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SCOREBOARD
RECORD BREAKERS
Phenomenal Dale Long of equally phenomenal Pittsburgh Pirates hit his eighth home run in as many games (May 28) before Brooklyn halted his string.
Villanova's high-soaring Don Bragg cleared 15 feet 3¾ inches to surpass college pole vault standard in Pacific Association AAU meet at Stockton, Calif. (June 2), one of three track marks bettered on same day. Other records: University of Texas quartet of Hollis Gainey, Ronnie White, Walter McNew and Joe Villarreal pranced through rarely run 2,900-meter medley relay in 6:52.2 for new U.S. record, in Texas AAU meet at Corpus Christi; Los Angeles' Jefferson H.S. foursome tore off 1:26.3 clocking at Chico, Calif., bettering national interscholastic mark.
Paul Anderson, piano-legged Toccoa, Ga. fatboy, in Philadelphia to defend his AAU weight-lifting crown, warmed up with 400-pound press, stepped up tempo to break three heavyweight world records: 335 in snatch; 440 in clean and jerk; 1,175 for total lift (June 1).
BASEBALL
Pittsburgh's hungry Pirates turned hope into fact, moved into National League lead for few happy hours after taking first game of Sunday double-header from Milwaukee 3-1, dropped mere six percentage points behind Braves when they lost second 4-3. Earlier in week, neat-throwing Bob Friend beat Brooklyn 3-2, Milwaukee 4-1, became baseball's winningest pitcher with 9-2 record. Cincinnati took two out of three from slipping St. Louis (who also lost three to Philadelphia), split four with New York to take over third place while Cards slid to fourth. Still-faltering Brooklyn continued to muddle along in second division, came back from harrowing experience of losing three straight to last-place Chicago to beat Cubs 4-3.
New York used Mickey Mantle's booming bat to good advantage against Boston and Washington, beefed up American League lead to 6½ games before running into streaking Detroit, scrambling back after poor start. Red-hot Tigers swept three from Yankees, extending winning streak to six and soaring all way to fourth-place tie with Boston. Cleveland lost five out of seven, made way in second place for Chicago, who whipped Indians twice, Baltimore in two out of three to trail front-running Yankees by 4½ games (for more facts and figures see page 50).
TRACK & FIELD
Villanova's Irish-born Ron Delany became third to conquer 4-minute mile on U.S. soil, barely outkicking Denmark's Gunnar Nielsen to win in 3:59 at Compton (Calif.) Invitational (see page 23). Among other winners: Tom Courtney, who outhustled world 800-meter record-holder Roger Moens in 1:49 half mile; U.S. Army's Ira Murchison, who raced 100 meters in 0:10.2 to equal world mark; whale-sized Parry O'Brien, who hurled shot 60 feet 5¼ inches.
Duke's Dave Sime, as usual, captured spotlight next night as athletes moved up to Stockton, winning 100 in 0:09.3 and 220 in 0:20.4 with aid of favoring wind. Delany dropped down to half mile, staged great finish to win in 1:49.5; O'Brien got off another 60-footer, this time for 60 feet¼ inch.
BOXING
Larry Boardman, eager young slugger from Marlboro, Conn. with nontitle decisions over Lightweight Champion Wallace (Bud) Smith and Featherweight Champion Sandy Saddler, showed his muscles as real contender, catching Frankie Ryff with solid right to jaw for clean KO in ninth at New York's Madison Square Garden. Boardman's victory gave bogged-down lightweight division needed shot in arm, brought title challenge from his father-manager, plaintive postfight query from shocked Ryff (never before on floor and beaten only once): "Was I really knocked cold?"
Willie Pastrano, nimble-stepping heavyweight, jiggled, danced and weaved in and around Chuck Spieser for 10 rounds, got everybody's vote (including two judges' and most of 9,000 spectators') except that of Referee Francis Kercheval to win decision at New Orleans.
Governor Goody Knight accepted proffered resignations of all five members of California State Athletic Commission as aftermath of "most shocking" testimony given to special investigating committee, paving way for possible appointment of three-man New York-type commission with full-time paid chairman. Knight pointed out that new commission is necessary as "the first basic step in putting California boxing on a completely honest, high plane."
Frank Gilmer, Chicago attorney and referee of controversial Basilio-Saxton fight, was Governor William G. Stratton's choice to succeed late Livingston E. Osborne as chairman of three-man Illinois State Athletic Commission (other members: NBA President Lou Radzienda, Johnny Behr). Starry-eyed Gilmer vowed to keep boxing clean in Illinois, blamed Communists for boxing's troubles: "They [the Communists] go after boxing in different ways...they yell fraud and corruption every possible opportunity they get."
AUTO RACING
Pat Flaherty, Chicago Irishman who led qualifiers, zipped his John Zink Special around wreck-strewn Brickyard at average speed of 128.490 mph to win first Indianapolis "500," record $93,819 prize money, buss from shapely Actress Virginia Mayo (see page 32).
Britain's Peter Collins, moving into lead when favored Juan Manuel Fangio was forced out by clutch trouble, pushed his Ferrari at average speed of 118.1 mph to win 360-mile Belgium Grand Prix at Francorchamps.
HORSE RACING
Midafternoon, 4-year-old colt foaled at Leslie Combs II's Spendthrift Farm and never a stakes winner, charged through field in last 200 yards to beat Switch On to wire by head while favored Nashua, hoping to add to million-dollar booty, could do no better than fourth in $55,800 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, N.Y.
Jazz Age, 30-1 shot running in his seventh race this year, hugged rail under slick ride by John Choquette, made right moves in sloppy going to surprise field in $29,400 Peter Pan Handicap at Belmont.
Happy Hill Farm's frisky Kingmaker, hustled to front early by Jockey Gayle Smith, held on grimly in face of stirring stretch challenge by Head Man, scored by head in $35,200 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park.
MILEPOSTS
ANNIVERSARY—Branch Rickey, 75-year-old baseball patriarch, retired general manager of Pittsburgh, master trader, developer of Pirate youth movement; and wife Jane; their 50th year of marriage, at Pittsburgh.
HONORED—Pat Smythe, attractive 27-year-old equestrienne who will represent Britain in Olympics at Stockholm; named Officer of the Order of the British Empire "for service to show jumping," by Queen Elizabeth, at London.
DIED—Sir Frank Beaurepaire, 65, onetime Australian swimming champion (he won more than 200 titles, set 14 world records from 1906 to 1928), businessman, legislator; of heart attack, at Melbourne.
