Three for Cooperstown

Three more ballplayers--Nos. 71, 72 and 73--were voted into baseball's Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y. last week by U.S. baseball writers. No. 71 was a jaunty character whose death, a fortnight ago, gave the writers a sentimental additional reason for voting for him. No. 72 was a steady performer, long overdue, who made it on popularity and merit. No. 73, an irascible immortal who never bothered, as player and manager, to conceal his dislike for baseball writers, finally made the grade in spite of himself.*

The three: SHORTSTOP WALTER ("RABBIT") MARANVILLE (209 votes). During his durable 23-year career, Maranville had a batting average of only .258 and managed two clubs (Boston and Chicago) with no notable success, but furnished some of the slickest fielding, smartest base-running and stoutest do-or-die spirit ever seen on National League diamonds.

CATCHER BILL DICKEY (202 votes). Dickey played his entire 17-year major-league career with the Yankees (1928-46), hit a lifetime .313, set a major-league record of catching 100 or more games for 13 consecutive years, and was often rated the most dangerous clutch hitter in the Yankee batting order. Said Dickey, now a 46-year-old Yankee coach: "It's sure nice to be up there."

FIRST BASEMAN BILL TERRY (195 votes). Gruff, outspoken Bill Terry, 19 years with the. New York Giants as player and manager (three penants), was the last National Leaguer to hit over .400 (.401 in 1930), and finally racked up his bat with a brilliant lifetime average of .341, fourth highest in modern baseball history, after Rogers Hornsby, Harry Heilmann and Babe Ruth. Gruffed Bill Terry, 55, now a well-heeled Jacksonville, Fla. Buick dealer: "I have nothing to say about it."

* A fourth player who came close but failed (14 votes short of the necessary 189): Yankee Outfielder Joe DiMaggio.

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