Word: luzinski
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...kicks have been rapid-fire this season because no one is bashing the ball like Gregory Michael Luzinski, 24, of the Philadelphia Phillies. Called "Bull" in deference to his taurine power, Luzinski leads the National League in home runs, runs batted in, 26 and 88 respectively last week, and bullying pitchers. That parlay keeps the Phillies winning and within striking distance of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It also has Phillies fans planning for the playoffs...
...deep in last place. Last year he tore ligaments in his right knee and lost half a season. This spring the Phillies grabbed First Baseman Dick Allen, who led the American League in home runs and controversial publicity last year, and taciturn Greg was again forgotten. But only briefly. Luzinski, for one, is not surprised by his showing. "Basically," he says, "I'm just playing up to my ability...
Gentle Giant. Son of an electrician in Chicago, Luzinski lit up North Side Hamlin Park from the day he first stepped up to bat. In high school, he also played linebacker and fullback, and led his team to two undefeated seasons. The football recruiters, envisioning another Dick Butkus, swamped him with offers. Says he: "John McKay called to ask me to come to U.S.C. the day I signed with the Phillies." The club's pitch included a bonus of about...
...Luzinski looks more the linebacker than the leftfielder. But he is a gentle giant. Second Baseman Dave Cash, a Tom Thumb by comparison, calls him "fat boy" with impunity, and Shortstop Larry Bowa gets away with announcing that "if Dave and I were playing for the Reds, Johnny Bench would have 120 runs batted in by now." But Bowa also remembers the time he goaded the Bull once too often. "He came at me, I ducked, and he hit John Vukovich instead. Then I ran into the bathroom and locked the door...