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Show SPORTUGHT Two Couples Doing Great in Sports By GRANTLAND RICE ALONG the road known as "the cash and glory trail" there are two couples out California way who will very likely get by financially through the year ahead. They should break better than even. One is Leo Durocher and Laralne Day. The other is Ralph Kiner and Nancy Chaffee Kiner, his bride. Durocher, the Giant leader, is picking up in the general neighbor- hnnA rf SD (1(1(1 Thl still can't quite handle Nancy in a tennis duel, but he is improving week by week. For that matter Nancy can't hit as many home runs as Kiner can. This should be the ideal American couple. They are young, good looking, healthy, strong and deeply Interested in sports, where both excel along certain lines. If Nancy can have the same influence in-fluence over Ralph that Laralne has had over Leo, Kiner should hit 700 home runs this next season. The motion picture star and TV vision has done something of an incredible nature to Durocher since he played with the Yankees many years ago. Fiery, reckless, but still smart, almost al-most beyond control, always a great field leader, Leo Durocher has turned into a smooth, controlled, hustling manager who has the respect re-spect and affection of his team. He gives his men all the credit a lesson les-son I think Chuck Dressen has learned for 1952. And I happen to be a Chuck Dressen supporter for future delivery. j Maui rhomn llnrlor Ufau chances are his wife, Laralne Day, is doing even better. bet-ter. The two have been offered a fancy handout for a television skit, working together, which they can't use at the moment. In addition to which Gotland Ric. ,taxes wo" d leave them working practically prac-tically for nothing except exercise. Exercise is important but a poor substitute for cash. The two Klners, Nancy and Ralph, dia rlrilntf iha inn wavps Ralph is picking up $G5,000 a year as the home-run hitter of both leagues. He is practically the only reason Pittsburgh fans have been coming to the Pirate park. It can be different a year or two from now when Branch Rickey begins to use bis maglo. Nancy Chaffee is one of the better younger tennis, players we have around. She happens to be an extremely ex-tremely charming and attractive young lady, Just as Laralne Day is. The Kiners have also been offered a well-paying TV spot, but have decided de-cided to wait until next year. Ralph has been building a new home at Palm Springs and it won't be any hut. The Durochers can look forward for-ward to a big season. Leo is defending defend-ing the National League pennant, won in a miracle finish. LaraUie Day has all the TV engagements one young lady can handle. The Case of Ralph Kiner Ralph Kiner is a rather remarkable remarka-ble young man. He Is now only 29 years old. He will be 30 next October. Oc-tober. He came to the Pirates in 1946 direct from the Navy Air Force and has led his league or tied for leaderships in home runs ever since. He has been baseball's main slugger ever since he really got warmed up. In the last six seasons Kiner has contributed 257 home runs to the list. He will never approach Babe Ruth's total of above 700, but be should continue to lead both leagues for several years. In the last five years he has averaged av-eraged between 47 and 48 homers, hom-ers, which isn't feather duster swinging. Kiner is something; more than a good hitter. He is also a 75 golfer and a pretty good tennis player. He lien wildlife wiihci mmvtj Australia's Davis Cup victory was expected and it will be expected again next year as long as Frank Sedgman is hanging around the tennis ten-nis premises. Just as Sedgman was on the point of leaping into pro arms, Australia got smart by giving their star a $10,000 wedding-present, tax free, and also by getting him a good job in the government. The twice-beaten U.S. will still have Trabert, Savitt and a few others next year, but they still won't be good enough to handle Australia. It can be different around two or three years from now. We have Just finished looking at a young kid who may easily be the best in the world, given Just a little more growth. He is close to being magnificent today. His name is Michael Franks, of Beverly Hills. What about Mike Franks? In the first place he has just turned 15. But a short while back, still in his 14th year, he beat the 18-year-old champion of California, Cali-fornia, regarded as a sure thing, in a morning match. In the afternoon on tnat same day young 14-year-old Franks whipped the 18-year-old Junior Champion. Why all this ballyhoo? In the first place the young star has considerable considera-ble power already stored away in his youthful system. He can really powder a tennis ball. In the second place he has amazing control of every stroke. He can put the ball just about where he wants it He has almost perfect style even now. "Even in the toughest competition he is amazingly cool and calm," Feltrop says. "If Mike Franks isn't world champion before he is 20, I'll never make another tennis prediction. predic-tion. He has everything it takes Everything." |