Evening star., 1947-08-06
Needs Is in 58 TiIts
To Tie Mark; Keeps
Giants FIag-Bound
By Joe ReichIer
Assoeiofed Press Sports Writer

1t still is anybody's race in the
National League and as long a.
big Johnny Mize keeps cloutine
those long ones, the homer hitting
New York Giants are not to be sold
short.
The Big Cat, as Mize is called by
his teammates, not only is keeping
the Giants very much in the pen
nant fight, but is threatening seri-
ously what is probably the greatest
batting record in baseball-Babe
Ruth's mark of 60 home runs in the
1927 season.
The hard-hitting first baseman
walloped two into the Polo Grounds
stands last night to lead the Giants
to a So victory over the Philadel-
phia Phillies. The victory, coupled
with the Braves Al win over Brook
lyn in Boston reduced the league
leading Dodgers margin over the
third-place Giants to seven games.
The runnerup st. Louis Cards now
trail the Dodgers by six games fol-
lowing their 81 triumph over the
Cubs in daylight game in Chicago.
The Braves, in fourth place, are 10
games of the pace.
Mize's pair of -trippers, his
33d and 34th of the season came in
the Giants Goth game and put him
two games ahead of Ruth's record
setting pace. The Babe did not hit
his 34th until the New York Yankees
had entered their 98th game. Big
John has So games in which to hit
the 26 homers he needs for a tie.
Reminiscent of Gehrig.
The Georgia larruper, except for
the late Lou Gehrig. is the only
left-handed hitter to threaten seri-
ously Ruth's homer record. Louis
best was 49 in 1884 and '36. Only
four other southpaw swingers have
been able to pass the 40 mark. Cy
Williams of the 1928 Phillies reached
Al. Chuck Klein of the 1929 Phils
hammered 43 to top the Giants Mel
OFT, another left-hander homer hit
ter of note, by one Mize banged
43 in 1910. The only left-handed
slugger in the American League,
outside of Ruth and Gehrig, to
pass 40 homers was Hal Trosky,
who hit AZ for Cleveland in 1886.
Three right-handed hitters came
close to Ruth's mark. Hank Green
berg, with Detroit, and Jimmy Foxx,
with the Philadelphia Athletics,
once reached So. Hack Wilson, the
National League record holder, hit
IS circuit clouts.
Mize. noted August and Septem-
Der hitter, has full-time job on his
hands as the Babe slammed IT
lomers in September, the final
month of his record season. The
'ecord for one month is 18. Ruth,
had a comparatively small
output for August, hitting only nine.
Ruth is watching Mics effort to
;urpass his record, with a great deal
If interest. Asked the other day
whether he thought anybody ever
would better his feat, the former
sultan of Swat remarked:
"Mize is the only fellow around
Who might do it. If anyone does, I
lope it is he. This way, the record
till would be in the family. Johnny,
'ou know, is my wlfe's cousin"
Sain Is Versatile Star.
Johnny Sain pitched and batted
he Braves to their victory over the
dodgers. before 29,987 home night
anne fans. The big right-hander, .
Tho scattered nine hits for his 18th
ictory. raped two hits, driving in
he first Boston run and scoring
he next one on Johnny Hopp's .
ngle. Hank Camelli's sixth-inning -,
ouble of losing Pitcher Hal Gregg
,ored two runners and broke up a g
2 deadlock.
A home run with the bases loaded I
y Catcher Del Rice and another \
und-tripper by Whitley Kurowski \
ighlighted siX-run fourth inning !
nd helped Harry Brechen and the J
ards to gain an easy win.
Taking advantage of 10 bases on \
alls to add to their IL hits off four I
lncinnati hurIers, the Pittsburgh Z
irates disposed of the Reds in {
ittsburgh. 1874. Hank Greenberg n
rove in three runs to raise his {
'ason's output to 63 for the BUGS
lis season. v
The Yankees stretched their s
meriean League lead to IA games
1er the runner-up Boston Red Sox
defeating the Athletics in Phila-
alpha. S-5, in night game while r
le Sox were losing a 81 decision /
the Senators in Washington. The
anks jumped on Bob Savage and
uss Christopher for four runs in a
le top of the ninth. n
The Cleveland Indians downed b
e Tigers in a twilight game at b
etroit, 8-4. tt
Ed Lopat handcuffed the Browns
st. Louis with four hits in pitch b.
6 the Chicago White Sox to 81 OF
ght game victory. Sc
I'D