United League Baseball

Worst to First in 30 Days
Red-Hot Washington 23-4 in May
WASHINGTON (June 1) -- After a 7-14 start that found them in last place 9 games off the pace by May 1, the Washington Monuments had the best month in UL history, going 23-4 in May to grab first place in the eight-team circuit. The hot streak actually began on April 30, when the Mons broke out of a six-game skid with a 14-3 shalacking of Brooklyn. The stretch including winning streaks of seven and nine games and sweeps of Boston, Louisville, Brooklyn (2 games), and New York. Right-hander Larry Jansen, just 1-1 in his first five games, won all seven of his May starts, including four PoGs and back-to-back shutouts on May 15 and 19. In all, Washington shut out their opponents five times between May 12 and 27. Washington's pitching was so dominant that 7-0 Jansen's 2.24 ERA for the month was just third best among starters, behind Stu Miller's 1.31 and Steve Gromek's 1.93. All told, the Monument rotation was 18-4 in 27 starts, with an incredible joint ERA of just 2.12. Fully 16 of Washington's 23 May wins came in games in which they scored 5 runs or fewer, a further testament to their great pitching. The club is spot on the league average for most batting categories, including runs scored, home runs, batting, OBP, SLG, and OPS. But pitching-wise, the Monuments are a buck-twenty below the league ERA, a full 0.75 better than the next best staff (St. Louis), and has notched nearly a third of all the shutouts in the league so far this season (6 of 17). Another amazing statistic is that Washington has gone 16-3 since losing the league's #1 overall pick, Willie Mays to a broken hand on May 10.

Stu Miller Throws 37 Shutout Innings
Rookie's No-Hit Bid Spoiled with Two Outs in Ninth
Stu Miller came within an out of the United League's first no-hitter May 21, but had to settle for a one-hitter and a record three consecutive shutouts. Ten days later at Fenway Park, a two-run homer by fellow rookie Harvey Kuenn ended Miller's streak of 37 innings without a run.
The 24-year-old was bonerific in his first five gigs, going 0-4 with a 7.11 ERA through May 4. It seemed that manager Jay Kaplan's decision to rush Miller into the starting rotation might have been a mistake. But on May 9 Stu 3-hit Boston, allowing just one unearned run. After an extreme-hard-luck loss on May 13, after a 4-hit gem vs. Detroit in which he struck out 10 men and lost 1-0 to Bob Rush's one-hit shutout, Miller cranked up his game a notch, and proceed to shut out Chicago and Brooklyn twice in his next three starts, all at home. He two-hit Chicago May 17, striking out 10 for the third straight game, then nearly no-hit Brooklyn on May 21, when Billy Hitchcock singled up the middle with two outs in the ninth to spoil a no-hit bid. Stu struck back with a 4-hit shutout May 27. The streak ended at Boston May 31, when fellow rookie Harvey Kuenn hit a two-run homer in the third inning and Miller took a no-decision in Washington's 5-4, 10-inning win.
Miller leads the league in strikeouts by a goodly margin (75 to Ed Lopat's 58) and shutouts (3), but despite his two weeks of perfection, his season stats are not hugely impressive (4-5, 3.16).

Zoldak Out for Season
Cy Young Winner Messes Up Elbow
Maroons ace "Sad Sam" Zoldak will not repeat as a Cy Young winner in 1952. The lefty snapped a ligament in his throwing elbow May 29 at Wrigley Field, and will spend the rest of the season on the DL. The injury came in the fifth inning, on a Mike McCormick single. Zoldak was 24-11 in 1951, with a 3.32 ERA. He led the league in wins (by 5) and innings pitched, was 2nd in ERA, and 3rd in complete games and shutouts. Sad Sam continued his hot form in 1952, goingin 4-0 in his first five starts before a series of rough starts in May. He is 6-4 with a 4.04 ERA. With "Sad Sam" on the shelf, "Toothpick Sam" Jones is likely to get a shot at the rotation. Toothpick leads the American Association (AAA) with 97 strikeouts and 69.2 innings at Indianapolis.

Why Is Sam Sad?
