Evening star., 1951-06-01
Mound Shortage
No Handicap as
Roe Delivers
Robinson-Meyer Row
Subsidies After PhiIs'
Firebrond Apologies
BY m. Assoeia,sd Pres.

Most OF the preseason dope on
the National League pennant race
seems to be running true to form.
Before play started, the Brooklyn
Dodgers appeared to be the class
|of the league in everything but
pitching. and now Manager Chuck
Dresser isn't doing too badly In
that department.
The clubs ace, Preacher Roe,
has done about as expected
which Is very good, except when
he throws those home run balls
and big Don Newcombe seems to
be picking up steam. So. with
Gil Hodges and Duke Snider
booming homerS and Jackie Rob-
inson leading the league In hit
ting. the Dodgers figure to be
tough to catch.
A glance at the major leagues
department leaders shows why
|Brooklyn's prospects are so good.
Robinson tops the National League
hitters with .407, followed by a
teammate. Cal Abrams, with .375.
Hodges and Robinson are one
two in runs scored with 81 and
IS, respectively. Snider leads In
runs batted in with 35, with
Hodges only one behind.
Robinson has made the most
hits-59-and his II doubles put
him in a five-way tie In that de-
partment. Jackie also is second
in stolen bases with five, while
Hodges leads in home runs with
is. Roe tops the pitchers with a
so mark.
Trouble at Home Plate.
Trouble f1ared in Brooklyn last
night as Pitcher Russ Meyer of
the Phillies bumped Robinson in
"a home plate mix-up in the eighth
inning Of the Dodgers 4-3 win
over the 1850 champions.
Robinson, caught in a rundown
after Carl Furillo missed a squeeze
bunt, scored when Meyer dropped
the ball. Russ tried to block the
plate, but Robinson got past him.
Meyer then bumped the Negro star
with his chest. Only quick action
by his teammates prevented blows.
Taken from the game by Man
ager Eddie Sawyer, Meyer chal-
lenged Robinson to meet him un-
der the stands. Jackie accepted
the challenge but was stopped by
Roy Campanella and other team
mates.
After the game, Meyer apollo
gized to Robinson and Manager
Dresser. Jackie not only accepted
but tried to shoulder some Of the
blame.
Jackie Gracious About It.
"It was as much my fault as
his" Robinson said. IF didn't
start down to meet him. there
would have been no trouble"
Meyer has been in hot water be-
fore. Two years ago he drew a
suspension for some spicy words
to Umpire Frank Dascoli after
Robinson stole home. His COM
ments were picked up by telephone
mikes. A second suspension last
May was the result of "chesting''
Umpire AL Barlick and throwing
a ball at him backhanded.
Until last night Meyer had kept
his temper under control this sea-
son. He had a 80 record going
into last nights game with three
complete gamess He was in trouble
on the mound as well as at the
plate, for the Dodgers got to him
for II hits. He walked eight and
hit one. Fifteen Dodgers were
left on base. Carl Erskine was the
winning pitcher.
Phillies Of the Beam.
For the Phillies, the game was
the same old story-failure to hit
lin the pinches and ineffective
pitching. Although Jim Kon-
stanty, their fabulous relief ace
Iof 1850, got them out last night
ne has been way off last years
effectiveness.
Marty Marion's st. Louis Car
dinalS, doped for the second di-
vision; have been the National
League eye-openers with strong
pitching by Gerry Staley and
Rookie Tom Poholsky. Now Stan
Musial is hitting .371 and the
Cards are only two games behind
the Brooks.
Paul Richards White Sox, OF
course, are the real surprise pack
age Of baseball. Still working on
a 14-gane win streak that is only
five short Of the American League
record, they get a chance to pick
on the Athletics for two days be-
(Sne RAGEPATI Dora HoN