Refreshments

Every year at midseason, baseball experts begin to pick the Rookie-of-the-Year. Last week those pickers felt like the old-woman-who-lived-in-a-shoe. One out of every four major-leaguers this year is a rookie. And one out of every four rookies looks like a manager's dream. Among the favored candidates this year are three left-handed hitters: Shortstop Johnny Pesky of the Boston Red Sox, First Baseman Les Fleming of the Cleveland Indians, Outfielder Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Peanuts. Little Johnny Pesky, born Pavescovich and called "Peanuts" by his pals, is the Phil Rizzuto of 1942. Only 22 and in his third year of organized baseball, he is already considered the best shortstop in the American League. Jack-rabbit-quick and strong of arm, he has practically remade the Red Sox infield. With Second Baseman Bobby Doerr, he chalked up 27 double plays in his first 20 games. Pesky can hit, too. A batter who can drag, punch or pull the ball equally well, he has averaged .325 so far this season--only one point under the batting of his terrific teammate, Ted Williams.

As if that were not enough talent for a rookie, Pesky also has stuff between the ears. Valedictorian of his high-school class at Portland, Ore., he is now the Red Sox's No. 1 public speaker, having delivered some 40 speeches at banquets, luncheons, club meetings. But little Pesky is still awed by his big-league teammates, especially Bobby Doerr and Lou Finney, whose shoes he used to shine when he was a "clubhouse punk" for the Portland Beavers.

Red Hot. Stocky, stubby-fingered Leslie Fleming, a 25-year-old Texan, is not an ideal first baseman. But he may turn out to be the American League's No. 1 batsman in his first year in the big time. For six years Fleming floundered around Detroit's farm clubs before he was finally traded to Nashville. There, last year, after a tonsillectomy, he suddenly got red hot and finished the season with a batting average of .414--second highest in all the 41 minor leagues. Snapped up by Cleveland (for $12,500) to replace Hal Trosky this year, Fleming has not cooled off. Last week he was batting .343 to trail only two American Leaguers: Yankee Joe Gordon and Red Sox Bobby Doerr.

Crackerjack. Lanky Stanley Musial who started his career as a pitcher, is another crackerjack at bat. Last year he played in three different leagues, outhit the ultimate batting champion in each. Brought to St. Louis for a trial at the tail end of last season, he hit a sensational .426 in twelve games--during the Cardinals' hectic homestretch duel with the Dodgers. This year, although handicapped by a colossal pre-season buildup that would put the Indian sign on the most phlegmatic 21-year-old, Musial is hitting at a .315 clip.

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