St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-07-29
Bronzed Big Leaguers
In Thick Of Bzf
Race In Majors

Chicago (ANP) - With major
league mid-season recess at hand
because of the all-star games, it
is always a good time to review
the performances of our favorite
players.
Some of these performances have
been outstanding, some disappoint-
ing, some just about what was ex-
pected.
The leading major league hitter
last week was Willie Mays, who
was whacking the horsehides at a
1886 clip. The sterling San Fran
cisco Giants center fielder had
one Of the hottest streaks of the
season from June rs to July 4. He
raised his average from 1926 to
81, sliding back in the next few
games.
In 70 games, Willie had "a runs
batted in, 104 hits, 81 doubles, IS
home runs and 10 stolen bases.
This is the kind of evidence to
support the claim of Mays sup
porters that he is without a peer.
Ernie Banks, the Chicago Cubs
shortstop, seem bent on reclaim
ing the National League home run
championship and retaining his
RIB title. Although his batting
average was in the 270's, Banks
had collected IA RIBS and rs home
runs in II games.
Several In Thick OF Race
Among the 300 MI hitters were
Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh;
1928; Bill White, st. Louis, BIT;
Maury Wills, Los Angeles, and
Willie Kirkland, San Francisco,
1906.
Clemente, hobbled by injuries
recently, had driven in SO runs and
had made SO hits. White had tied
Clemente in the number Of hits and
was in a four-way tie for leader
ship in triples with seven.
In the deadlock with White were
Vada Pinson, Cincinnati, Billy Bru-
ton, Milwaukee and Kirkland. Pin
son had 20 doubles, Bruton, 10,
and Vada's teammate, Frank Rob-
inson, IT.
Hank Aaron, batting .285, which
is way below his norm, remained
a threat in the power department
with % home runs and SO RIBS.
Orlando Cepeda, another Giant,
had Sc RIBS. Bruton had SO hits.
In the American League, two of
the standout hitters were Minnie
Minoso, Chicago, .321, and another
White Sox star, Al Smith, .316.
Hector Lopez, Of the New York
Yankees, was batting .317, and
Vic Power, Cleveland, .306.
Minoso had so RIBS, 80 hits
and 10 stolen bases. Smith had 80
hits, Julie Becquer, part-time
Washington first baseman, was
among the leaders in triples with
four.
Players like Mays, Minoso,
Smith, Clemente have had what is
considered an outstanding first
half. All were named to the all
star teams. They were joined by
Pinson, Cepeda, Aaron, Banks,
Power, Elston Howard, New York
Yankees, and Charley Neal, of the
Dodgers.
Sam Jones, the San Francisco
highlander, who has trailed off
after a brilliant start, was among
the pitching nominees.
Distinct disappointments have
included Willie McCovey, rookie
of-the-year for the Giants last
year. Willie has been hitting under
.25O most of the season.
Jim Grant, the Cleveland right
handler, has won 6 and lost 2.
Among his victories have been
thre over Washington to bring his
total for less than three years to
IA over the Senators.
Among the outstanding rockies
are Tony Curry, an outfielder, and
Frank Herrera, first baseman, both
with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Curry has been hitting over 300
most of the season, although ham,
pered by injuries. After a slow
start, Herrera began to bang the
ball and demonstrate power. His
batting skein of 10 straight games
was the longest of the season I'M
til the all-star break.
Wills, who gave Los Angeles
such a timely performance in the
late stretch last year, also had a
hot hitting streak just before the
all-star recess. He raised his aver
age something like so points with
in three weeks.