60 YEARS AGO/129: THE BEGINNING OF THE HOMESTRETCH

Here are the batting leaders in the National League as the September 1962 homestretch commences:

HR: Mays, SFG 40; Aaron, MIL 36; Robinson, CIN 33; Cepeda, SFG 32; Banks, CHC 31; Thomas, NYM 29

RBI: T. Davis, LAD 128; Robinson, CIN 119; Mays, SFG 113; Aaron, MIL 110; Cepeda, SFG 99; Demeter, PHI 95; Howard, LAD 95

Runs: Robinson, CIN 115; Aaron, MIL 111; Wills, LAD 110; Mays, SFG 109; T. Davis, LAD 98; W. Davis, LAD 98

BA: T. Davis, LAD .342; Robinson, CIN .336; Aaron, MIL .334; White, STL .323; Cepeda, SFG .321; Altman, CHC .320

OBP: Ashburn, NYM .429; Robinson, CIN .413; Fairly, LAD .405; Skinner, PIT .403; Aaron, MIL .397; Altman, CHC .392

SLG: Robinson, CIN .619; Aaron, MIL .617; Mays, SFG .604; Howard, LAD .569; Cepeda, SFG .559; Skinner, PIT .543; T. Davis, LAD .530

A tight game in Los Angeles broke the Dodgers' way in the late innings after LA had squandered an early 2-0 lead. Maury Wills, who'd hit .361 in September and steal 31 bases, was the catalyst for a two-out rally in the seventh inning that put LA back in the lead. Braves rookie left-hander Denny Lemaster, who went all the way in the loss, surrendered a solo homer to Frank Howard in the eighth, giving the Dodgers an insurance run. Johnny Podres struck out 11 in seven innings to improve his season record to 12-10, and Ron Perranoski slammed the door on Milwaukee in the eighth and ninth to earn his 16th save. Final score: Dodgers 5, Braves 3.

Earlier that day, the Giants stumbled against the Reds, who scored four runs off Juan Marichal in the first, led by the first of five hits on the day by Vada Pinson. Gordy Coleman and Leo Cardenas each drove in three for the Reds, who pounded out sixteen hits as they made the Giants' first game in September into one they would just as soon forget. Harvey Kuenn went 3-for-4, drove in three and homered in a losing cause for SF. Final score: Reds 10, Giants 5.

SEASON RECORDS: LAD 89-47, SF 85-50