Show L Big Three Bid for Batting Baiting Lead By GRANTLAND RICE RICE- RICE RICE- YEAR AGO a brace of or outsiders out out- A alders siders broke In and scrambled up the batting leaderships They were George Kell of the Tigers and Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers Y You o u could have gotten any price you wanted against them last April Ralph Kiner took over the home run crop but Kiner really real real- x ly belonged lIes lie been the best home home- run hitter baseball has known in many years Dut But the three who were supposed to lead lend the double pack barely missed They were Ted Williams and Joe DIM DiMAggio A g- g gio glo for the American league and Stan for the National DIMaggio Dl- Dl Maggio actually led his league but buthe buthe buthe he wasn't In enough games to draw a count All An three look to be In shape now and this should mean that two of the three should take takeover takeover takeover over the top spot again Here Hero are the 1949 1049 records DIMaggio Di Dl- Maggio Williams Mus- Mus ial fat This is a good close fin ish Their lifetime marks are Wil Wil- llama liams DIMaggio gio glo DiMaggio is 35 years old Williams is 31 and is 29 Ted Williams is still the top hitter In baseball for tor around all value But nut his margin isn't too far above DiMaggio or Unless Unless' some ragged breaks arrive all three should have big years years years-years years that rank close to their best All three are in shape and all aU three have been hitting well In the Citrus Cir CIr- CIrcuit Circuit cult which doesn't mean too much 1 got ot away badly In 1048 1948 and 1919 1019 lie came from last season to but he admits admits ad ad- mits he needs a faster take off I wasn't to too well In 1948 he says I 1 just lust wasn't hitting In the early part of the tho 1919 1949 season Enos Slaughter had the same experience and It was some Borne time before he got ot going again I never felt feU better beUer than I do now so therell there'll be no reason reason rea rea- son aon for another early slump It If Ted Williams worries about his hitting be he never shows it lie He never shows that he has ha tightened up Ted has the finest hand and wrist action the best coordination between eyes and hands hand Ive I've ever seen No one else in hi baseball can wait watt so long before starting his swing awing Right out of your glove Ilove Gill Bill Dicke Dickey says 1919 1019 mark was remarkable considering his bis late start and his other Ills Dut But Joe like Ted and Stan looks physically ready for a big year This Is also serving notice oa on onIell Kell leU and Robinson that both have a battle on before taking kine over the lead again aln A young fellow by the tame name of o Country Slaughter might cut In The Leading Slugger ger gerIn In the way of distance hitting bitting Ralph Kiner has left the others buried burled in a snowdrift Ills His last three seasons with the Pirates have been years that almost matched Dabe Babe Ruth The 27 year old outfielder hit 51 home homo runs in inI I 1917 1947 n. n 40 home runs in 1048 and 54 64 In 1949 1049 I think Babes Dabe's mark of 60 CO is pretty safe Kiner said in Cali Call California fornia a few weeks ago Youve Just lust got to keep hitting home runs nil all the time Ume I 1 hit 20 in the last 30 days and still stUl fell six short last season You have to ge gel away good to have even a chance to reach 60 CO With Johnny Mize not playing too often and Joe DiMaggio getting no younger the main American league job lob falls to Ted Williams Ted blew himself to 43 homers last year the best league big mark of his career Stan had 30 36 and this Cardinal is another who may make his challenge nut But the job lob of catching Kiner looks to be out of range now They were rating Luke Easter the new Indian slugger as the one oneto oneto oneto to watch Easter is a long distance hitter with tremendous power but buthis buthis buthis his spring pring hitting hasn't been any too spectacular There are more than a few who believe belleve Doby his teammate will wUl get et more home runs Easter Is II a slugging giant when he be happens happens' to connect conned But Dut swinging at at league big pitching for the first time Isn't quite as simple ai as lighting a cigarette For around all power the Red ned Sox again should be the best hitting hit ting team in either league Call of the Wild It If you want to pick up any real information about ballplayers and their varying r ways waye you OU should hould seek leek out veteran scouts couts I 1 stumbled over a nest or covey containing three of these invaluable assets either located temporarily hero or passing through I had lust just one question to ask Why Is I. It that the modern modem game gamo has baa so 10 many wild pitchers who have a planet full of stuff but only a vague idea of where the plate Is aT |