The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-04-12
By HARRY CRIMSON Sports Editor, NEA Service

pion St Louis Cardinals are pre- pairing for a strenuous 1885 cam paign. The first is that the Cards, generally considered the strongest front in the National League this year, are strengthening their club more than any other in the south; the other is the remarkable come. back of Charley Colbert.
 From behind that big desk Iu the Cards front office, and back of those half-glasses he peers through, Boss Branch Hickey fine toothed the bushes since the close of last winter, and the cream of that far-fiung Red Bird farm sys- tenn is quartered in this sunny Florida city.
 The rookie crop was exception ally productive, and such a con glomeration of youthful ball play CTS as is present here has the ef- feet of making the veterans of the club fight all the harder for their jobs. The result Is that you see practice sessions out there on the field reminiscent of a mid-JulV game with the club in the thick of the pennant fight.
 Still noticeably favoring a left leg believed hopelessly crippled by a gunshot wound in the fall of 1882, Gelbert's return to baseball this spring Is highly dramatic. He is the hardest worker among the hardest t-working ball players in either major league.
 1,,Ir III p- performances been to date that several Cardinals, including First Baseman Jimmy Collins, believe the former all-round star of Le. banon Valley will beat out Leo Durocher, the lippy one who cap- tained the Red Birds in 1884, for the shortstop post. Hickey says it is going to be difficult to choose between them, despite Gelbert's encased leg and two-year layoff. Room for Only One
 It was suggested to Manager Frank Frisch that there would be room for both Durocher and Gel. bert, with the latter playing thirc base, and the aggressive Pepper Martin returning to center field Frisch vetoed this proposition without delay.
 There is no sense in putting two men out of position to place one," he explains. The Cardina foreman also had in mind Terr. Moore, a center fielder up iron Columbus, whose only weakness 1 said be foul flies, when he mad that statement.
 Regardless of the competition Durocher is to receive from Gel bert, the 1ippy one has plenty c other reasons to sprout gray hair One is Fred Ankenman, a rooki shortstop who comes up iron Houston.
 A likeable sort of youngster, tht 23-year-old Texan is a whiz in tl.t field, but admittedly weak wltl the willow. Frisch is taking step: to improve his hitting.
 Two other young inflelders who show exceptional promise are Dor Gutteridge, also from Houston, anu Charley Wilson, from Columbia The latter, with stick mark ol 1925, might win a regular bertt at third base in the event that Pepper Martin is switched to cen. ter field to replace Ernie Orsatti- and that event isn't without con. sideration by Frisch.
 Wilson is an impressive lad who has been up before and has the boise of a major leaguer.
 Requirements in the outield are a likely looking lot. Besides the aforementioned Terry Moore, wkt is a WOW, there are Red Worth. ington, obtained from the Braves last year; Johnny Wfnsett, Koch. ester and ex-Red Sox rookie who hit 1861 for the Card farm, and Eugene Moore, who came up from Columbus at the flag end of last season and hit .27S in nine games for the Red Birds.
 Bill DeLancey and Virgil Davls will rate No. and No. 2 catching berths, respectively, and there is none in camp capable of busting them.
 Pitchers? A Whole Parade!
 The playing field is cluttered UT with pitching talent. You find hurlers batting, playing first bast and outfield, hitting fungoes, and generally getting into your hair which gives one the. idea that Frankie Fisch isn't going to resl on the pitching laurels won by the Deans, Bill Hallahan, and Eil Walker last season.
 The Red Birds have flock oi youngsters up for trial this spring and all are ticketed for the ma jors sooner or later.
 There are Ray Harrell, bis right-hander who won 13 and lost for Rochester in 1884; Ed Heus' ser, a starboarder who saw oni. a little action at Columbus las season; Norbert Kleinke, a Koch ester right-hander in 1884, wht turned in 19 victories against oniy defeats; Henry Pippen, wht shaped up as all that his name i'm plies in winning 15 and dropping 16 for Houston; and Dick Ward who got brief trial with the Cub' last year and then turned in 1; victories against losses for Loi Angeles. Ward also is a right handler.
 Frisch is counting on goot year from Pat Malone, the cantan kerous Cub acquired in deal las fall. Malone won 14 against fol Chicago, and it was reported tha Grimm traded him off because h' was bad boy.
 Pat has promised to be good thi season, and if he is, both morail! and in the line of pitching success the rest of the league is due fo another year of depression.