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. i Dodgers and Staley of Cards Fare Best in One-Run Tallies Former Has Won All Four in Which He Played; Brooklyn Tops in Seven Out of Eight By NORMAN MILLER United Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, N. Y., May 26. If a real test of a good pitcher or a good baseball team is the manner in which each survives thv: close games, then Gerry Staley -of the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Brooklyn Dodgers are tops so far this season. Staley, the Cards ace right-hander with a 7-2 record, has been involved in four games that have been settled by a one-run margin and has won all of them. In none was his batting support too robust. Ke won two by 4-3 margins and one each by 3-2 and 2-1. The Dodgers, who made it a habit of becoming involved in "squeakers" last year, have come out on top in seven out of eight one-run decisions this season for the best record in both leagues. Last year the Dodgers won. 31 out of 54 one-run games, although they lost the one that counted most the 5-4 crusher at the hands of the New York Giants in the final National League playoff game. Among the pitchers, Art Houtteman of the Detroit Tigers has qualified for his "hard luck" nick-name getting lashed up in six one-run games, which is tops for both leagues. He has lost four of them, one by 1-0, two by 3-2, and another by 5-4. Lemon Rates Next to Houtteman Next to Houtteman, Bob Lemon of the Cleveland Indians has been involved in the most close shaves, winning three out of five one-run verdicts, including two 1-0 affairs. Jim Wilson of the Boston Braves and Ken Raffensberger of the Cincinnati Reds each has broken even in four one-run games. Oddly, one of the best records in either league for coming out on top in the close ones belongs to ancient Satchell Paige of the St. Louis Browns, who has been credited with three one-run victories in relief roles. Six pitchers have won two-out-of-two decisions by one run. They are Early Wynn of the Indians, Sal Maglie of the Giants, Ted Gray of the Tigers, Lou Sleater of the Browns, Billy Loes of the Dodgers and Cliff Chambers of the Cardinals. Among the "hard-luck" characters who have lost both of the one-run decisions in which each was involved are: Warren Spahn and Vern Bickford of the Braves, Howie Pollet of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mel Parnell of the Red Sox by 2-1 and 1-0, Harry Brecheen of the Cardinals, Earl Harrist of the Browns, and Billy Pierce and Ken Holcombe of the Chicago White Sox. Next to the Dodgers, the National League teams with the best marks for surviving the close games are the Giants, who have won five out of seven, and the Cardinals, who have won nine out of 13. Worst record in the league belongs to the Pirates, who have won only one out of seven. In the American League, St. Louis and Washington are 1-2. The Brownies have emerged the winner in seven out of 11 by one run and the Senators in eight out of 13. The White Sox, with only four victories in 12 close games, have the worst mark. I BOB MURPHY Meets Reuben Jones in j a 10-rounder at Toledo, Ohio, tonight, j
