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Sophomore Jinx Keeps Pinching Second Time Round I Tougher Than First Only Half of Last Seasons Leading Rookies, Including Moon, Kaline, Going Great By STEVE SNIDER ! r United Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, N. Y., May 7.— Just about ■ half of last years leading rookies have been feeling the pinch of that old base- ball debbil — the sophomore jinx. Theres no cause for extreme alarm yet, , but the second time around is tougher t than the first so far for top-grade sopho- I mores like Art Fowler and Corky Valen- ; tine of the Redlegs, Ernie Banks and Gene I Baker of the Cubs, Bob Grim of the Yankees, Dean Stone of the Senators, Frank J Sullivan of the Red Sox and Brooks Law- J rence of the Cardinals. 1 Bill Skowron of the Yankees got off to i a tremendous start and yet hes jinxed [ now, too. A leg injury cut him down and who knows how hell do when he gets back • in the lineup? Usually, two out of three sophomores scrape through their second seasons without being troubled by the ancient jinx. And up to now, those who escaped this year are going great. I Wally Moon of the Cardinals, 1954 Rookie of the Year in the National League, i is every bit as good as last season. Al Kaline of the Tigers is better. So are Vic Power, Jim Finigan and Spook Jacobs of the Athletics. Victory Eludes Grim Hank Aaron of the Braves hasnt missed a step in his second year. Al Smith and Dave Pope of the Indians certainly are no worse and Bob Purkey of the Pirates only now is finding himself as a pitcher in his second year. But victory has been elusive for Grim, the American Leagues top rookie last season. The ex-marine, who racked up 20 triumphs for the Yankees as a rookie, blew his first two decisions this season and spent a term in the bullpen before trying again as a starter. Fowler, up with a 12-10 record last year, was regarded as a good bet to do far better this year with a stronger club behind him. He lost his first four. Valentine had just as much trouble winning although he doesnt lose as often as Fowler. Neither Banks nor Baker, nifty second-base combination of the Cubs, has been hitting as well as expected. Neither are worried, though, nor is manager Stan Hack — yet. Stone had a 12-10 record for the Senators in his first full campaign last year, but he got off slowly for Chuck Dressen with defeats in his first three decisions. Sullivan won 15 for the Red Sox last year, but has been struggling for a .500 pace this year. When Lawrence came up to the Cardinals with the season well under way last year, he became the St. Louis iron man and wound up with a 15-6 record in roughly two -thirds of a season. But he was shaky this spring in training, and some reported hed be a one-year wonder. Obviously, those judgments are too hasty, but its a fact that Brooks is having his troubles. After six appearances, all he had to show for it was a 1-2 record.
