Sport: Fallen Idol

In Boston, after he finished his playing days for the Braves, Outfielder Tommy Holmes was close to being an idol. A sure hand in the field and a solid hitter (lifetime batting average: .303), Holmes hung up his playing glove at the end of the 1950 season. Last year he started out on a managerial career for the Brave farm club in Hartford, Conn., and loyal Brave fans confidently expected that he would soon be back in Boston.

Sure enough, in mid-season Holmes was called back to replace ailing Billy Southworth. Manager Holmes managed a respectable fourth-place finish for his team of veterans. This spring the Braves, giving young (34) Manager Holmes a fresh start, began replacing veterans, rebuilding with rookies. No one expected miracles—but neither did the Braves' owners expect their team in June to be wallowing in seventh place. Last week, following baseball's usual law—replace a losing manager —the Braves fired Holmes. The new manager: Jolly Charley Grimm, 53, a onetime slick-fielding first baseman for Pittsburgh (1919-24) and Chicago (1925-36) and a three-time pennant-winning manager of the Cubs (1932, 1935 and 1945).