Two-Horse Race?
WASHINGTON (July 31) -- A glance at the league standings reveals the usual suspects atop the United League, as the Washington Monuments close in on their third straight pennant and the St. Louis Maroons try to end their streak of second place finishes.  The two clubs broke away from the pack in July, putting a nine-game gap between themselves and the rest of the league, and turning the 1954 pennant drive, at least for the moment, into a two-horse race.
   Washington was 22-6 through July 30 and St. Louis was 20-8.  On July 1, four teams were within five games of first place.  Today, fourth place New York is 16 games back, essentially out of contention.  Washington's five-game lead over St. Louis would be considerably larger were it not for the Maroons' success over their rivals this season.  The Dark Reds are 10-5 against the champs, including a 2-1 series win in D.C. July 18-20.  No other team has more than five wins against the Monuments.

Jansen, Gromek Pick Up Stumbling Miller
Larry Jansen (18-4, 2.69) and Steve Gromek (17-8, 3.89) were two of the league's hottest pitchers in July.  Jansen posted the second best July ERA (1.63) and was 6-0 in seven starts, while Gromek led the league with a perfect 7-0 record.  The two compensated for a lackluster fortnight for Stu Miller, who was just 1-1 in four starts since July 15.  His ERA was 3.54 in those four starts, and he had major control issues, issuing 25 free passes in his last 28 innings.
   Willie Mays led the team in hits and RBIs for the second straight month.  "Say Hey" hit .352 (38-108) in July and drove in 25 runs.

Pierce Wins Eight Straight
DETROIT (July 27) -- Billy Pierce's string of eight straight winning starts came to an end today with a 10-inning no-decision at Briggs Stadium.  St. Louis went on to win in 13 innings when Willie Jones scored on a Clem Labine wild pitch for a 6-5 win.  Pierce fanned 10 for the 13th time this season.  He earlier set a UL record with five straight games with 10+ strikeouts June 22-July 15.  Pierce (18-3, 1.91), a 23-game winner a year ago, is a runaway favorite for the Cy Young Award, leading the league in ERA, wins (tied), and strikeouts.
   The second place Maroons kept the pressure on Washington in late July with a series win at Griffith Stadium and a six-game winning streak in the last week.  The St. Louis rotation has been bolstered by the great comeback season of Sam Zoldak.  After winning the United League's inaugural Cy Young Award, "Sad Sam" struggled through two injury-plagued seasons.  He was 5-0 in May and 5-2 in July, compiling a 15-7 record and 3.84 ERA.
   The Maroons still boast the league's most prolific offense (5.5 runs per game), led by right fielder Stan Musial, who is first in RBI, second in batting, and third in home runs, as he again posts MVP-type numbers (.330-22-80).  As usual, Musial is joined by teammates Roy Campanella and Vern Stephens on the offensive leaderboards.  Campy is having his best season, batting .280 with 20 HR, and 70 RBI, while Stephens (.272-19-72) has raised all his percentages from last season. 

Ford Out 7 Weeks, Dashing Colt Hopes
BROOKLYN (July 19) -- The Chicago Colts' pennant hopes took a hit today as ace Whitey Ford was lost, perhaps for the remainder of the season, with a severe elbow strain in a 5-4 loss to the Superbas at Ebbets Field.  Ford, 25, missed six weeks last year with an inflamed rotator cuff, which he suffered just a month into his rookie season.  "The Chairman of the Board" was the first overall pick in the 1953 Reentry Draft, after spending a year fighting the Reds in Korea.  In 24 starts this season, Whitey posted a record of 13-9, and a 2.75 ERA, fourth lowest in the United League.  After a pair of gems early in the month (one earned run and 29 strikeouts in 17 innings), Ford stumbled in his next two starts.  He lost to Washington 7-4 on July 10, and was shut out 2-0 by Louisville's "Toothpick Sam" Jones.  He left today's game in the fourth with a 4-0 lead that was eventually squandered with the help of three errors.  The injury occured after Ford struck out Wes Westrum for his 193rd strikout of the season.  Earlier in the game, Whitey fanned Lou Brissie for his 400th career strikeout.  He is the 14th player to reach that plateau, but the second youngest (Louisville's Johnny Antonelli, 24, has 438 career strikeouts).
   Chicago reclaimed third place, as New York fell into a tailspin.  But at 54-49, the Colts are 14 games behind Washington, a margin that will be virtually impossible to close without their best pitcher. 

Brooklyn's Staley to Retire After Major Injury
BUFFALO (July 30) -- Brooklyn minor leaguer Gerry Staley's torn bicep injury on April 12 was more serious than previously thought, prompting the AAA relief pitcher to hang up his cleats and call it quits.  Staley, 32, was drafted by Brooklyn in the 34th round of the Initial Draft.  The right-hander from Brush Prairie, Washington pitched in 27 games with the big club in 1952, but spent the majority of his time with AAA Buffalo, where he posted a 3.80 ERA in 62 appearances last year.  Staley was off to a great start this April, with a 1.93 ERA in 5 games, before incurring the career-ending injury.

The Rhyme of the Flatbush Faithful
by Glen Reed

Down on the corner of Bedford and Despair

It’s always two to nuttin’ behind a homer that follows an err’

And of the bullpen it’s said, no lead is safe

Even when you’re five runs ahead

And though Richie will run and Richie will steal,

And the great Gorman is wont to deal

Calls of “ Brooklyn joins pennant race”, which you sometimes see,

The Superba faithful know to be perpetually out of place

Now, I’ve heard it said and it’s true, it’s a long way from Flatbush to LOU

But when measured in wins the distance mightily thins,

And all that separates you from the team known as LOU

Is head-to-head record—10-2

And the problem you can see (at least it’s plain to me),

Is the lack a crowning jewel in the rotation, and on offense it’s strictly station to station.

When all you need is a hurler named Stu,

The best these Brooklyners can do are two guys name of Lew

So many leads you can blow and hang out down here below

With the likes of the Colonels and Sound,

Like the Titanic whose story you know,

This Superb baseball ship is mortally slow to turn ‘round

“They’re contenders,” once was written,

But that was before crossing the path of the Kitten

It’s okay, hope springs eternal. At least that’s what they say.

But “they” don’t have a bullpen infernal.

So though chances are slim and prospects Grim,

Serene I sit, and cease to puzzle over it.

And put my trust in Iron Mike’s plan,

Content to draft all the pitchers I can.

Richie! Minnie! Woodie! O simulation day—

We find the company down here Superb, I say. 

AROUND THE HORN