Big League

After World War I, baseball drew a big crop of rookies who pushed aside the veterans of their day and made names for themselves. Ever since World War II, the fans have been waiting for it to happen again. Instead, they have seen spring wonders fade like morning glories in July. But by last week, as the season reached midpoint, a handful of rookies had not only won regular jobs but fans as well. They looked like the cream of the best new crop in years.

The Cleveland Indians have the biggest harvest in huge First Baseman Lucius ("Luke") Easter and stocky Third Baseman Albert ("Flip") Rosen. Between them they have hit 42 home runs, driven in 119, made pennant contenders of a club that finished fourth last year.

Confidence in Cleveland. College-trained Rosen (University of Miami) is remarkably self-confident for a new man.* Says he: "I am not overreaching myself; I think I'll hit 50 home runs this year." He also says flatly that Cleveland will win the pennant. If it does, 25-year-old Flip Rosen's light but authoritative 33-oz. bat (25 homers) and his smother-the-ball fielding will be two good reasons.

In Easter, Cleveland acquired a big gate attraction, a talented ballplayer whose speed and agility around first base belie his awkward-looking size (6 ft. 4 1/2 in., 235 Ibs.). The 29-year-old Negro was a sensation last year with the San Diego Padres on the West Coast. In less than half a season there, he hit 25 home runs (some while playing with a broken kneecap), but when Cleveland called him up last August after a knee operation, Easter was not ready for the big time.

This season the mastodonic Easter, who makes a bat look like a baton, has made American League pitchers dread his appearance at the plate. When asked what is the most difficult thing for him to do in baseball, Easter says simply: "Strike out."

Control in Philadelphia. Now that Ted Williams may be lost to them for the season (see above), the Boston Red Sox are more than ever grateful to have rookie First Baseman Walter Dropo. Another giant (6 ft. 5 in., 220 Ibs.), Dropo got his big chance early this season when Regular Billy Goodman was sidelined with an injury. Dropo was hurriedly called up from Louisville and plunked on first base, and no one has been able to budge the big man since then. His 22 home runs, his .351 batting average and his 90 runs driven in put him right up with the American League leaders in all three departments.

In the National League, Philadelphia fans are throwing their caps in the air over 24-year-old Pitcher Bob Miller. Also a big fellow (6 ft. 3 in., 200 Ibs.), stoop-shouldered Miller has a quality that is rare in young pitchers: control. This week he lost his first game, after winning eight, has one of the lowest earned-run averages in the league.* Whenever Miller misses the plate twice in a row, says Phillies Manager Eddie Sawyer, he asks for a new ball. "He figures it must be the ball's fault." Miller has made the jump from Class B ball (Terre Haute, Ind.) to the majors in one poised stride, has become a big factor in keeping the young Phillies at the top of the National League.

Another outstanding National League rookie is Centerfielder Sam Jethroe of the Boston Braves (TIME, March 20), who steals bases with the ease of a practiced pickpocket. Ordinarily no slugger, switch-hitter Jethroe has several times managed to knock the ball out of the park when a home run was what the Braves needed most, and his early-season average as a .300 hitter brought him a salary raise. At midseason, the fleet 28-year-old Negro is the almost unchallenged base-stealer of the major leagues: 24 bases, 15 more than his nearest competitor.

* Though he has had brief trials with the Indians in the past three years, including a pinch-hitting role in the 1948 World Series (he failed to hit), this is his first full season.

* The earned-run record for rookie pitchers over a full season: 2.28, set by the New York Yankees' Wiley Moore in 1927.

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