Bonus Babies

Hank Greenberg, general manager of the Cleveland Indians, was close-mouthed about the exact bonus price, but admitted: "It's the highest ever given to any player"--even higher than the $100,000 the Pittsburgh Pirates paid last year for Pitcher Paul Pettit. Cleveland's newest bonus baby (most famous: Pitcher Bob Feller) is 18-year-old Pitcher Billy Joe Davidson, reported by wide-eyed scouts to be more poised and even faster than Feller when he hit the majors in 1936.

Left-handed Davidson got his start early. When he was three, his father used to toss a ball with his son in the backyard at Marion, N.C. Since then, Billy Joe has pitched two no-hitters, won 20 straight for Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Institute, averaging 18 strike-outs a game. His semi-pro record: 15-5. Cleveland plans to keep its expensive, draftable youngster for a ten-day tryout, then ship him to the San Diego farm club.

In Stratford, Conn, last week, seven major-league scouts sat in the stands to watch 19-year-old John ("Sonny") Foriz pitch his 26th straight victory for Stratford High. Next week, five minutes after he graduates, Foriz plans to talk turkey to a dozen clamoring scouts. His asking price to sign: $75,000 -- or better.

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