Sport: Strong Man

Massive, left-handed Ted Kluszewski is one of the clumsiest first basemen the Memphis Chicks have ever seen. He approaches batted and thrown balls with a kind of baffled defiance, often stops them with his chest or his face. But last week, big 6 ft. 2 in. “Klu” was the talk of the Southern Association. In an afternoon’s double-header with New Orleans, in ten times at bat he hit a home run, three triples, two doubles and two singles. His day’s work put him far out in front as the league’s best batter, boosted his average to .412 which is 55 points ahead of his nearest rival.

Kluszewski, 22, onetime Indiana University football end, is playing his second season of pro ball. He is on option from the Cincinnati Reds, who gave him a $15,000 bonus for signing. But before he moves up to the majors, he will first have to convince someone that he can bat in more runs than he lets in.