United League Baseball

Mays Snaps Streak, Then Hand
Washington Star Sidelined After 16-Game Hitting Streak
WASHINGTON (May 10) - The Monuments won the game tonight, but lost their franchise man for a month. Slugging centerfielder Willie Mays will miss the rest of May and most of June after breaking his hand making a diving catch in a 5-3 win over Boston. Mays had a 16-game hitting streak, which started on Apr. 18 and ended on May 6, his 20th birthday. Mays hit .333 with 19 RBI in April, leading the team in both accounts, but slumped in May, with just 5 safeties in 31 at-bats (.161, including 1-for-12 since his birthday. The "Say Hey Kid" was the first overall pick in the United League's formation draft a year ago, and batted .249 with 15 HR, 68 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases in his rookie campaign. He is batting .286-5-21 thru 28 games before Friday's freak accident.
The injury occurred in the top of the second, when Mays went back to the Griffith Stadium wall in left-center, and pulled a Dave Philley fly ball back into the park. Mays left the game immediately and x-rays were positive. His replacement in center, Jimmy Piersall, was 2-for-3 and scored twice, but has struggled at the plate, batting just .194 in 17 games.

Rush Fires 1-Hitter
WASHINGTON (May 13) - There was only one last year, and on Monday, Detroit's Bob Rush joined Washington's Steve Gromek as the only pitchers to throw a one-hitter in UL history. Rush (4-4, 5.83) showed excellent control, walking nobody and striking out nine. Detroit only got four hits in the game, stymied by Monuments' Stu Miller (1-5, 4.71), who took the hard-luck loss. Monte Irvin scored the game's only run in the first inning, scoring on a wild pitch after leading off with a single. Washington's only hit also came in the first, when Enos Slaughter beat out a cheap infield single. Duke Snider then hit into a double play, and Rush retired the next 23 batters in order, before Irvin's error with two outs in the ninth spoiled his chance to face the minimum 27 batters in a game.
Rush's feat is all the more impressive given the crap form he has been in thus far in 1952. The 25-year-old from Battle Creek, Mich. was 2-4 in his first six starts, with an 8.03 ERA. Rush (18-13 last year) is one-third of the highly-touted "Three Rs" along with ace Robin Roberts and Vic Raschi. Last season, the Three Rs each won at least 18 games, combining for a 55-43 record. So far this season, only Roberts is maintaining his form, with both Rush and Raschi struggling with ERA above 5.00.

Souchock, Doby Hit Slams on Same Day
Former Brooklyn teammates Steve "Bud" Souchock and Larry Doby (now with New York) completed the first known two-grand slam day in UL history on May 8. In Detroit, Souchock's pinch grand slam in the eighth off Ted Gray broke a tie game and gave Fred Hutchinson his fourth win of the campaign. It was Souchock's 3rd home run of the year. Doby's slam at Yankee Stadium looked equally as decisive, as the Gothams built a 7-3 lead over St. Louis with a five-run seventh. But the champs rallied in the ninth, tallying six runs on six singles off Mike Fornieles and Chet Nichols. It was Nichols' eighth consecutive loss. Doby's home run was a 470-foot monster blast off Billy Pierce with two out in the seventh. It was his 8th home run since coming over from Brooklyn in the Gil Hodges deal prior to Opening Day. Doby, who was the first Negro player in the American League, has seen his average dip 25 points to .261 in New York, but he is on pace to surpass his 1951 homer tally (15) by the end of June.

Gothams Win 22-1 in Record Blowout
New York dismantled Chicago 22-1 on Saturday, May 11, in a UL record win. Ewell Blackwell threw a 5-hit shutout for his sixth win in as many starts, and Matt Batts led all batters with 4 RBI. Jackie Robinson and Eddie Yost had three hits each (out of a total of 23). Eight Gothams had at least 2 RBI in the game, including Blackwell, who drove in three with a 3-for-5 game.

