Events & Discoveries

HEAT AT HALF TIME

The baseball season is now half over and—except for the American and National League All-Stars, who had work to do in Milwaukee—major leaguers took a three-day, or half-time, vacation this week. The breather came just in time for a lot of overheated performers, including Manager Birdie Tebbetts, 40, of Cincinnati and Manager Harry (The Hat) Walker, 35, of St. Louis, who so far forgot their years and dignity the other day as to rassle and pummel each other (inconclusively except for $100 fines) all over the turf of Crosley Field in an argument over delays in the game.

It was hot in Boston too, but the hottest of all were the Red Sox of Fenway Park, and Bostonians hoped devoutly that nothing would happen over the major league holiday to cool them off. From early June until this week, Manager Mike Higgins' ball club has won 29 of its last 36 games and has suddenly begun acting like a pennant contender. Indeed, if the baseball season had started in June instead of in April, the Red Sox would now be leading the league some seven games ahead of the New York Yankees.

The city of Boston had an unmistakable case of pennant fever, most clearly symptomatized by a Globe columnist who proclaimed: " Commissioner Ford Frick has not announced World Series details as yet, but this is the outlook: to open in Boston, Wednesday, September 28. First two games at Fenway Park, next three at Ebbets Field, the final two—if necessary—at Fenway Park. Frank Sullivan vs. Don Newcombe in the opener."

While those late wranglers, Birdie Tebbetts and Harry Walker, went to the All-Star Game to forget their troubles, Boston's Mike Higgins decided not to make the trip, turned down an invitation to go fishing, just sat at home and smiled.

WHITE HOUSE LUNCH

Football was Dwight Eisenhower's big sport as a boy in Kansas and at West Point, until a knee injury sidelined him permanently, and throughout a busy career in public service he has found time for fishing, hunting, golf and bridge, among others. This week, as world events crowded his schedule, he found the time to encourage such activity among other Americans.

To the White House for a luncheon meeting with the President came more than a score of athletes, coaches, officials and prominent sportsmen. Invitees included Army and Navy Football Coaches Earl Blaik and Eddie Erdelatz, boxing's Gene Tunney, baseball's Ford Frick and Willie Mays, golf's Bobby Jones and Jack Fleck and Horseman William Woodward Jr., owner of the famous Nashua. Their purpose: to help Ike draft plans to inspire youth to be sports participants rather than merely passive spectators.

A minor problem this, compared, for example, to the nettle of international disarmament, yet an area of general welfare worthy of the attention of the President of the United States. As he flew later in the week to another meeting, in Geneva, he could look back with satisfaction on having set in motion a program designed to help youngsters all over the country lead better-rounded lives.

UNWRITTEN LAW?