United League Baseball

Louisville Reverses Fortunes with New Faces
Colonels' 2-18 run called for some drastic measures
LOUISVILLE (June 15) -- A complete overhaul of the league's worst rotation has yielded some good early results, as the Louisville Colonels reversed a 2-18 stretch with a 9-5 fortnight in early June. Monty "Monte" Kennedy was one of the bright stars of Mark Allen's new strict 5-man rotation. Kennedy, a 28-year-old former Giants southpaw, stepped out of the bullpen and into the rotation on June 2. Kennedy had a 3.32 ERA in 20 relief appearances, but turned some heads in June with three straight wins and a 1.27 ERA in his first three starts. Cliff "Lefty" Chambers won 2 of 3 starts, though his loss was a forgettable 12-9 shelacking by Detroit June 8. The one new face who may not stick is Tom "Plowboy" Morgan, who allowed 6+ runs in all three of his starts, for a 10.38 ERA, despite beating St. Louis 7-6 June 1. Though still susceptible to blowout losses (allowing 14, 12, 12, and 10 runs in an eight-day stretch June 4-11), the Colonels have learned how to win the close ones, going 4-0 in one-run games in June, and notching their first shutout win June 12 at New York.
Offensively, the Colonels' small-ball style hit overdrive in June, with four regulars batting over .400, six regulars with .400+ OBP, and back-to-back Players of the Week. Nellie Fox went particularly nuts, collecting 21 hits and 12 RBIs in 8 games June 2-11. Jackie Jensen was also a key contributor, doubling the team HR-in-a-month record (2), with 4 clouts, including a 2-homer game in the 11-2 win at St. Louis June 3.
The club's .301 average is 10 points better than 2nd best Brooklyn, and their stolen base total is half-again that of second-best Boston (87-56). But despite their recent success, Louisville still sits in last place, 12 games behind. When all is said and done, that 2-18 run in May dug a hole from which the Colonels are unlikely to emerge.

Jackie Jensen's "Sick Sore Back" Transmitted to Billy Cox, Diagnosis: Team Doctor fired
"I'm sick and tired of this sore back," Jackie Jensen said, as Louisville's physio worked him over on the trainer's table. Hours later the team doctor announced that Jensen was sick, prompting roommate Elmer Valo to request a single room at the St. Louis hotel where they were overnighting. Mysteriously, just 12 days later, New York third baseman Billy Cox was "sick" with a sore back. League officials suspect that the 'sick sore back' was transmitted during Louisville's three-game series at Yankee Stadium June 10-12.

Minoso Hitting Streak Ends at 23
Orestes Minoso took the collar in the Superbas' 8-2 loss to Chicago June 7, ending a league-best 23-game hitting streak. The Cuban continues to lead the league in batting (.355), is second in OBP (.456), and third in OPS (.982).