AROUND THE HORN

22-12 - 6-7	ST. LOUIS · Lost 3 of last 4... 1st in ERA and OBA... Maglie 6-1, 2.14 (3-0, 1.73 in last 3 starts)... May batting: W Jones .409 (.647 in last 5 games), .682 SLG, Wyrostek .389, Pesky .368, Campanella 3 HR, 11 RBI... Cold: Schoendienst .120 in last 6, Jethroe .130 in last 5, Ennis .143 in last 6.
19-15 3 9-4	DETROIT · 4 one-run wins in last 7 games (7-2 overall)... Attendance up 20%... Roberts 6-2, 3.36... Labine league high 10 saves... Hot: Ferris Fain .391 (9-23) in last 7 games, Bob Rush: 2-1, 2.92 in last 3 starts... Not: Kiner .048 (1-21) in last 5 games, Metkovich .120 (3-25) in last 13 games, Elliott .120 (3-25) in last 6 games.
18-16 4 7-6	NEW YORK · Won 5 straight, including record 22-1 win at Chicago May 11... Blackwell 6-0, 2.66... Wynn 4-0, 2.57 in last 5 games... Loes 6.32, Surkont 7.11, Nichols 0-3, 6.94... Robinson .451, 6 HR, 10 RBI, .902 SLG, 1.427 OPS in May... Noren .400 (8-20) in last 5 games... Doby 5 HR, 15 RBI in 13 May games.
18-16 4 11-2	WASHINGTON · 9-1 since May 4... Fewest runs allowed (147, 4.3 R/G)... May pitching: Jansen 4-0, 2.43, Koslo 3-0, 1.82... Injury woes: Suder (2 wks, ACL), Mays (4 wks, hand), Gordon (3-4 wks, ACL)... Gordon .360 in May... Michaels .385 (5-13) in last 6 games... Goodman 646 UL at-bats without a HR... Slaughter .500 (10-20) in last 6 games...
15-19 7 4-9	BOSTON · Lost 6 straight May 5-11... Attendance down 27%... Garcia 0-2, 8.84 in last 3 starts... Spahn 0-7, 6.75 in last 7 starts (league low 2.5 RS/G)... Edwards fractured cheekbone May 15 (5-6 wks), led team with .343 May average... D DiMaggio .643 (9-14) in last 5 games... Kuenn .500 (11-22) in last 6 games... Mantle .130 (3-23) in last 5 games.
15-19 7 5-8	BROOKLYN · 1-6 in last 7 road games... Hutchinson 2-1, 3.12 in May... 4 of 5 starters over 5.00 ERA... Brissie 0-2, 10.02 in last 4 games... Hearn 0-2, 7.23 in last 3 starts... Raffensberger 1-3, 6.32 in last 4 starts... Stephens inj (3 wks, strained tricep)... Woodling already POWed twice, .440 (11-25) in last 6 games, .382, 13 RBI in May... Jackson .500 (9-18), 8 RBI in last 5 games... Hodges just .189 in May, but 6 HR in 13 games.
15-19 7 5-8	LOUISVILLE · 3-7 since May 4, shut out twice in last 3 games (Maglie, Jansen)... Morgan 2.22 in last 3 starts... McDermott 3.12 in last 3 starts... Kennedy 1.23 in 12 relief appearances... May batting: Dark .375, Sauer 4 HR, 11 RBI... Kluttz .458 (11-24) in last 7 games... Bauer .083 (1-12) in last 5 games... Collins .125 (2-16) in last 6 games... Mathews .206 (20-97), 27 K.
14-20 8 5-8	CHICAGO · Lost 5 straight May 8-12, 5-13 at home... Rogovin 3-1 in last 4 starts... Parnell 1-5, 6.21 (0-2, 7.08 in last 3 starts)... Missing Wilks: new closer Dubiel just 3 saves (Brazle 2)... May batting: Thomson .420, 1.122 OPS, Rosen team-high 10 RBI.
