Evening star., 1954-12-23

bat rule was williams that he broke his shoulder
the first day he put uniform in Florida nor that he
later hopitaized by pneumonia Williams was guilty
of any crime, it being too dangerous
American League pitchers had pitched to Williams as
they boldly Avi would have batted than the
required and probably another batting title
his sixth
AS IT TURNED OUT it is of no special import. Nobody
going Ava, the hitter Williams will be
remembered sixth batting championship to Ted probably
isn't worth the black marlin he landed recently
of Peru. what modest hitter OF Avfas stripe
into .341 slugger?
The pitchers must him by now Bobby has
been up 40 Perhaps Avla finally is getting to know
pitchers 1t might be easy that although doubtful
Luck? Hardly over seasonong play wherein Ava went to
bat SIS times.
1t may be remembered that in 1852 Carl Furo the
Dodgers noted for his throwing period Just don't
try extra base him. the reports went He
can't hit much, but, man. he throw baseball.
So what happened? The next year he batted 344 and
the National League Even his club he topping
such Duke Snider Jackie Robinson Roy Campanea and
Gil Hodges The before Fulo had been 247 hitter
so he picked up almost 100 points.
ROBIN ROBERTS OF THE Phillies, who doesn't allow
many hers to abuse his deliveries frankly admitted in
what Furllo hitting when he shouldn't we threw the
stuff at him" Roberts acknowledged "Furos stance
knew hadn't been changed It one of those
years, guess"
Last year Furilo hit 2s4 The way he plays the outeld
and throws that sufficient credential to be regular BY
the oken it is so points below what he bated in So
had been American Lacquer for few before ne
upped his 43 average of 1858 to 353 in 1916.
Where" it was widely asked did he come from9"
Inasmuch Mickey had spent the two previous years
in the Navy playing ball in the Pacific 1t was felt that he
had less found himself out there Yet the next
baed unelaborae 265 and then he followed
with 242, whereupon he traded,
IN vERNoNs CASE it made little because the
fellow had-and still hasa classic stroke He picture
hitter in the literal Some Of the real good belter
williams among them shoot movies of Mickey whether he is
hitting 251 or leading the league.
actually did hit 251, too. It happened in So when
with Washington The next rratonally
he baed 337 and became the only Senator to lead the league
twice only there Ed Deehanty in 1902 Goose
Gosin in 1928 and Buddy Myer in 1885.
Defending Champion Vernon batted 290 which
was no better the circuit. Mickey handy
have at the plate but scarcely the big boss man that
he was in 46 and SO.
Mickey like the others who blaze brightly and fade
away, doesn't pretend to know why I'm 46 thought was
just ucker he says I thought hit the ball just as well
other years. when didn't bat 800 can't explain SO at
all, any than explain .25i average in So
THE WAR DID STRANGE things to batting averages
George Srnweiss much of hitter, hit 319 for the
Yankees in 1914 The next with most Of the good
pitchers in the armed forces he hit 10 points lowe09
and the title This not only the lowest mark in
history but it exactly Ill points less than Ty Cobb 420
in 1911 when he in the midst of winning nine hitting
championships in a
Vernon wasn't the only who became batting champ
the first time he hit 300 An startling
that Harry Walker boosted his previous
average by 1876 points and the National League
in 94 Then there the of Lou Boudreau who
couldn't reach the 29O mark in "A with humpy dumpties
pitching The Lou reached the 800 circle for the
time and his 327 good enough for the baube,
three years later when the had back from
the Boudreau sensational .355and finished far
back when Williams hit .369
Tan