Sport: Lift for the Giants

Giant Manager Leo Durocher’s theory that “nice guys finish last” gets the heartfelt support of his rambunctious second baseman, Eddie (“the Brat”) Stanky. An expert at the art of baseball trickery, within or without the rules,* Stanky, says approving Manager Durocher, “pulls up a team that’s down and keeps the infield together. He’s the fire and spirit of this club.”

Last week, after missing ten days of spring practice because of flu and a sprained wrist, Pepper Pot Stanky was back in the Giant lineup as lead-off batter. He came to the plate six times. Hunching his stocky (5 ft. 8 in., 165 Ibs.) frame to its shortest possible height, yapping at the pitcher, fidgeting with his cap and uniform, Stanky wriggled his way into four walks (“I don’t care how I get on base”), hit a double, stole a base and scored four runs. Not until the ninth inning, after the Giants had salted the game away, did Stanky finally fly out.

The driving Stanky spirit is one big reason why the New York Giants may be a serious pennant contender again this year, for the first time in thirteen lean seasons. During the last half of last season, while the Philadelphia Whiz Kids were staggering erratically to the pennant (won m the last game of the season), Durocher’s Giants were playing the best ball (50 victories in 72 games) in the National League. Durocher sees no reason why the Giants should not continue that pennant-winning pace. “We’re a far better ball club now than at this time last year, and we’ll get even better,” Leo predicts.

As Manager Durocher sees it, “the Giants were weakest last year in bench [i.e., reserve] strength.” This year something new has been added in Catcher Rafael Noble (TIME, April 2), Pitcher Roger Bowman (16-11 with Jersey City last season), Infielder Art Wilson, “who could play shortstop for anyone,” and Utility Man John (“Spider”) Jorgenson, “a good little left-handed hitter.”

As the Giants broke spring training camp at St. Petersburg, Fla. this week and started north, Durocher was sure he also had a pitching staff that could match any in the league. Top members: Sal Maglie (18-4), Larry Jansen (19-13), Jim Hearn (11-4), Sheldon Jones (13-16).

Best of all, Durocher still had the double-play combination of Eddie Stanky and Shortstop Alvin Dark. Last season the Giants made 181 double plays, 13 short of the league record. Records don’t impress Stanky: “What counts is if you can make the one that’ll win.” That was just the kind of talk that had optimistic Leo Durocher smiling happily to himself. “We’ve got good spirit,” he beamed. “They think they can win. That’s what counts.”

* Stanky’s distracting wigwagging tactics around second base last season prompted a special ruling from National League President Ford Frick: “Umpires have been instructed to eject any player who engages in antics . . . designed or intended to annoy or disturb opposing batsmen.”