DAY-BY-DAY
Wednesday, May 1 WAS 3, BRO 2 - Jansen 8.0, 2 R, H Thompson, 3B, 2-run HR in 7th, Lollar RBI 2B CHI 4, STL 3 - Rosen 3-run 3B in 6th, Thomson 2-4, 2 R; Musial 4-4, HR LOU 5, NYG 2 - Houtteman 8.0, 5 H, 2 R, Sauer 2-4, RBI, Dark HR; Williams 2 R DET 6, BOS 3 - Elliott 2B, HR, 3 RBI, DiMaggio HR, 2 RBI, Boone 2-4, 2 RBI
Thursday, May 2 NO GAMES
Friday, May 3 BRO 13, CHI 5 - Westrum 4-4, 2 HR, Minoso 3-4, HR, 4 RBI, Jackson, Hodges HR DET 5, LOU 3 - Kiner GW 3-run HR in 9th, DiMaggio 2 RBI; Jensen 2-5, HR BOS 11, NYG 2 - Lopat 6-hit CG, Mantle 3-3, Dillinger, Morgan HR; Robinson 2-4 WAS 5, STL 3 - Mays GW 2-run HR in 9th (14g HS), SB; W Jones, Musial HR
Saturday, May 4 BRO 10, CHI 8 (12) - Woodling 5-7, 2 HR (GW), 7 RBI, Hodges 2 HR, 3 RBI LOU 7, DET 3 - Sauer 2 HR, Dark 3-4, 2 R, 2 SB, Mathews 2-4 BOS 2, NYG 0 - Lemon 7-hit SHO, 5 W, 4 K, Edwards HR; Thomas, Busby 2 H STL 4, WAS 3 - Maglie 6-hit CG, 2-2, RBI, Pesky 2-4; McDougald HR, 2 RBI
Sunday, May 5 CHI 6, BRO 2 - Newcombe 4-hit CG, 3-4, Lockman 3-4, Berra 2-4, 2 R DET 7, LOU 4 - Roberts 4-hit CG, 2-4, Kiner 2-run HR, Irvin 2 RBI; Valo 2 RBI NYG 6, BOS 2 - Blackwell CG, 2 R, 11 K, Robinson 4-5, HR, SB, Yost, Ginsberg 2 RBI WAS 5, STL 4 (14) - Michaels GW 2-run 2B in 14th, H Thompson 3 RBI; Mullin HR
Monday, May 6 CHI 9, BRO 4 - Rogovin CG, 2-4, 2 RBI, Thomson 3-5, HR, Ryan 2 RBI DET 10, LOU 7 - Irvin 4-5, 3 2B, Elliott 3-5, 3 RBI, Metkovich 2 RBI; Jensen 3-5, HR NYG 7, BOS 2 - Wynn 6-hit CG, HR, Doby 3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI; Philley 2-4 WAS 7, STL 6 - Snider 2 HR, 4 RBI, Gordon 2 2B; W Jones 3-5
Tuesday, May 7 NO GAMES
Wednesday, May 8 WAS 6, BOS 1 - Koslo 8.2, 4 H, 1 R, Gordon 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, Michaels 2 RBI BRO 6, DET 2 - Souchock GWPHGSHR in 8th, Minoso 2-3; Gray 7.0, 10 W STL 9, NYG 7 - Schoendienst, Wyrostek 3-4, Campanella HR; Doby GSHR in 7th LOU 5, CHI 2 - Kluttz 3-4, 2 2B, Jensen 2 RBI, Dark 2-3; Thomson 3-4
Thursday, May 9 WAS 5, BOS 1 - Miller 3-hit CG, 0 ER, 10 K, Snider, Goodman 2 RBI; Mantle HR DET 4, BRO 3 - Fain 2-4, HR, Kell 2-3, Priddy GWSF in 8th; Minoso, Hodges HR STL 5, NYG 2 - Maglie 8.0, 2 R, 8 K, Joost 4-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, SB; Robinson 3-4, HR CHI 3, LOU 2 - Thomson 3-4, Westlake HR, Ryan, Lockman 2 H
