THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SPORT

SPRING STRAINING

March was the cruelest month for baseball players. Training hard in a sunny land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dulled muscles and contorting the face, players undergo the agonies of getting into shape

Mickey Mantle of Yankees, batting right-handed, pops eyes and opens mouth as he takes a hard cut in a practice session.

Hank Bauer of Yankees gives the ball closemouthed treatment.

Curt Simmons of Phils, bothered by sore arm last year, tightens lips and lets go in warm-up.

Clem Labine, Brooklyn pitcher and a fashion designer, swallows hard after a pitch.

Ted Kluszewski of Cincinnati, wearing the new sleeveless uniform, purses lips as he tries to golf a pitch low and outside.

Stan Musial of St. Louis tenses his jaw and follows the ball with his eyes as he gets set to connect during batting practice.

Roy McMillan, shortstop for Cincinnati, bites lipon double-play pivot against Chicago.

Larry Doby of White Sox bares teeth after fouling off pitch in an exhibition with Cincinnati.

Don Blasingame of Cardinals seems sorry about hitting the ball.

TRYING TIMES IN TRYON

Despite rain-drenched North Carolina skies horsemen conduct trials that determine members of the Prix des Nations team which will represent the U.S. in the Equestrian Olympics

Last jump of Olympic-type course is cleared by Frank Chapot on Volco's Matador. Chapot and Warren Wofford were chosen with 1952 Olympic Rider Bill Steinkraus and 1955 U.S. Equestrian Team Member Hugh Wiley. Dressage and Three Day Team had already been named.

Last judgment is finally made by equestrian jury. Assaying performance of horse and rider are (left to right) Whitney Stone, president of the U.S. Equestrian Team; Brig. Gen. J. T. Cole, team manager; Maj. Gen. Guy Henry, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Equestrian Committee; Walter Devereux and Brig. Gen. F. W. Boye, Olympic Committee members. Obstacles were kept slightly below Olympic standards for fear of injuries on slick footing. "It may rain in Stockholm," said General Cole, "but we are not there yet; and you don't get beat up if you plan to fight Joe Louis the next day." Remarked General Henry: "The Lord can't possibly be a horseman, or He wouldn't send us weather like this!"

BORED HORSES AND BROODING CANDIDATE FRANK CHAPOT TAKE SHELTER FROM THE STEADY RAIN AFTER THE DAY'S TRIAL IS CANCELED

NINE PHOTOS

FOUR PHOTOS

RICHARD MEEK