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).

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