The Kid from Nebraska

Back in Tilden, Neb., the folks were buzzing with big talk. A local kid, towheaded Richie Ashburn, was knocking them dead up in the big leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies. It was his first season, too. Last week, the Ashburns just couldn't wait any longer. The family--even Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Elmo --set off to Chicago to watch Richie play.

He strode to the plate against the Cubs and tapped an easy grounder to the pitcher. While the pitcher was taking his time handling the ball, Ashburn was streaking for first base--and got there before the throw. The home folks beamed. Then he stole second base (the first of three he stole that game). Richie beat out another hit by sheer speed. Said one Phillies' coach: "I know I sound silly, but he's the nearest thing to Ty Cobb on the bases I've ever seen."

Only 21, Richie ("Cottontop") Ashburn is leading both leagues in stolen bases, with 13. If he has a batting weakness, rival pitchers haven't caught on yet. He hit in 23 consecutive games (the season's longest batting streak). He boasts a fat average of .379 (third highest in the league). In center field, he obviously needs polish, but he covers ground like a wing-footed dervish. His weakness: a none-too-robust throwing arm. Skeptics like to point out that many a brilliant spring rookie has faded before September. But Richie is already being referred to as "Rookie of the Year."

Philadelphia's prize rookie (he gets the standard rookie salary: $5,000 a year) is wholly unlike the Ring Lardner version. A lithe 170-pounder, Richie is well-dressed, polite and as serious about baseball as he is about most other things. On the road, he goes to a lot of movies and lounges in hotel lobbies, like other ballplayers, staring idly at passersby. He neither smokes nor drinks (about three bottles of beer a year don't count).

Success has given him just a touch of sophistication. The Phillies signed him up three years ago, after his one semester in junior college, for a bonus of $4,500. "I was just a kid then," he says, "and didn't know what the score was." Last week, after taking his Dad to Chicago's 606 Club (a striptease joint), he remarked offhandedly: "I've seen better in Boston."

Last week, the Phillies beat out 12 other big-league clubs in a scramble to sign up another whiz kid. In Thomaston, Ga., where 19-year-old strike-out artist Hugh Radcliffe (TIME, May 10) was pitching his last high-school game, a Philadelphia scout shelled out $40,000 to persuade Radcliffe to become a Philly.

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