Friday, May 10 WAS 5, BOS 3 - Mays inj, Adcock 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, Piersall 2-3; Spahn CG, 2-3, RBI DET 5, BRO 2 - Roberts 8.2, 2 R, 8g HS, Tipton 2 RBI, Kiner HR, Priddy 2-4, 2 R STL 6, NYG 5 - Campanella GW 2-run HR in 9th, Hatton 2-4, HR; Batts 3-run 2B LOU 8, CHI 7 - Sauer, Valo 3-5, Collins HR, 2 RBI, Mathews 2-5, 2 RBI
Saturday, May 11 WAS 4, DET 1 - Jansen 8.1, 5 H, 1 R, McDougald 3-4, 2 RBI, Slaughter 3-5, 2 RBI BRO 12, BOS 9 - Woodling 4-4, Reiser, Jackson 3 RBI; Morgan GSHR, Kuenn 3-5 NYG 22, CHI 1 - 15 in first 2 inn, Blackwell 5-hit CG, 8 K, 3-5, 3 RBI, Batts 4 RBI, Yost 3-5, 3 R, Robinson 3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, Cox, Doby, Wertz, Noren 2 RBI STL 4, LOU 1 - Zoldak 5-hit CG, 0 W, 7 K, Schoendienst 2 RBI, Pesky, Campy 2-4, 2B
Sunday, May 12 WAS 5, DET 2 - Koslo 8.0, 6 H, 1 R, Michaels 3-4, 2 RBI, Gordon 2 RBI; Fain 3-5 BOS 6, BRO 5 - Dillinger 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, Edwards PH, 2 RBI; Stephens pinch 3-run HR NYG 5, CHI 3 (10) - Doby GW 2-run 1B in 10th, Robinson 2 HR, 3 RBI LOU 11, STL 4 - Jensen 3-5, 2 2B, 3 R, Sauer HR, 3 RBI, Valo, Fox, Kluttz 2 RBI
Monday, May 13 DET 1, WAS 0 - Rush 1-hit SHO, 0 W, 9 K, Irvin 2-4, scored on WP in 1st; Miller 4-hit CG loss, 10 K, Slaughter infield 1B in 1st BRO 8, BOS 5 - Minoso, Reiser HR, 2 RBI, Atwell, Jackson 2-4; Kuenn 2-3 NYG 3, CHI 1 - Fornieles 8.2, 1 R, 6 K, Robinson, Batts 2-4; Berra 2-4, RBI STL 2, LOU 0 - Maglie 6-hit SHO, W Jones 3-4, Wyrostek 2-4, GWRBI in 8th
Tuesday, May 14 WAS 4, LOU 3 (10) - Goodman GWRBI, Snider HR, Slaughter 2-5, RBI; Fox 3-4 DET 5, STL 4 (14) - Tipton GWRBI, Elliott 2 RBI; Feller 10.0, 4 H, W Jones 3-4, HR NYG 9, BRO 5 - Doby, Noren HR, 2 RBI, Williams, Batts 2 RBI; Minoso 2 RBI BOS 7, CHI 6 - Mantle GW 2-run 1B in 8th, Kuenn 3-4, Abrams, Edwards HR
Wednesday, May 15 WAS 5, LOU 0 - Jansen 4-hit SHO, Slaughter 3-4, McDougald, Piersall 2 RBI DET 4, STL 3 - Fain HR in 8th, Irvin GWRBI in 9th, DiMaggio, Elliott HR NYG 16, BRO 10 - Williams 3-5, HR, 5 RBI, Wertz 3-5, HR, 3 RBI; Reiser 5 RBI CHI 8, BOS 2 - Seminick GSHR in 1st, Thomson, Bell, Rosen 2 H, RBI; Spahn 7g LS