April 8, 1963 Table Of Contents
Statistics
A meaningful report that reveals the true value of a baseball player to his team and the reasons a club finished where it did
Yesterday
Harriet Quimby was charming and daring, but she picked the wrong time for making history
Derby Colts
Candy Spots (left) and Never Bend are indeed supreme rivals: a decision awaits in Kentucky
Hockey Ref
OFFICIATING MESS IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Scouting Reports
Once There Were Willie, Stan and Babe
And this may be the year another magic name pops up to join the roster of great ones, rising from and obscuring the problems besetting the harassed men who run baseball
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: Turmoil at the top and on the field
The Dodgers have a leaky defense, a shortage of starting pitchers and a palace intrigue. Steady Walter Alston faces a formidable task in preventing the team from slipping to third
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: A southpaw and a conspiracy of ifs
For the Xteenth year in a row, the Cardinals have a pitching staff—on paper—that could set the league on its ear. St. Louisans are waiting to see the potential turn into the real thing
HOUSTON COLT .45s: Too much and too soon in Houston
The Colt .45s are loaded with youngsters barely beyond the age of adolescence. Some of them are bound to come through, and this makes Houston a good bet—for the 1965 season
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: Getting there is half the farm system
Most of the players John Quinn wangled from other teams enjoyed good seasons last year, but until the farms start producing, the team cannot be said to have great expectations
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: Orlando can make them happy or sad
Five different teams have won National League pennants since '57. The Giants, with their thunderous power and pitching, could stop this nonsense—but only if Cepeda is willing
NEW YORK METS: Still no help from the front office
There is a more youthful look to the Mets, but youth is not enough. George Weiss seems incapable of preventing New York from being the worst team in the major leagues again
CHICAGO CUBS: No haste makes no waste and little hope
Head Coach Bob Kennedy, a former marine, and Athletic Director Bob Whitlow, an ex-pilot, will find that, even with a stronger attack in '63, the Cubs will be waging defensive warfare
MILWAUKEE BRAVES: A great team grows old ungracefully
Once the Braves spoke confidently of pennants. Now they speak hopefully of the first division, and even that may be out of reach if their fading old men don't pull off a geriatric miracle
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: The case of the vanishing infield
Already top-heavy in pitching, defense and singles hitters, Pittsburgh went for more of the same by trading off its veteran infielders. The moves may pay off someday—but not in 1963
CINCINNATI REDS: The pennant is up to the doctors
The Reds have the stuff of a pennant winner: winning pitchers, strong hitters, reliable defense. But they also have the preseason miseries that struck them down last year
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Change for the sake of change
This year's theme for the White Sox is speed, power and defense—only the Sox have less speed, power and defense than last year. It looks like a long summer on the South Side
MINNESOTA TWINS: A righty would make things right
With daring and dollars the Twins climbed to second in 1962. This year their infield is young and skilled, their outfield mature and powerful, their pitching strong. They have a chance
CLEVELAND INDIANS: Wanted: the pride of the professional
Impressive rookies may button up the defense and add some hitting. But the Cleveland pitchers will find that they need more than their new hidden-ball technique to win games
NEW YORK YANKEES: Some hope for the rest of the league
Despite the blue-chip quality of the Yankees, they are a little short on the mound. At least that is the hope that must sustain the nine other teams through an otherwise ominous year
BOSTON RED SOX: A trip out of town if he doesn't hit
For Boston, with its short left field, home is where the home run should be hit. Stuart and Mejias may hit them, but the pitchers won't be able to stop opponents from doing the same
WASHINGTON SENATORS: And things could get much worse
Washington's owners promise a new deal: millions for talent and no meddling on the field. But salvation comes too late this year to help the weakest-hitting team in the major leagues
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: The bright young men must come of age
The Baltimore playboys had fun everywhere last year but on the field. Now strengthened by trades, the Orioles will make a strong run for the pennant if everyone tends to business
LOS ANGELES ANGELS: A happy mood that needs a harness
The freewheeling Angels were the most delightful surprise in baseball last year. Bubbling with optimism, they head into a season that may produce a less happy form of astonishment
DETROIT TIGERS: Four outs an inning are one too many
Assuming Frank Lary's arm is in shape, the Tigers have just about everything to challenge the Yankees except a sound double-play combination. Lack of it could nullify any threat
KANSAS CITY ATHLETICS: Giving it all for love or money
With or without anybody in the stands, the gaudily dressed A's have a chance to rise higher than any former KC team, but only if last year's staff of "Who's he?" pitchers keeps improving
Killebrew
Out of the Park on a Half Swing
Minnesota's Harmon Killebrew, the loudest bat and quietest mouth in baseball, goes doggedly about the business of leading the major leagues in home run production and ice cream consumption
Dogs
Smart dogs keep on the right track
With noses to the ground, Rover and Spot are sniffing toward a new kind of Ph.D.
Grey Owl
Grey Owl: Mysterious Genius of Nature Lore
For The Record
A roundup of the sports information of the week
Acknowledgments
19th Hole: The Readers Take Over
19TH HOLE: THE READERS TAKE OVER