Tickets, Please

"You can't pick up the phone that you don't get an application for a World Series ticket," a Philadelphia Phillies baseball official said. "Why, I've been hearing from people I haven't seen in years." Nevertheless, the Phillies announced last week that Series tickets would not be sold until Commissioner A. B. ("Happy") Chandler gave his O.K. But while the pennant was still up for grabs, the Phillies' 5 1/2-game lead early this week made them clearly the team to beat.

Thanks mainly to bonus Pitchers Curt Simmons (15-7) and Robin Roberts (16-5), as well as spectacular relief pitching by Jim Konstanty (10-4), the Phillies have pushed ahead of their early season promise, when shrewd, hustling Manager Eddie Sawyer was insisting they were just a good bet for third (TIME, May 29).

Bunched back of the Phillies were the Brooklyn Dodgers, who started off like runaways and then, with mediocre pitching, became the season's biggest disappointment; the fast-moving Boston Braves, supported by outstanding pitching from Warren Spahn, Johnny Sain and Vern Bickford; the St. Louis Cardinals, held down by too many batting slumps; the New York Giants, who had surprised everybody by winning 17 out of 18 games, then abruptly dropped three out of four to the Dodgers last week.*

In the American League, Red Rolfe's Detroit Tigers had kept ahead of the field for most of the season (their lead early this week: 3 1/2 games), thanks to the hurling of Dizzy Trout, Fred Hutchinson, Ted Gray and Art Houtteman and the recovery of Hal Newhouser, who was not able to start a game until mid-May.

Piled up behind the Tigers were the Yankees, with Joe DiMaggio back in the line-up (see above), and Lou Boudreau's rebuilt Cleveland Indians, spurred on by such rookie sluggers as Third Baseman Al Rosen (33 homers) and First Baseman Luke Easter (21 homers), as well as Centerfielder Larry Doby (nine homers in ten games). After them, in fourth place, were the Boston Red Sox.

Since July 12, the Red Sox have been minus Ted Williams, out with an elbow injury. One day last week, Ted rapped a practice ball over the fence at Fenway Park. Said he: "It felt wonderful." But it would probably take more than the return of Ted Williams to catch the Tigers.

*Said Dodger Manager Burt Shotton: "Well, I guess that disposes of the Giants. I don't think we'll hear much more about them passing us this year." Retorted Giant Manager Leo Durocher, when he heard about it: "So the Dodgers have disposed of the Giants? Nuts to kindly old Burt. Just remind that silver-haired gentleman that we still have eight games to play with the Dodgers."

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