on his floor and pricked his ears. There leash and started out. was, he hoped, a possibility of beJoe turned down Vine street. ing taken for a walk up the slope Just below Selma, some children behind the house where rabbits were playing on a lawn. One of frequently ran and offered no end them was crying. Joe stopped to of excitement. see what the trouble was. A little Sylvia laughed nervously. "Of girl had lost her rag doll. It was course I dont. I was only joking. somewhere about, but he couldnt We wouldnt sell Dusty for a mil- find It. Dusty licked the little girl's lion dollars. She reached down hand. She cooed happily and patted n and twisted one his head. The other children crowdflop: ed about. Joe unsnapped Dustys Minute Ping car wound leash, held the little girls skirt to W Fiction her forefinger. his nose and said: "Go find!" Dusty lolled his Dusty let out a yip and went tongue and sighed bounding away. Two minutes in contentment. Next to chasing later he came back, holding in rabbits, there was nothing he hls month the rag doll. The litliked better than having his ears tle girl clapped her hands. twisted, unless it was hunting a "Smart dog," said a voice. glove or an old shoe or pocketbook hidthat either Joe or Sylvia had Joe turned. A car had stopped at den. the curb. A small round man with Joe lay awake that night and a friendly face had emerged onto thought about what Sylvia had said. the sidewalk. Joe nodded. "Pure He felt guilty and ashamed, but bred Springer. Theyre all smart when you havent enough to eat "Are they?-saithe little man. and you own some property that His twinkled. "Like to sell eyes would bring an easy thousand dolhim? Joe said nothing. He felt a lars on the open market, you cant queer prickling at the base of his help thinking about it. skull. "Like to sell him? said the Sylvias aunt had given them man again. Dusty the week before they "How much?" said Joe, not lookleft for Hollywood. He was seving at him. en weeks old, a pure bred "Nine hundred." Springer Spaniel, black as coal and intelligent as two ordinary OS thought of Sylvia. She was human beings. probably hungry. Shed be hungto The next morning Joe decided rier tonight. The only alternative go down onto the boulevard. Some- - was city relief. A man has his pride. He remembered the hug Sylvia had given Dusty before they left. He thought of the way Dusty would nip at their toes when they were getting dressed in the morncould sell Dusty, Sylvia d - I 1 BECAME A PROl BALL PLAYER BY A TWIST OF FATE. HE WAS PLAYING V: i : FIRST BASE FOR HIS PREP TEAM WHEN THE REGULAR PITCHER WAS INJURED. RARNELL TOOK OVER AND STRUCK OUT 17 MEN. A RED SOX SCOUT WAS IN THE STANDS AND The rotund man laughed. Then how about hiring him? You, too, of course.- - Were making a picture that requires a cute dog who will go find things that have been hidden. Joe threw up. his head. "What? - BEFORE THE SUN SET MEL HAD CONTRACT. A : BIG-LEAG- ' i f hi i !! i Dad Stands Incredulous When Held up by Own Son CLEVELAND, OHIO. Arthur Dunlap couldnt believe it really was happening when his son thrust a revolver in his face and demanded his money. Incredulous, he asked: "youd stick up your own father?" The son, Arthur, Jr., 20, stilled any further doubts about it when he shouted an order: "Drop your billfold!" barber, Dunlap, a contained took the wallet which $55 from his pocket, dropped it to the floor. His wife, Lottie, 50, started up from her chair. "Dont fool us with that gun, son," she said, hoping it was a joke. But her son turned the gun on her and she sank back. He stooped, picked up the billfold and with his companion, a stranger to the parents, walked out of the house and his parents hearts. Dunlap went to a phone and called police. "My son robbed me," he said, simply. "I didnt think he had bad in him." . 4 "Think it over, said the rotund man. "Pay would be $25 a day. Heres my card. He smiled. "Hope I didnt insult you with that nine hundred offer. Your dogs worth two thousand, if a cent. Never saw a pure black Springer with those lines. Be sure to look me up. H $25 doesnt suit you, we can probably talk terms. Only One in Five Of Bus Passengers Found Truly Honest lio merican Less 'Cosily' Than Primitive WASHINGTON. D. C.