Noren Here for Spur-of-Moment Visit

New York Yankee outfielder Irv Noren retuned to his natïve Jamestown on a spur–of-the- moment urge yesterday and cautioned that his knees have not completely healed from two operations responsible for a 30-day ineligibility period.

Noren, who leaves the temporary disabled list about May 25, didn’t hedge when questioned about the troublesome knees.

“They feel good on warm days and bad when it’s cold. If the warm weather keeps up everything will be fine, but otherwise, I don’t know. It’s gonna be close.”

Leaves Today

Staying at the home of his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Johnson of 44 Fluvanna Avenue, the 32-year -old Noren gave this version of the impulse that brought him to Jamestown for the first time since 1950.

“I don’t get much of a chance to get over here and I just wanted to see all my relatives and if the town is getting any bigger. Of course, I can’t play anyway, so Case (Manager Casey Stengel) let me have a day off.”

He leaves via New York Central from Westfield at 3 P.M. today and will rejoin the Yankees for the second of their two-game series at Cleveland tonight.

Sees Bombers Pressed

Demonstrating an affection for the city he left when he was 12-years-old, Noren commented he’d like “to see a lot of old friends and stay as long as I can.”

On the question closest to his heart, Noren stated, “Of course I’d like to break into the starting lineup, but it all depends on what Casey thinks, if he wants me against right-handers (Noren bats left) or what.”

Noren lauded the play of the present Bomber outfield – Mickey Mantle, Hank Bauer and Elston Howard – and said, “all three are sure helping a lot. I just hope I’ll be able to play and help the team.”

About the American League race, he thought it would be “awfully close,” with Cleveland and Chicago dueling the Yanks in a rerun of 1955.

With Yanks Four Years

“I don’t think it will be any runaway for us like a lot of people say.”

Noren, whose father, Perry, operated a bakery on Willard Street when the family lived here, now makes his off-season residence in Van Nuys, California.

He began his pro career with Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1946 and first entered the majors with Washington in 1950. Well on his way to establishing a Senator run-batted-in mark, Irv was traded to New York mid-way in the ’52 season.

His best year with the Yanks was 1954 when he led the league for a period and finished with an average of .319. His major league batting mark for five years is .278.