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► — — Backache May Help GeorgeKell Regain Batting Title This Year Enforced Periods of Rest Because of Ailment Could Work in Favor of Veteran By STEVE SNIDER United Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, N. Y., May 20.— A bad back may help line drive hitter George Kell of the Red Sox regain the American league batting championship. Usually, its curtains when a ball player runs into back trouble but Kells so far has bothered him just enough to force an occasional rest and, over the long haul, that can be an advantage. Rested hitters are less likely to fall into slumps than a tired one, particularly in the August dog days. The solidly-packed Red Socker, off to a fine start this spring has been a consistent leader since the opener and his current average is around .390. He sat out only three of his clubs first 27 games and hopes to play in 125. Batting champion with .343 at Detroit in 1949 and second a year later with .340, the charging third baseman moved over to Boston last June and he never quite regained his full stride. Late in the season, his back kicked up. The guess then was that he was through, the way Charlie Keller wound up with the Yankees too full of pain to take those prodigious swings. Leads Both Leagues in Doubles Kell is doing all right for a "washed up" hitter. He is swinging with his old authority. In addition to his high average, he leads both leagues in doubles and his bulge over the nearest rival was four in the last official weekend averages. He even has whacked a couple of homers, one of them shattering a fine performance by Clevelands Bob Lemon for a 1 to 0 Red Sox victory. I occasionaln rest during night games or on cold doubleheader days enables Kell to stay in action, hell be in an excellent spot to lift the batting crown that went to Ferris Fain of the White Sox for two straight years. Fain frankly is shoting for his third straight title but concedes hel need a lot of luck. "Theres a margin of luck on quite a few of those hits that go just beyond a fielders reach," Fain admits. "The biggest share has to go your way to make you the batting champion." Fains 1951 title resulted partly from an enforced rest he took in mid-season. That was the year ferocious Fain banged his toe against first base when a fielder robbed him of a hit. It broke his toe and put him out of action for several weks during which he buitl up his strength for the late drive. Frankie Baumholtz of the Cubs made it a run with Stan Musial last year, thanks to a similar enforced rest. Baumholtz was prone to slumps late in the year because he just didnt have enough physical power to keep going all season. Last summer, he had a serious wrist injury, took his rest like a good patient, and wound up scrambling with Musial for the batting title right down to the final day. Kell is hoping for a break like that. f
