Word: ashburn
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Back in Tilden, Neb., the folks were buzzing with big talk. A local kid, towheaded Richie Ashburn, was knocking them dead up in the big leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies. It was his first season, too. Last week, the Ashburns just couldn't wait any longer. The family-even Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Elmo -set off to Chicago to watch Richie play...
...strode to the plate against the Cubs and tapped an easy grounder to the pitcher. While the pitcher was taking his time handling the ball, Ashburn was streaking for first base-and got there before the throw. The home folks beamed. Then he stole second base (the first of three he stole that game). Richie beat out another hit by sheer speed. Said one Phillies' coach: "I know I sound silly, but he's the nearest thing to Ty Cobb on the bases I've ever seen...
Only 21, Richie ("Cottontop") Ashburn is leading both leagues in stolen bases, with 13. If he has a batting weakness, rival pitchers haven't caught on yet. He hit in 23 consecutive games (the season's longest batting streak). He boasts a fat average of .379 (third highest in the league). In center field, he obviously needs polish, but he covers ground like a wing-footed dervish. His weakness: a none-too-robust throwing arm. Skeptics like to point out that many a brilliant spring rookie has faded before September. But Richie is already being referred...
...house just off the campus. Last week he received his first full-length biography, Peabody of Groton (Coward McCann; $5), based in large part on his persistent and prodigious correspondence with his rich and famous alumni, their parents and friends.* The author, himself an old "Grottie," is Headmaster Frank Ashburn of Brooks School (North Andover, Mass...
...horse, graceful." From there he went to Cambridge, where he read Punch, Dickens, Matthew Arnold, Tennyson and the law-and not much else. "There is a striking similarity between the Rector's humor and that of Punch in the days when he was in Britain," observes Ashburn. When Endicott graduated, he knew only that he wanted to be useful...