-- te.r lovely women may set uo . at this, but its a fact that As can brides come cheap-o- n, cost, that is compared to I less-civiliz- sisters ed of the t skirt sets in primitive lands no less a source than the Na Geographic Society is the au! ty for that statement. The society points out that American lover who has $2 ori his jeans can purchase a man license and hustle his gal to altar. There, after the t pledges, he .can slip the whatever he can spare and b on his honeymoon. But it isnt that simple primitive tribes. Take New Guinea. There thi tive swains find a price tag o! on their lady loves. True, they go into the woods and pluck i wild flowers and maybe spear wild boajr for the wedding i but there still remains the cash outlay. May Cost $250 In Nigeria, the high cost of K Ac! is causing a fine old est is the average bus rider? of thatec people To find out, two psychology stu the a shapely, pretty gal may dents at the University of Wiscon- try, sin in Milwaukee "planted" wal- for her pappy as much as I lets 100 times in city busses. The while the parents of a homely! with skinny pipes and buck C pocketbooks contained no money but carried personal papers and would have to be satisfied i j three mangy goats. full identification of the owner. Around the world where Here's what happened: is an accepted custc, Wallet taken to bus driver 59 buying girl must hide her head in & times. unless she earns somethin! Wallet brought to owners home papa. eight times. Among the Kaffirs, member Wallet kept 19 times. South Afritt Wallet inspected, then put back the Bantu race of girl who is not bought with on seat 14 times. "old cat The student experimenters did is dubbed an An "old the work as part of the sophomore campfire sisters. one there adds up to psychology class requirements. The objective was not so much repeopjj With the sults as learning the methods of man Assam, India, a young psychological research. , The experimenters,- - with the pected to give a few gourds sweethearts knowledge of the bus driver, water to his M calls to ask her to he when cn wallets placed surreptitiously seats, as if they had been dropped, own. when the buses were nearly empty. Groom Goes to Work Then they waited in the back of the If the folks accept him. am bus to see what would happen. i, to on the girls father , Their report contained two genbecomes right to work. He for eralizations: vant in the household beha 16 old from down Boys years Then, If he has another years. tended to keep the wallets, not re- is free to wed. But turn them. years of servitude isthereq?l Persons traveling in groups were fore he can go into more apt to take the wallets to the cut down the material tot j driver than persons traveling thatch hut. alone. The students attributed this In Alaska, the situation b to force of group opinion, not necent. A hopeful suitor of fo essarily to individual honesty. doesnt bother to ask Well dressed and poorly dressed consent. He J slips silent to seemed have about the persons old mans igloo and begm same ratio of honesty, the students clean and take care 0 W MILWAUKEE, WIS. How hon to-d- o. Ibo-speaki- ng j word-"-le- ss." Kuki-Lush- ai . ( J jj J found. T f J f "ff t Nina von Drewitz lies down with her pet J baths. up water for the They did not experiment with a good job, he is alio purses containing money. Bus driv- on for a year, then ers told them the chances of get- the girl and start igl H would be own. slim. on his ting money back I Most wallets taken to the bus drivAll of which makes Joe stood on the curb and ers contain little or no cash, the wonderful country. watched the black limousine re- students were told. by A We fellows expect, cede. He glanced at the card, then eifll to have the papa-in-- l down at Dusty. Dusty was watching Sir Walter's Boots the bills for the wedding. him expectantly. He wanted to and ' t Sir Walter Raleigh once sported a set of sterling walk some more. Joe slipped the P . a pair of boots made from the house for wedding card into his pocket and started Fe Released by WNU up Vino street at a pace that rath- skins of unborn goats . ! : . ' -- 4 i PEACE . A Vi ... 62-year-- ing. He shook his head. "No! he said. "No! Not for twice that amount. i V THE UNIVERSITV OT ARANSAS HAS GUARD NAMED MiNINf AND AN END NAMED IMfQARRt&R a f i THAN Q5Z OF AMERICAN-BORN PRO HOCKEY PLAYERS ARE NATIVES OF MINNESOTA. er surprised Dusty. |