The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-08-24
SPORTS of TIMES
'O2 Diamond
Surprises
BY LOU FABRO
Times Sports Editor

Baseball is a funny game, declares ex-major Lacquer
Joe Garagiola in his book of the same title. The ace sports
caster, who once played for the old Columbus Red Birds,
also could say that baseball is a game of surprises.
The 1862 season is providing a bumper crop of exam
pies to support this axiom.
Most stunning example so far is the way the amazing
Los Angeles Angels have blossomed into a serious pen
nant contender despite the fact the team is composed of
castoffs and rockies and is playing only its second year of
major league baseball.
HI NOTION THAT the Angels would be pennant
~contenders was f~ar-fetched last spring and it seems far
fetched now. But there they are, chasing after the Yankees
with the authority of veteran stars. In fact, Los Angeles
has held the runnerup spot and has been the Yankees most
serious contender longer than any other team this season.
While the odds are against the Angels in their quest for
the pennant, they are a cinch to finish in the first division
and very likely in second place. This, in itself, is a re-
markable feat for a team regarded at the start of the sea-
son as a 1901 shot for the title and a sure candidate to fin
ish no better than eighth.
One sports scribe, in booming Angels skipper Bill Rig
ney for AL anager-of-the-ye honors - and he deserves
II t. said:
RIGN is DOING AN EXTRAORDINARY job of
showing how to succeed in baseball without players" If
ever an exaggeration is appropriate, this is one of those
times. That's how incredible the Angles have been.
Among other surprises is the sad plight of the New
York Nets in their first year Of operation. Although the
team was expected to finish ninth or tenth, hardly anyone
thought they would drag along as they have. Whlle the
Angels have been incredibly good, the Nets have been in
credibly awful.
AS a matter of fact, the Nets are well on their way
to setting a major league record for losses in a season. The
modern record of lit losses in a season was set in 1916 by
the old Philadelphia Athletics. This is just too harsh a fate
for as respected a figure as Nets Manager Casey Stengel.
ANOTHER 1862 SURPRISE is the outstanding success
of another of baseballs respected figures-Stan THE Man
Musial. The st. Louis Cardinal veteran, who talked about
retiring as far back as 1857, has been hitting the ball with
the authority of a player in. his prime.
His hitting, which topped both leagues for several
weeks, has caused the 41-year-old Musial to change his
mind again. Instead Of retiring at the end OF TINS season,
he's going to try one more year.
His decision has one drawback - II delays his admis-
sion to basbaen's Hall of Fame. But TO a humble player of
Musials calber, this isn't important. In fact, he'd rather
wait because he loves the game of baseball.
While no one thought Roger Maris would match his
1861 production of 81 home runs, few figured the Yankee
~outfielder would slack off as much as he has in this de-
partment.
In his teams first 81 games, he hit Il home runs
through lis games, he had rs homers. At this rate, he isn't
expected TO reach beyond the 35-40 homer mark.
ALTHOUGH THIS WOULD BE A DROP of 81 to &c
homers. the decline wouldn't be a record. The most dramatic
drop in a single season was suffered by Hack Wilson, who
set the still standing National League record of 81 homers
in 1890. The following year, the Chicago Cubs outflelder
hit only 13 homers - but he missed a months play because
of a leg injury.
Despite the homer decline and his lowly .254 batting
average. Maris leads the Yankees in runs batted in and has
driven in the deciding run in a dozen games.
Other surprises include four no-hitters so far this sea
son: the complete collapse of the Cleveland Indians; the
base-stealing of Dodger infieder Maury Wills; the errorless
record set by Cub rookie Ken Hubbs; and the fact that not
a single major league manager has been fired.
And then there was the surprise in Cincinnati where
Umpire Jock Conlan tangled with-of all people-the Red
legs organ player.
exercise during innings. The strains of the organ served as
a cue to the fans TO yell charge" Jocko issued a cease
and-desist order. The Cincinnati management promptly pro-
tested to MI. boss Warren Giles. Jocko was overruled
Charge!