"That's (not being called to pitch in 1944 & 1948 World Series) how I got the nickname of Sad Sam." - Sam Zoldak

AROUND THE HORN

30-18 - 12-2	WASHINGTON · 23-4 in May, 16-3 since injury to Mays, took first place May 29... Leads league in ERA (3.38), OBA (.232), walks allowed (2.4 per 9), and runs allowed (3.7 runs/gm)... May pitching: Jansen 7-0, 2.24, Koslo 5-1, 3.07, Miller 1.31, Gromek 1.93... F Smith 3-0, 7 SV, 1.46 in May... May batting leaders: Slaughter .408, Snider 6 HR, McDougald 19 RBI, Gordon 1.053 OPS (.364, .636 SLG in May (playing with pulled ACL).
29-19 1 7-7	ST. LOUIS · 2-4 in last 6 games, league best road record (16-9)... Maglie 5-2, 3.17 in May... Campanella .280, 6 HR, 20 RBI in May (.389, 7 RBI in last 5 games)... Coan .400 (8-20) in last 5 games, W Jones .391 (9-23) in last 6 games, Jethroe .368 (7-19) in last 5 games.
26-22 4 7-7	DETROIT · Swept New York May 17-19, lost 3 straight, 5 of last 7... Neither speed nor power: last in HR (31) and SB (8)... May pitching: Roberts 5-0, 1.88, Rush 5-1, 2.10, Porterfield 0-4, 7.88, Labine 1.59, 6 SV... Irvin .371, 14 RBI in May, Fain .330, 16 RBI in May... Kiner .444 (8-18), 3 HR in last 6 games... DiMaggio .077 (1-13) in last 5 games (.214 in May), Pafko 0-11 in last 5 games.
24-24 6 6-8	NEW YORK · Swept at Detroit May 17-19 and by Washington May 23-25... League best .358 OBP... Blackwell 3-0 in May... Poholsky 2-0, 1.76 in first two UL starts... Nichols 10 straight losses (career 0-10, 38 SV)... Doby league high 8 HR in May... Robinson led league in batting for second month (.419, 12 doubles, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 25 R)... Williams .474 (9-19) in last 5 games... Batt .471 (8-17) in last 5 games.
22-26 8 7-7	BOSTON · Won 4 straight May 17-20, 3-6 since... Leads league in batting (.284)... Konstanty 1.13, 5 SV in May... Lopat 3-0, 2.59 in last 3 starts... Lemon 0-2, 6.75 in last 3 starts... Mantle, Morgan 18 RBI in May... D DiMaggio .440 in May... Morgan .224, Zernial .226 in May... Philley .429 (9-21), 5 RBI in last 7 games.
22-26 8 7-7	BROOKLYN · 2-10 in one-run games... Swept at New York May 15-17, 1-5 at Washington May 20-21, 27-30... 4-13 in last 17 road games... Leads league in home runs (54: Hodges 13, Woodling 9), SLG (.446), and runs scored (5.9 per gm)... Hutchinson 5-1, 2.38 in May... Minoso HBP May 24 (1 wk, bruised wrist)... Jackson .337-4-21 in May (.412 in last 5 games)... Rizzuto .375 OBP, 21 runs in May... Doerr 0-18 in last 7 games.
22-26 8 8-6	CHICAGO · League best .984 fielding... Only pitching staff without a SHO, league low 11 CGs... Unfriendly confines: worst home record (9-16)... Won 3 straight May 24-27, only 2nd 3-win streak of season... Parnell 2-0, 2.88 in last 3 starts... Dubiel 7 SV in May... Thomson .392-6-22, 23 runs in May (.600, 8 RBI in last 5 games)... Berra .556 (10-18), 8 RBI in last 5 games... Ryan .087 in last 6, Temple .111 in last 8.
17-31 13 2-12	LOUISVILLE · 2-15 since May 12, 1-10 in last 11 home games, only 106 runs in May (3.9/gm)... Leads league in stolen bases (43) and fewest HR allowed (31)... League high 59 double plays (Fox 47)... Branca inj (1 wk, tricep)... May pitching: Morgan 5.08, Houtteman 5.22, Garver 6.00, Kennedy 6.75, McDermott 7.26... Sauer 5 HR, 18 RBI in May... Kluttz .400 (8-20) in last 5 games.
