Minneapolis spokesman., 1962-07-20
Ringing The
BELL
BY Jesse Bell

rOur young nen, TWO Iamlnar
figures and two newcomers are
cutting fancy capers as basebalps
most valuable players.
In the National League Willie
Mays Of the San Francisco Giants
appears to be heading for his best
year since 1854. Willie is leading
the league in home runs with 25,
and is the man on whom the Bay
City teams pennant hopes rest.
Mickey Mantle won the Amer
ican League honors in 1855 and
1857. He is putting in a strong
bid for a third award by the big
boost he has given his teammates
since his return to the Yankee
lineup.
Putting in strong bids are Tom
my Davis Of the Los Angeles
Dodgers and the majors leading
hitter at All-Star recess. Tom Is
also leading both leagues in runs
batted in with a fabulous total of
80. In the American League Leon
Wagner Of the Los Angeles An
geles is pacing the league in hon.
ers and runs-batted-in. Leon is
having his best year in the majors.
Other players being considered
are Frank Robinson Of the Gin
cinnati Reds, Roberto Clemente Of
the Pittsburgh Pirates, Orlando
Cepeda of the Giants, Maury Wills
of the Dodgers, and Floyd Robin
son of the Chicago White Sox.
Earl Wilson of the Boston Red
Sox and Ed Belinsky Of the An
gels were recipients of the first
Helms no-hit awards. Paul Helms,
Jr., and Bill Schroeder staged a
special luncheon at the Helms
Athletic Foundation, Los Angeles,
on July 6, 1862.
Schroeder, who has many friends
in the movie industry gave Wilson,
and Belinsky a day they will long
remember He lured Groucho Marx
to the affair to regale the guests
with stories and quips. Both play
ers received beautiful no-hit tro-
phies, the first of their kind ever
designed.
Up to the All-Star break the
Twins keystone pair, Versailles and
Allen had played a big hand in
helping the local club complete
SO double plays, which was tops
in the American League.
On July 7, 1862 Vic Power be-
came the first Minnesota Twin to
be chased from a ball game at
Metropolitan Stadium since the
Twin Cities entered the majors
last season. He was given the
thumb for protesting a called
strike against Lenny Green.
The complacent Twins may need
more heckling and protesting by
versatile Vic Power who in our es-
timation is one of the big reasons
the local ball club has shown so
much improvement over last year.
Josie Taylor, a brother Of the
Philadelphia Phillies' Tony Tay-
lor was signed to a st. Louis con-
tract after working out with the
Cardinals in New York. The young
er brother is only 10, and a second
baseman like brother Tony.
Speaking of second basemen,
one of the best, Jackie Robinson,
on July %, 1862 will be installed
into baseball's Hall of Fame.
Jackie was named by the sports
writers just as soon as he be-
came eligible, with only five Big
League years Of baseball behind
him.
Congratulations Jackie, there is
none more deserving.
John Saver, baclcfield coach Of
the College All-Stars, calls this
years backs the best running
group with whom he has worked.
Among the backs scheduled to
play are Bob Ferguson, Ohio
State, Ernie Davis, Syracuse, Cur
tis McClinton, Kansas and Leroy
Jackson, Western Illinois.
The College All-Stars meet the
Green Bay Packers August 8,
1862 at Chicago's Soldiers Field.