United League Baseball

Kiner Lifts Detroit
Homer Hat Trick Highlights 6-0 Week
DETROIT (Apr. 16) -- The Detroit Sound turned a rough 2-4 start on its head this week, sweeping Brooklyn and Washington in its first six home games to claim a share of first place in the early going of the United League's inaugural season. Ralph Kiner sparked the offensive outburst that resulted in 53 runs in 6 games. The reigning and four-time NL homer champion homered and drove in three runs in Tuesday's 13-3 win over the Superbas, but that was merely a prelude to Saturday's astounding performance. He hit three homers in that game, driving in 8 runs in a 15-3 blowout of the Monuments. Kiner hit .520 for the week, driving in 17 runs -- 14 against Washington. Vic Raschi and Bob Rush each won a pair and Bob Porterfield threw a shutout Thursday.

Doerr No More
Brooklyn Second-Sacker Out for Season
DETROIT (Apr. 10) -- Brooklyn second baseman Bobby Doerr will sit out the rest of the season after throwing out his shoulder in the sixth inning of Tuesday's 13-3 blowout loss to the Sound. The Los Angeles native, who just turned 32 on April 7, was leading the team in batting (.385), was second in RBIs (10), and had a string of four straight multi-hit games. Doerr was also flawless in 8 games at second base. Utility infielder Billy Hitchcock is poised to fill Doerr's shoes for the rest of the season. The Superbas may also call up veteran second baseman Jimmy Bloodworth, who is currently hitting .302 with Buffalo (AAA).
The day before the injury, Doerr homered and drove in four runs, and he was 2-for-2 on the day when his arm snapped on a routine throw on Bob Elliott's groundout with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

New York's Robinson Hits for the Cycle
ST. LOUIS (Apr. 9) -- New York second baseman Jackie Robinson hit for the cycle today, as the Gothams spoiled opening day at Sportsman's Park by topping the Maroons 12-7. Robinson homered off Fred Hutchinson in the game's first at-bat, and added a two-run triple in the second, a seventh inning double off Vern Law, and a ninth inning single off Lou Brissie. Eddie Yost also had four hits in the game, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

Boston Sweeps Monuments With Late Rallies
BOSTON (Apr. 11) -- Fast out of the gate with a 5-1 homestand to open the season, Washington lost its touch this week away from Griffith Stadium with six straight losses. The Beacons took Monday's series opener 3-2 in 11 innings, then snatched victory with ninth inning heroics in the final two games. On Tuesday, George Zuverink took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but after a walk and two singles loaded the bases, Boston pinch hitter Eddie Miksis won the game with a bases-clearing double. The next day, trailing 8-7 in the ninth, Miksis singled and scored the tying run on Gus Zernial's double, setting up Dom DiMaggio's game-winning single. In Detroit, the Monuments were at least spared the heartbreaking losses, but they were crushed by a total of 28-6 as their losing streak hit six games.

AROUND THE HORN

8-4			BOSTON · Won 7 straight April 7-13, all but one by one run. Earl Torgeson was 11-26 (.423) this week, and #8 hitter Bobby Brown was 8-16 in his last 8 games. SS Chico Carrasquel, filling in for the injured Phil Rizzuto, hit 4-for-6 in Friday's 10-5 win at Brooklyn. He is batting 3-30 (.100) in his other nine games... Ed Lopat had a 1.89 ERA in two quality starts.
8-4			CHICAGO · Leads league with 20 HR and runs/game (6.2, tied)... Bobby Avila and Eddie Robinson each drove in 8 runs this week... Mel Parnell (3-0) and Saul Rogovin (2-1) won 5-1 and 12-1 in successive complete games at New York... Pee Wee Reese batting .150 (3-20) in last 6 games... Al Rosen jammed his finger when he was hit by a pitch April 12, will miss one week.
8-4			DETROIT · Leads league in OBP (.377), SLG (.489), ERA (3.04), and runs allowed (3.8)... The "Three Rs" (Roberts, Raschi, and Rush) are a combined 7-0, 2.55. Bob Porterfield had 6-hit shutout in Thursday's 4-0 win over Washington... Ralph Kiner POW (.520-5-17), Ferris Fain hit .500 (11-22) with 6 RBI, Bob Elliott had 6 RBI also.
6-6			ST. LOUIS · Sad Sam Zoldak won twice, one of three pitchers to win first 3 starts... Bullpen suffered (7.83)... Pesky (.474), Schoendienst (.400), Joost (.375), Coan (.364) had hot weeks... Joost homered with two doubles, driving in 4 in Tuesday's 11-3 win over New York... Gil Coan hit safely in first 11 games (.385)... Ellis Kinder blew 8-6 lead in 9th in Thursday's loss to Louisville.
5-7			LOUISVILLE · Leads lead in steals... Hit 7 doubles in 10-7 win at Chicago Monday... Alvin Dark 3-run homer in 9th beat St. Louis 9-8 Thursday, Jackie Jensen 4-5, 3 RBI, 2 doubles, 2 steals in the game... McDermott (0-3) roughed up for third straight time (4.1, 7 ER) Wednesday in Chicago... McDermott, Garver are combined 0-6, 8.33.
5-7			WASHINGTON · Harry Perkowski ruptured elbow ligament Apr. 10, will miss 3-4 weeks; fill-in Erv Palica crushed in first start Saturday (5.0, 8 ER)... Willie Mays 14-32 (.438), Hank Thompson 15-30 (.500) in last 8 games... Snider (.125), McDougald (.143), Goodman (.176) cold weeks... Best fielding (tied-.983), 2nd in double plays (18).
4-8			BROOKLYN · Saturday's 4-1 win over Boston snapped 6-game skid. Howie Fox held the Beacons to 6 hits and 1 run in 8 innings, fanning six. In his previous start, Fox was touched for 7 runs in 3 innings... Vern Bickford (0-3, 9.68) is struggling, as are Larry Doby 3-17 (.176) and Vern Stephens 2-19 (.105)... 3-4-5 hitters Minoso, Cavarretta, Campanella had just 7 RBIs all week.
4-8			NEW YORK · Only 12 runs in last 5 games... Saturday's 4-3 win over Chicago snapped 4-game skid. Irv Noren 3-run homer in 8th was game-winner, first win for Ewell Blackwell, whose 6.11 ERA is best in rotation... HOT: Robinson 11-24 (.458), Wertz 7-20 (.350)...COLD: Gil Hodges .148 (4-27), Lou Boudreau .133 (2-15)... Eddie Yost's 10 walks, .511 OBP lead league.