Sport: Most Valuable

For Outfielder Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds, the 1961 season began with a misfire; last week it ended with a bang. In February, Robinson nearly wrecked his baseball career when he pulled a gun during a fracas in a Cincinnati restaurant. Faced with up to three years in prison, Robinson pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, got off with a reprimand and a $250 fine. He arrived at spring training to confront fuming Manager Fred Hutchinson. Said Hutchinson: “That was a stupid thing to do.” “It was,” agreed Robby. “But sometimes a man learns from his stupidities.”

Robinson learned his lesson well. He began hitting at a furious clip, ranked among National League leaders in home runs and runs batted in for most of the season. Robinson slumped badly at the plate in the final weeks (World Series batting average: .200), but he still wound up hitting .323, and his timely slugging helped Cincinnati win its first pennant in 21 years. Last week, polling 15 out of 16 votes, he won the National League’s Most Valuable Player award.