DAY-BY-DAY
Thursday, May 16 WAS 9, LOU 3 - McDougald 4-4, 4 RBI, Garagiola 3 RBI, Piersall 3-4; Bauer 3-5 STL 5, DET 1 - Maglie 5-hit CG, Wyrostek 2-4, 2 RBI; Jethroe 3-run HR in 2nd NYG 14, BRO 7 - Robinson 4-5, HR, 5 RBI, Wertz 3-5, HR, Boudreau 3-5 CHI 12, BOS 3 - Parnell 8.0, 3 R, Seminick HR, 3 RBI, McCormick 3 RBI
Friday, May 17 STL 3, BRO 2 - Pierce 8.0, 2 R, Campanella 3-3, HR, W Jones 2-4 WAS 5, CHI 0 - Miller 2-hit SHO, 0 W, 10 K, Slaughter 4-4, 3 RBI, Adcock 2-4 BOS 13, LOU 6 - Morgan 3-5, GSHR, 5 RBI, McCullough 4 RBI, D DiMaggio 3-3 DET 7, NYG 0 - Rush 4-hit SHO, 2 RBI, Kiner HR, 2 RBI, Fain 2-4
Saturday, May 18 BRO 2, STL 0 - Hutchinson 4-hit SHO, 6 K, RBI, Jackson 3-4, 2 R CHI 3, WAS 2 - Newcombe 8.1, 1 ER, E Robinson HR, 2 RBI, Berra 2-4, HR BOS 11, LOU 2 - Hiller 7.0, 1 R, McCullough 5-5, 4 RBI, Zernial 4-6, 4 RBI, Dom 3-6 DET 9, NYG 1 - Roberts 2-hit CG, Kell 4-5, Fain HR, 3 RBI, Pafko, Irvin 2 RBI
Sunday, May 19 BRO 13, STL 4 - Souchock HR, 4 RBI, Westrum 3-6, HR, 3 RBI, Rizzuto, Raffs 2 RBI WAS 3, CHI 0 - Jansen 3-hit SHO, Snider HR, 2 R, Kluszewski, Carrasquel RBI BOS 6, LOU 1 - Spahn 6-hit CG, D DiMaggio 4-4, 2 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, Dillinger 3 R DET 8, NYG 4 - Fain 2 2B, 3 RBI, Irvin 2 RBI, Pafko 2-4, 2 R, Tipton 2-4
Monday, May 20 WAS 4, BRO 3 - Adcock 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, McDougald 2-4; Rizzuto 2-4, 3B, 2 R CHI 4, STL 2 - Reese 3-5, RBI, Westlake, Lockman 2 H, RBI; Campanella HR NYG 2, LOU 1 - Poholsky 8.1, 1 ER, Robinson 3-4, SB, 2 R, Boudreau, Doby RBI BOS 7, DET 4 - Abrams 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, Morgan 2-3, HR, Philley 2 RBI; Irvin 3-3, HR
Tuesday, May 21 WAS 5, BRO 0 - Miller no-hitter thru 8.2, 1-hit SHO, 12 K, Goodman 2 RBI STL 9, CHI 4 - Joost 3-4, Hegan, Kolloway 2 RBI, Schoendienst PH, 2 RBI LOU 10, NYG 9 - Branca inj, Collins 4-4, Valo 4-6, 2 R, Jensen 3-4, Bauer 3 RBI DET 8, BOS 4 - Irvin 3-4, 2 R, Priddy 2-5, 2 RBI, Pafko HR, 2 RBI
Wednesday, May 22 NO GAMES
Thursday, May 23 BRO 4, LOU 2 - Simmon 8.0, 0 ER, Doerr 3-4, 3 RBI, Minoso, Hitchcock 3-4 DET 7, CHI 2 - Roberts 6-hit CG, 1 ER, 2-4, 3 RBI, Tipton 2 RBI; Rosen HR WAS 15, NYG 1 - Gromek 5-hit CG, Klu 5-6, 4 RBI, Goodman 5-6, 5 R, Snider 4 RBI STL 6, BOS 3 - Feller 8.0, 2 ER, Coan 3-3, 2 RBI, Jethroe 2-5, SB
