St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-04-29

y. ga II oICo
7. st. Louis Cardinals
8. Philadelphia Phillies
American League:
/. Chicago White Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Baltimore Orioles
6. Boston Red Sox
7. Kansas City AS
g. Washington Senators
AS was pointed out in last weeks
preview, we are picking the Giants
and White Sox to win in their
respective leagues because these
teams are better balanced, in
terms of hitting and pitching, then
the other contenders. However, we
expect both races to be close.
AS for the players, our forecast
is as follows:
Minnie Makes The Difference
CHARACTERISTIC the Juror over
Luis Aparacio and Nelson Fox and
Ted Kluzewski, who are all good
ball players, if the White Sox are
going to repeat as AL champions,
Orestes (Minnie) Minoso will make
the difference Not only is Minnie
the top hustler on the team, but
he is also the top run getter,
rugged as they come, he can be
expected traditional bean ball at
lacks upon him by opposing pit
cher.
Minnie also Yields a big bat
as witness by his splurge in the
Sox victorious season opener
against the Kansas City Athletics
last week. Last season with Cleve-
land he batted 1902, with go RIBS.
He will be assisted at the plate
and in the outfield by Al Smith,
who, while not as Colorful as the
tan Cuban, is steady ball player
who can be counted upon to deliver
Earl Battey, recently traded to
the Washington Senators, will be
missed but will gain personally
from being able to see action
daily MinOso Smith C230,
Aparacio (257), Fox C3O6), Freese
and pitcher Herb Score, to boost
an already capable pitching staff,
should spell victory for the Pale
Hose.
Yanks Counting On Howard
New York-The Key man for
the Yankees, from the standpoint
of all-around importance, is Elston
Howard. Mantle is the power boy
and speed merchant, but Howard
will carry the load. The most YER
satile player last season-he played
the outfield, first base and caught
-Elston figures to take over from
the aging Yogi Berra this season.
There was evidence of this when
the Yanks opened the season with
Howard behind the plate last
week. The Bombers like his bat
power (.273 with IS home runs)
versatility, stamina and general
ability.
Towards teammate, Hector Lo-
PEE C.283 with SO RIBS and %
home runs), is also being counted
on heavily. Hector, also versatile,
played third base for the Yanks
after coming to the team from
the Athletics. Mantle, Howard,
Skowron, Lopez and Gil McDoug-
aid are the Yankees big guns.
Cleveland-Vic Power is expect
ed to be the Indians top power
hitter. However, the Tribe also
have a rookie who may make a big
noise in the league. He is Walter
Bond, a 22-year-old player who
resembles Luke Easter in size. A
former star with the Kansas City
Monarch, Bond batted 3S9 in the
Nicaraguan League this past win
ter and shows plenty of promise.
Power, Harvey Kuenn, Johnny
Temple, and pitchers Jim Mud
cat) Grant are among the top
stars of the Indians.
Detroit won't have any tan
talent this season it seems, al
though there are some good pros
pect in the teams farm system.
Baltimore Bob Boyd (.2SO)
and Willie Tasby (.25O) both fig
ures to improve this season. Boyd
may experience an injury-free sea-
son thus raised his average, while
Iasby seems to be correcting the
habit of chasing outside curve
balls. He is a capable fielder =.
The Orioles have good fielding but
lack hitting and pitching depth.
Red Sox - Although he tailed
off to .233 toward the end of last
season, Jerry Elijah (Pumpsie)
Green seems ready for a full sea-
son in the big show. Not only is
he an outstanding fielder at second
base and short, but he has an ex-
cellent batting eye, seldom strik-
ing out When he came to the
Beantowners following the Juror
over charges of racial discrimina-
ton against him, he hit .313 for a
while, then dropped to $50 and
then .233. However, 1 predict a