St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-05-09
MAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALL NOTES
BY BILL BRowER

training batting impetus that
made Ernie Banks the leading
Slugger in preseason competition
carried right over into the early
stages Of the major league regular
campaign.
The smoking bat Of the 27-year-
old shortstop was instrumental in
the early surge OF the Chicago
Cubs 10 the top Of the National
League, one of the young seasons
surprised showings, In seven
games-in which Chicago compiled
a Swim, 2-lost record Banks col
lected IL hits in % appearances.
His .444 average was the second
best in the league.
Ernie, who smashed AZ home
runs in 1857, demonstrated that he
has lost none Of his power. His
three homers were good enough for
a three-way tie for second in that
department. He had driven in eight
runs, good for third place.
Mays Red Hot
Among the MI batting leaders
was Willie Mays, for whom a big
season was predicted with the shift
Of the New York Giants to San
Francisco In the first eight games
in the uniform Of the San Fran
cisco Giants, the exciting center
fielder had made IS hits in SO
trips to the plate.
Veteran players were not the
only ones turning in standout per-
formances in the first two weeks.
r. c. Stevens, 23-year-old rookie
first baseman for the Pittsburgh
Pirates, cemented his chances OF
sticking with the BUGS. In his first
four at bats, Stevens made four
hits. Two Of the hits were home
runs, He drove in four runs. Two
of the runs accounted for Pirate
victories, their first wins in seven
starts.
Rockies Show Well
Another youngster, Vada Pinson,
the Cincinnati Redlegs' rookie out
fielder, blasted the first home run
of his major league career 49,
grand slammer 49, that gave the
Redlegs a 4-to-1 victory over the
Pirates.
Bob Thurman, who gave the
Redlegs many an early season vic
tory last year with his timely
pinch-hitting, is up to his old tricks
this year Thurman came through
with 14th-inning single to drive
in the winning run in 4-to-2 tri-
umph over the Philadelphia Phil
lies.
Last season, Thurman had Al
hits in 100 plate appearances. Six
teen of the hits were home runs
and many Of them came in his
early season splurge as a clutch
batter.
Aaron In Form
Another home run hitter last
week was Hank Aaron. the most
valcable player in the MI last
season. Aarons three-run drive
in the fourth inning set up a g.
to-2 victory of the Milwaukee
Braves over Pittsburgh. 1t was
the young outfielder's second
roundtripper of the season.
Orlando Cepeda, the Giants tai
ented rookie first baseman, was off
to a bad start in the first week of
the season, going one-for-16. Then |
against the Los Angeles Dodgers, |
Cepeda hit his second home run of |
the season and collected two other
hits in an 11to-4 San Francisco |
win.
Against the st. Louis Cardinals,
Cepeda enjoyed two consecutive
good nights at the plate. getting |
six hits in 10 trips. One Of the
blows was a triple that drove in a
pair Of runs and set up an s-to 7 .
ninth inning win for the Giants
During the entire spring train
ing period, Elston Howard was
used by Manager Casey stengel
Of the New York Yankees behind
the plate. But just as soon as
the season opened, Howard was
sent to left field. He responded
with consistent hitting in the open
ing series against Boston. and in
one game against the Washington
Senators he came through with a
pair Of hits that included a run
producing double.
Gomez Comes Through
Ruben Gomez, despite being kay
oed in his third start Of the season (
by the ST. Louis Cardinals. appears
to be headed for a big season. He
bsgged two wins over the Dodgers,
his second was an Tito 4 win in
the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Connie Johnson, who is bidding
for 20 victories with the Baltimore
Orioles, failed TO last the distance
in either Of his first two starts.
He absorbed the defeat in a T.
to o Yankee victory.
Sad Sam Jones has been a dis
on the mound for the
St Louis Cardinals. He was rack
ed up by the Cubs in his first
start and was the loser. In the sec
ond. against the Giants, he failed
TO hold a five-uIn first-inning lead.
but escaped the consequences Of ,