AROUND THE HORN

39-26 8-6	CHICAGO · Won 5 straight May 28-June 2... Still 1st in HR (74-tied), 1st in ERA (4.23)... Parnell 3-0, 4.36 in 4 June starts, anchored 5-hit 2-1 win over St. Louis June 10... Bobby Thomson 4 HR, 10 RBI in last 13 games, hit 2 HR in 7-4 loss to St. Louis June 11... Gus Bell .366 (15-41) in June, .244, .222 first two months... Newcombe best hitting pitcher with .351 average (13-37), 10 RBI and .915 OPS.
37-27 7-7	NEW YORK · Swept Detroit for third time June 4-6 (9-0 for season), lost 4 of last 5... Early Wynn shut out Colts on 5 hits June 3 at Chicago... Ewell Blackwell 2.12 in 2 no-decisions... June leaders: Yost (.381), Wertz, Williams (4 HR), Hodges (12)... Yost, Wertz, Batts, Williams all batting .340+ in June... Jim Busby .421 (9-21) in last 7 games.
33-30 4-9	ST. LOUIS · 1-10 from May 30-June 10, 3-1 since... Sam Zoldak beat New York 8-3 June 14, first win in a month, ending 5 straight losses (8.18)... Pat Mullin, recent call-up, leads team in batting (.306), HR (4), and RBI (11) in June... Musial .229 in June, just 1 HR in last 15 games... Gil Coan suffered torn hip muscle June 6, out 2-3 weeks.
33-31 5-9	BOSTON · Hasn't won two straight since May 20, 7-16 run... Lost 6 straight home series, second worst home record (17-16)... Spahn 1-5, 4.91 in last 6 starts (after 7-2 start)... Garcia pulled tricep muscle June 12, out 2-3 weeks... Konstanty 1.29 ERA in 6 June appearances... June batting: Mantle .357, .449 OBP, Zernial .340, 14 RBI, Cooper .325, 4 HR, 13 RBI (4-5, 4 RBI in 10-6 win at Washington June 15).
31-33 9-4	WASHINGTON · Won 6 straight from May 28-June 3... 11-2 run from May 28-June 11... Steve Gromek strained bicep muscle June 9 against St. Louis... Frank Smith 7 SV, 0.00 ERA in last 8 games... Duke Snider 5 HR, 14 RBI in June... Sid Gordon .545 (6-11) in last 5 games... Willie Mays .190, 12 RBI in last 36 games.
30-35 9-5	BROOKLYN · 7-2 run June 1-9, including Howie Fox 3-hitter in 4-1 win over Boston June 3... Ken Raffensberger 3-0, 2.38 in last 4 games, including 4-hit shutout of St. Louis June 9... Vern Bickford won 5 straight starts May 3-June 6... Vern Stephens 2 HR June 6 in 10-2 blowout at St. Louis... Larry Doby 2 HR June 11 against Washington... Randy Jackson .415 in June (.223 in May).
28-38 4-10	DETROIT · 1-8 from June 1-9... 19-1 blowout win at Boston June 10 ended 7-game road losing streak, Elliott, DiMaggio each hit HR, 4 RBI... Roberts 0-4, 8.65 since May 27 shutout... Raschi 0-3, 9.16 in June... Porterfield 1st 10-game loser, 0-6, 6.39 from May 10-June 6... Rush 4-1 in last 5 starts... June batting: Kiner .415-4-15, .829 SLG, DiMaggio .378-5-15, .800 SLG... Furillo 2 HR in 9-5 win over Boston June 12.
27-38 9-5	LOUISVILLE · 1st in batting, 7th in slugging... First road sweep at St. Louis June 1-3, Jensen 2 HR, 5 RBI in 11-2 win June 3... Monte Kennedy anchored 7-hit shutout at New York June 12... McDermott monthly ERAs: 5.88, 6.59, 9.68... June batting: Fox .418, Valo .408, Kluttz .356... Entire lineup batting over .300 (Ashburn .331, Fox .333, Lowrey .346, Jensen .305, Kluttz .310, Valo .327, Collins .324, Dark .313).
DAY-BY-DAY
Fri Jun 1 WAS 5, DET 2 - Perkowski 8.0, 2 R, McDougald HR; J DiMaggio 2-run HR LOU 7, STL 6 - Morgan wins 1st start, Lowrey GW SF in 9th, Kluttz 4-4, 3 RBI BRO 9, BOS 3 - Raffensberger 7-hit CG, R Jackson 4-5, 3 RBI, Woodling HR, 3 RBI CHI 8, NYG 6 - Bell GW 2-run 2B in 8th, Reese 2-run HR, Thomson 2 RBI
Sat Jun 2 WAS 8, DET 3 - Koslo CG, 2 ER, Snider 3-run HR in 8th; J DiMaggioHR, 3 RBI LOU 5, STL 2 - Kennedy 8.0, 1 ER, Fox 3-5, Dillinger 3 RBI BRO 5, BOS 4 - Campanella HR, 3 R, Woodling GW PH 2B in 8th CHI 4, NYG 3 - Berra 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, Reese, Thomson 3-5
