Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-30
KiIIebrew Is Chief Reason
For Teams High Standing
18th Homer
Witnessed by
Eisenhower
BY BURTON HAWKINS
star STAR Nurifnr

It's a memorable Memorial
Day when the Senators spend
it summing themselves in the
first division. as they were to-
day for the first time since
1852. and the young fellow
principally responsible for their
unaccustomed happiness at this
point is sturdy Harmon Kille-
brew.
BY nightfall the Senator's
elation could be transformed TO
chagrin, following a double
header with the cellar-dwelling
Yankees at Griffith Stadium,
for their fourth-place perch is
precarious. But they've been a
fascinating group so far. with
Killebrew providing the beacon
toward the brighter life.
The Improvement has been
general, Of course, but to this
point it may be said as Kille-
brew goes, so go the Senators.
He has smashed his II home
runs in IL games and the Sem
ators have won 10 of these, in
Guiding yesterdays TO victory
over the Red Sox before Presi-
dent Eisenhower and 5000 other
fans.
Is Big Attraction
Killebrew is the surprise
celebrity Of baseball. He has
clouted IA home runs this
month. leaving him four shy
of Rudy York's major league
record set % years ago. He's
the big attraction for some
$4,000 fans converging on the
ball park today.
Only five American League
sluggers ever hit as many as
40 homers in one season. They
are Babe Ruth. Jimmy Foxx,
Hank Greenberg Mickey Man
tie and Lou Gehrig. OF that
group only two hit more than
II through May. Ruth had 10
entering June when he cracked
81 in 1928. Mantle had con-
tributed 20 through May en-
route to his total of SO in 1856.
AS to what sort of a start
Killebrew has achieved, it's
noted that Ralph Kiner had
belted IL homers through May
in l949. when he finished with
81, and Willie Mays had
slammed IL through May in
1855, when he whacked 81.
Harmon is a household topic
even at the White House. When
he was summoned to the presi-
dental box yesterday to meet
Mr.. Eisenhower, the Chief Ex-
ecutive exclaimed, "Oh, I'm so
pleased to meet my grandson's
greatest hero"
David Gets S0uvenier
To David went two baseballs.
The President requested that
Harmon sign one for delivery
to his grandson. Later. after
Killebrew rammed his 18th
homer into the centerheld
bleachers in the third inning
off Bill Monbouquette. the ball
that rebounded to field was
stamped at" and also was
presented to the President.
Mr.. Eisenhower has said in
the past that he might attend
more games at Griffith Stadi-
UNI if the team we're more
interesting. He was watching
the Senators yesterday for the
first time since the 1858 opener
but it's assumed he'll return,
| for the club provided him
excitement.
The Senators are hoping to
supply more heroics before to-
days throng, with Hal Griggs
and Russ Kemmerer primed to
oppose the Yankees Don Lar
sen and Art Ditmar. The YAM
KEGS also will play here tomor-
row, with Camilo Pascal due
to fire against Bob Turley.
twice trimmed by the Senators.
Pedro Ramos, who pitched a
slick game Thursday night only
to lose, yielded a 3-run homer
to Jackie Jensen in relief dur
| ing the ninth inning yesterday
but emerged a winner to level
his record at SIS. Jensen's
See SENATOR'S pa0a A.12