The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-07-13
of TIMES
Jets eye
first diUisiOn
BY o FABRO
Times Sports Editor

The Columbus Jets obviously aren't going to re-
peat as International League champions, but their
chances of finishing in the first division, thereby
qualifying them for the season-end playoffs, look bet
ter with each passing week.
Recent Improvement in all major departments
hitting, fielding and especially pitching-has given
Manager Larry %Shepard's troops the badly needed
spark that had been missing since the start of the
1862 campaign.
KEY FIGURES IN THE JETS REGENERATION
have been $175,00 bonus infielder Bob Bailey, fiery
catcher Ronnie Brand, hustling second baseman Tony
Asaro, lanky outfielder Larry Elliott and pitchers Bob
Veale, Tom Parsons and Al Pehanick.
To digresS a moment, Pehanick, who joined the
club only a couple of weeks ago, is the 10th player add
ed to the roster since the season began. The list of
players. who were with the club when the season
opened and have since departed, now numbers Ia.
When the curtain went up on the 1862 season,
the Jets were rated as a fairly good bet to finish in the
first division. Some tagged the team as a dark horse
candidate for the pennant. Jet fans, however, are very
much aware that the team hasn't lived up to this adj
vance billing.
STARTING OFF MlsERABLY, THE JETS lounped
about in last place for quite a spell. But the squad be-
gan to lell, and, as the season hit the halfway mark,
the Jets climbed into a contending position for the
first division.
Biggest reason for the Jets earlv fIameout is the
overloaded rookie staff. AS ii had been pointed nut
many times, a team must have a solid nucleus Of
veterans to become a solid pennant contender. On
opening day, the Jets lineup included eight rockies
and one veteran-the ever popular Johnny Powers.
Now that the newcomers have gotten some Triple
A experience, coupled with the changes in the roster,
the Jets no longer are pushovers.
WHILE THE JETS HAVEN'T REALLY surprised
many people by their slow start, the Jacksonville Suns
nave been something short of astonishing. Most fig
ured the Suns to finish sixth or seventh. In our MAY
a column, we said Jacksonville was a long shot for
the crown.
But there they are, in first place by a very COM
Portable margin!
The Suns, who played in Jersey City last season,
finished the 1861 campaign in a tie for sixth place.
81 big games behind the champion Columbus Jets.
Jacksonville, however, has been playing outstand-
ing ball, just as the Jets did last year. Like the 1861
Jets, the Suns were figured for the second division;
and like last years Columbus team when it took over
first place, the experts have been predicting that the
suns will fade. Ignoring the newspaper clippings pre-
dieting their demise, the Suns keep on winning.
The Suns, an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians,
do have what it takes to win the crown--a solid nu-
cleuS of veterans and a bunch of flashy rockies. Stand
out players are utfielderpitcher Vic Davalilo and
shortstop Tony Martinez. Both are among the leagues
top hItters and both are outstanding fielders.
EARLY SEASON FAvORiTES, WE ECALL we're
Atlanta, Toronto and Buffalo. Atlanta has fizzIed bad.
ly but Buffalo and Toronto have remained contenders
while battling each other for second place.
AS the season winds into the second half of the
schedule, 1t appears that Jacksonville is strong enough
to prove the experts wrong. To put it bluntly, they
might as we'll stop predicting the Suns downfall since
they aren't likely to fold.