Friday, May 24 BRO 10, LOU 4 - Jackson GSHR in 1st, Atwell 3-4, 3 RBI, Minoso 2-4, 3 R CHI 11, DET 9 - Thomson GSHR , Rosen 3-4, 2 HR, Berra, Lockman HR; Cain inj WAS 7, NYG 3 - Jansen CG, 2 RBI, Adcock 2-5, HR, 3 RBI, H Thompson 3 R STL 7, BOS 3 - Zoldak 8.0, 2 ER, Musial 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, Jethroe 3 RBI, Kolloway 2-3
Saturday, May 25 BRO 6, LOU 1 - Raffensberger 7-hit CG, Hodges 3-4, Woodling 3 RBI, Atwell 2-4 CHI 10, DET 2 - Parnell 7-hit CG, Lockman 3-5, 4 RBI, Bell 3-3, 2 RBI, Logan 3 R WAS 5, NYG 4 - Gordon GWHR in 9th, Goodman 3-4, McDougald 2-run HR in 6th BOS 4, STL 2 - Lopat 8.0, 2 R, RBI, Mantle 3-5, HR, Morgan 2 RBI
Sunday, May 26 NO GAMES
Monday, May 27 WAS 6, BRO 0 - Miller 4-hit SHO, 9 K, Lollar HR, 3 RBI, Adcock, Michaels 2 H, RBI CHI 3, STL 2 - Roe 8.0, 2 R, Westlake HR, Reese 2-4, SB, Thomson 2 R NYG 5, LOU 2 - Robinson 3-4, SB, Williams, Wertz HR, 2 RBI; Dark 2-4 DET 4, BOS 1 - Rush 8.2, 3 H, 1 R, 7 K, 2-3, Fain 3-4, Kell, Irvin 2-5
Tuesday, May 28 WAS 2, BRO 1 (12) - Gromek 10.0, 1 R, 3-4, McDougald 2-3, GWRBI; Woodling 2-2 STL 12, CHI 10 (12) - Jethroe 3-6, HR, GWRBI, Campanella, Musial, W Jones HR NYG 7, LOU 3 - Blackwell 5-hit CG (7-0), Robinson, Boudreau 2 RBI; Collins HR, 3 RBI DET 3, BOS 0 - Roberts 4-hit SHO, Kiner 3-4, HR; Dillinger 2-4
Wednesday, May 29 WAS 8, BRO 3 - Jansen 6-hit CG, McDougald 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, Adcock 2-5, 2 RBI CHI 8, STL 5 - Rogovin 8.0, 4 H, 3 ER, Berra HR, 5 RBI, Westlake 2 RBI LOU 8, NYG 6 - Bauer 2-4, 3 RBI, Valo, Kluttz 2-4, 2 R; Batts 3-4, HR BOS 9, DET 4 - Torgeson, Mantle, Zernial HR; D DiMaggio 3-4; Kiner HR, 2 RBI
Thursday, May 30 BRO 5, WAS 1 - Hutchinson 6-hit CG, Souchock 3-4, HR, 3 R, Rizzuto 2-5 STL 10, CHI 8 - 6-run 9th, Campanella 3 RBI, Musial 2-3, 3 R, Pesky, Schndnst 2 RBI NYG 13, LOU 5 - Doby 4-4, 3 R, Wertz, Ginsberg, Noren 3 RBI, Williams 2-3, 3 R BOS 2, DET 1 - Lopat 8.1, 1 ER, Mantle 2-run HR in 1st, Dom 2-3; Porterfield inj
Friday, May 31 BRO 14, DET 0 - Raffensberger 3-hit SHO, Hodges HR, 3 RBI, Souchock 3 RBI, 3 R, Jackson 3-5, Rizzuto 3 R CHI 10, LOU 2 - Roe 8.1, 1 ER, 3 RBI, Thomson 3-4, McCormick 2 RBI; Kluttz 3-4, 2 R WAS 5, BOS 4 (10) - Gordon GWRBI, Goodman 3-4, Piersall 3-5, Snider HR, 2 RBI NYG 5, STL 1 - Loes 7-hit CG, Wertz HR, 2 RBI, Robinson 2-5, 2 R