Sport: Season of the Slugger

Larry Jansen, pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants, spends his leisure moments slicing up baseballs with a knife. He is convinced that there is a mysterious something inside the new balls that makes them take off like spaceships—especially when his pitchers are on the mound. In a recent exhibition game, Giant hurlers blew a five-run lead and suffered a shameful 8-7 loss to the University of Santa Clara. Two days later, the Giants wasted an eight-run advantage and lost 17-16 to the lowly San Diego Padres. Last week they even let a pitcher...

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