THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SPORT

THE SWING THAT WROUGHT THE IMPOSSIBLE
Richard Dale Long, the first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is shown at the precise instant he drove a ball over the right-field wall of Philadelphia's Connie Mack Stadium last Saturday afternoon to become the first man in all the 80-odd years of baseball history to hit home runs in seven consecutive games. For more pictures of Slugger Long and the surprising Pittsburgh Pirate crew of '56, turn the page

THE JOY THE SWING BROUGHT

Three lucky box-seated youngsters (left) tensely followed the flight of Long's historic homer, and the Pittsburgh dugout exploded with the kind, of high school enthusiasm that has marked Pirate play all season. Practically the same team that finished dead-last in 1955, 38½ games out of first place, is now an early but solid first-place contender under new Manager Bobby Bragan, thanks to hitting like Long's, pitching like Bob Friend's and its irrepressible team spirit

DESPITE PRESSURE OF OCCASION, LONG PRESENTS USUAL AIR OF COMPOSURE AT PLATE TO PHILADELPHIA PITCHER

WAVING 35-INCH, 34-OUNCE BAT, HE PREPARES FOR PITCH; BELOW, THE INSTANT BEFORE RECORD-BREAKING SMASH

Manager Bragan, far right, leads Pirate applause as Long crosses the plate. Minutes later, General Manager Joe L. Brown called from Pittsburgh to say he had a new contract, with a $2,500 raise, ready for Long. Brown had told Long before season's start: "If you do well, don't call us—we'll call you!"

THE LITTLEST ELEPHANT
This appealing, new-born creature, still shaky on Its big round feet, is the hero of a posthumous animal book by the late Ylla, the greatest animal photographer of our time. Titled "Little Elephant," it will be brought out by Harper & Brothers this summer. For the story of another elephant, the great-granddaddy of them all, turn the page

SIX PHOTOS

HY PESKIN

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