Kluszewski, Musial Locked in Duel: Big Battle for First in All-Star Ballots, Daily Racing Form, 1955-06-27

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Kluszewski, Musial Locked in Duel Big Battle for First In All-Star Ballots Big Klu May Be Just a Sub For Nationals Next Month; Many Automatic Choice By STEVE SNIDER United Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, N. Y., June 25. Its preposterous but highly possible that mighty Ted Kluszewski of the Redlegs will only be a substitute in the All Star Game at Milwaukee July 12. Ted had first base all to himself last year while Stan Musial roamed the outfield, but now the Cardinal slugger is a full-time first baseman and the two are locked in a vote-getting duel for All Star honors. Musials well deserved fame may win the popularity poll although Big Klu rates the vote on our ballot on comparative showings so far this season. The Cincinnati star has an edge in the averages, homers and run production. i Under the rules, you have to vote for Musial at first base or no.t at all. Thats a blow to the Nationals who could use "The Man" to better advantage in left field, weakest spot in the league. Otherwise, filling out the ballot is fairly simple this year. A surprising number of headliners are virtually automatic choices. So heres one ballot, sticking to the rules under protest: Banks at Shortstop National League Ted Kluszewski, Red-legs, first base; Red Schoendienst, Cardinals, second base; Eddie Mathews, Braves, third base; Ernie Banks, Cubs, shortstop; Del Ennis, Phillies, left field; Duke Snider, Dodgers,center field; Don Mueller, Giants, right field; Roy Campanella, Dodgers, catcher. American League Mickey Vernon, "Washington, first base; Nelson Fox, White Sox, second base; Jim Finigan, Athletics, third base; Harvey Kuenn, Tigers, shortstop; Ted Williams, Red Sox, left field; Mickey Mantle, Yankees, center field; Al Kaline, Tigers, right field; Yogi Berra, "Yankees, catcher. Automatic choices on that ballot were Schoendienst, Snider, Mueller, Mathews and Campanella in the National; Fox, Kuenn, Williams, Mantle, Kaline and Berra in the American. After the Kluszewski-Musial decision, next toughest for this voter was weeding out the left fielder in the National League. Ennis, who hits, isnt exactly popular in his own home town, but even so hes as good a risk as rookie Bob Speake of the Cubs or Whitey Lockman of the Giants, who played left only briefly and went back to first base. First base in the American League is a tussle between the veteran Vernon and young Vic Power of the Athletics, who has an edge in hitting at the moment, but Mickey is the man wed most like to see. The American League ballot box may look like a complete conspiracy against Cleveland, but thats not so. Best bets among the Indians all are running against hot shots on other clubs and a fine example is Clevelands right fielder, Al Smith. Smith has to beat out last years starter, Hank Bauer of the Yankees, plus an even more formidable foe Kaline. This is a big year for Kid Kaline, the first of what promises to be a spectacular career.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955062701/drf1955062701_2_1
Local Identifier: drf1955062701_2_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800