Sun Jun 3 WAS 9, DET 6 - Sauer HR, 3 RBI, Big Klu 3-3, Snider PHR; Kiner 2 HR, 4 RBI LOU 11, STL 2 - Chambers 8.0, 2 ER, Jensen 2 HR, 5 RBI, Valo 3 RBI, Lowrey 3 R BRO 4, BOS 1 - Fox 8.0, 1 ER, Minoso 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, D Wiliams 2-3 NYG 4, CHI 0 - Wynn 5-hit SHO, Boudreau 2-run HR in 4th, Thomas, Batts 3 H
Mon Jun 4 BRO 9, STL 8 - Westrum GSHR in 6th, R Jackson, Campy 3-5, D Williams 3 R CHI 6, WAS 4 - Reese 3-3, 2 R, Thomson 2-run HR in 8th, Newk 2-3 NYG 9, DET 3 - Wertz HR, 2 RBI, Noren, T Williams 2 RBI, Martin 2-4, 3B, 2 R BOS 14, LOU 3 - Spahn CG, Mantle, Zernial 3 H, 3 RBI, Stanky, Majeski 2 RBI
Tue Jun 5 STL 6, BRO 5 (10) - W Jones 2-run game-tying HR in 9th, Vernon GWPHR in 10th WAS 8, CHI 6 (10) - Snider 3R HR in 8th, Gordon, H Thompson HR in 10th off Dubiel NYG 10, DET 4 - Breechen CG, Williams 3-4, 2 HR, Hodges, Batts 2 RBI BOS 12, LOU 9 - Stanky 4 RBI, Torgeson 3-4, HR, 3 R, Brown 3-4, 4 R
Wed Jun 6 BRO 10, STL 2 - Bickford 6-hitter, Stephens 2 HR, R Jackson HR, 3 RBI, Campy 3-5 CHI 8, WAS 6 - Bell 3-run HR in 8th, 4 RBI, McCormick 3-4, 2 2B NYG 5, DET 1 - Surkont 4-hit CG, RBI, Wertz 2 HR, 4 RBI, LOU 9, BOS 8 - Valo 3-4, GWRBI in 9th, Fox 3-5, Dark 2 RBI
Thu Jun 7 BOS 4, NYG 3 - Garcia 8.0, 1 ER, Zernial 3-4, HR, Cooper 2-4, 2 RBI; Hodges HR CHI 8, BRO 2 - Roe injured, McCormick GSHR in 8th, Berra 2-run HR in 6th LOU 12, DET 2 - Kennedy 7.0, 2 R, 2-4, 3 RBI, Fox 4-5, 2 RBI, Collins 3-5, HR, 3 RBI
Fri Jun 8 WAS 10, STL 1 - Jansen 4-hit CG, Goodman 3-5, 3 RBI, H Thompson 3-5, Gordon 3-run HR NYG 6, BOS 5 - Wertz 3-4, HR, Yost 2-5, 2 RBI; Mantle 3-4 BRO 11, CHI 4 - Stephens 3-5, 3 RBI, Cavarretta 3-6, Strickland 3 RBI DET 12, LOU 9 - Rojek 3-4, 6 RBI, Kell 3 R; Ashburn 3-5, 2 2B
Sat Jun 9 WAS 3, STL 2 - WAS 3-hitter; Adcock HR, Sauer, Garagiola PH RBI in 8th NYG 13, BOS 12 - Yost 4-5, 3 RBI, Vollmer, 3-6, HR, 3 RBI; Miksis 3 RBI, Spahn 3-3 BRO 4, CHI 0 - Raffensberger 4-hit SHO, Strickland 2-2, 2 RBI, Doby HR LOU 6, DET 5 - Ashburn 3-5, Fox 3 RBI; Kell 0-3, 3 RBI (2 FC, 1 SF), Fain 3-5
Sun Jun 10 WAS 12, BRO 4 - Snider HR, 4 RBI, Gordon 2 RBI, Kluszewski, H Thompson 2 R CHI 2, STL 1 - Parnell 8.2, 1 R, GW 2-run single in 7th, Thomson 3-4 LOU 5, NYG 4 (10) - Branca 8.0, 2 R, Easter HR in 9th, Nichols WP in 10th DET 19, BOS 1 - Porterfield 2-hitter, HR, J DiMaggio, Elliott 4 RBI, Irvin 3 RBI
Mon Jun 11 WAS 5, BRO 4 - Koslo 8.0, 3 ER, McDougald HR, 3 RBI; Doby 3-4, 2 HR STL 7, CHI 4 - Hutchinson inj, Mullin 4-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI; Thomson 2 HR, 3 RBI NYG 10, LOU 7 - Wertz 3-4, Martin 2-5, 2 RBI; Ashburn 4-5, 2 2B BOS 7, DET 2 - Reynolds 7.2, 1 ER, Abrams 3-3, HR, 4 RBI, Mantle 3-3, 3 2B, 3 R
Tue Jun 12 BRO 7, WAS 5 - Campanella 3-4, 3 RBI, Souchock 2-4, HR; Lollar 3R HR in 1st CHI 9, STL 5 - Roe 9-hit CG, McCosky 3R HR in 7th, Berra 3-4, 2 RBI, Avila 2 RBI LOU 3, NYG 0 - Kennedy 6.1, 0 ER, Ashburn 2-5, RBI, Hemus 2-2, RBI DET 9, BOS 5 - Rush CG, HR, Furillo 2 HR, 4 RBI; J DiMaggio 3 RBI, Zernial HR, 4 RBI
Wed Jun 13 NO GAMES
Thu Jun 14 WAS 4, BOS 2 - Gromek 8.0, 1 ER, Sauer GW 2R HR in 8th, Goodman 2-4, 2 2B STL 8, NYG 3 - Zoldak CG, ends 5-gm L streak, Joost 3R HR in 8th, Ennis 3-4; Busby 3-4 BRO 8, DET 5 - Hitchcock 3-3, 2 RBI, R Jackson 3-5, Stephens HR, 2 RBI LOU 7, CHI 5 - Ashburn 3-4, 3B, 3 RBI, Jensen, Dillinger 2-4, 2 R; Rosen HR, 2 RBI
Fri Jun 15 BOS 10, WAS 6 - Lopat 7-hit CG, Cooper 4-5, HR, 4 RBI, Rizzuto 3-5, HR, Dom 2 RBI STL 12, NYG 3 - Mullin 3-5, HR, 4 RBI, Schoendienst 3-4, Musial 2-2, 3 W, 3 RBI DET 13, BRO 9 - Kiner 3-5, HR, 4 RBI, Priddy 3-4, J DiMaggio 2-5, HR CHI 8, LOU 4 - Parnell 7-hit CG, E Robinson HR, 4 RBI, Reese HR, 2 RBI