Word: ashburn
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...pitching and the best club batting average in the league (.270). Among their assets, which the rest of the league had to worry about whether Sawyer saw his team as a pennant winner or not: a hard-hitting outfield consisting of brawny Dick Sisler† (.367), fleet-footed Richie Ashburn (.296) and clutch-hitting Del Ennis (.304), and a bustling infield steadied by First Baseman Eddie Waitkus, recovered from his shooting by a deranged girl last year (TIME, June 27). With young Pitchers Curt Simmons (21), a lefthander, and Robin Roberts (23), winning a total of nine of their team...
...story follows the fortunes of two English families living on the Zulu veld in South Africa. The Elliots had fled scandal in England; Mrs. Ashburn had brought her family in abortive search of a fortune in cotton. They eke out a poor existence from the wilderness, contending with drought, fever, and the whims of the Zulus, Mrs. Ashburn even resorts to hatching python eggs for spare cash...
Through this story wanders Mrs. Ashburn's younger son, Danny, the maniac narrator, who lives half the time with the Zulus, sings when he is happy, and lies on his back on the veld and howls when he is sad. Danny is a somewhat disruptive influence; he ruins his sister's marriage, attempts to strangle his own son, and murders his brother out of jealously over the love of the Elliot's daughter...
...novel is best when it is describing the everyday life of the two transplanted families as they strive to maintain an English civilization of tea and tennis against the veld. Major Elliot pulls up the fever trees to build a formal park and garden around his house; Mrs. Ashburn holds a "musical evening" for the two families every Wednesday. In the portrayal of the subtle tensions and affections of their family life, the author shows fine perception...
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...