The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-03-25
STRONG SPIRIT
|OF CARDINALS.
lis MAJOR ASSET.
Frisch Has Many Problems
With Only Four Starters
Assured at This Time
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY
RYnaaAnA R.naa GA ~ HNaa..

Daytona Beach, Fla, March IS.
|-(UP)-The Cardinals idea Of the
National League pennant race has
been put to song by that rollicking
Rough House crew Of ball players
from st. Looey.
They sing the song after supper
each night In the lobby Of the Os.
ceola hotel to the accompaniment
Of Pepper Martins harmonica and
Bill McGee'S guitar. One of the
verses runs like this:
1.-THE Giants are crying,
The Cubs are signing,
Everybody's afraid of the old Cas-
house Gang.
Terry, he Is moaning
Grimm, he Is groaning
Traynor, he is foaming
Everybody'S afraid Of the old Cas-
/. house Gang"
The Old Fight
This irrepressible spirit of the
Cardinals makes them favorites to
win the pennant. They have their
problems. probably more than any
other contender, but their Slashing,
MISUNDERSTANDING spirit makes
them the most feared club in the
league. Regardless Of what lineup
the Cards place on the field, they
must be reckoned with because OF
tkeir youth, speed and spirit.
The bald spot on Manager
frankie Frisch's head is likely to
grow larger by the time he gets
through wrestling with all the
Cards problems. His main worries
are:
1. Will two minor league catch.
ers hold up the backstopping?
2. VIII Paul Deans arm come
back?
8. Will the inexperienced infield
develop into a well-knit unit?
4. Has Terry Moore recovered
from injuries sufficiently to fill the
center-field job or will It have to
be entrusted to Don Padgett, Co.
lumbus rookie?
Quartette Set
The only four players who aren't
problems to Frisch are Ducky Med
wick in left, Pepper Martin in
right, Leo Durocher at shortstop
and Dizzy Il want to retire. Dean.
And who knows, even Dizzy may
turn into headache for frankie
II things don't break right for him.
Frisch Is taking a chance on Ar
mold (Mickey) Owen ana Paul
Chervinko, the Columbus recruits,
behind the bat. Owen Is a typical
Gashouser and looks like a natural
If he can hit.
The pitching after Dizzy is filled
with question marks and uncer-
tamties. Lon Warneke, obtained
from the Cubs, hasn't been impress
slVe In training and there are ru-
morS that his arm never will be
the same as 1t was before he in
jlred 1t in the 1885 World Series
against the Tigers. Bill MCGEE. Jim
Whford and Mike Ryba are count
ed ON as starters along with Paul
Dean. Ryba, the one-man ball club.
looks like he's ready to make the
grade after 10 years in the Car
dinals' chain gang. Help is expect
ed from Bob Weiland, big south
paw. and Nate Andrews, who ap-
pears better than his 1l-galne VIC
tory record at Sacramento indicates.
Morton Cooper, said to have more
speed than Dizzy, is bidding for a
berth but may be year away. And
then there's oil Jess Haines. ap-
preaching A, for spot roles and re-
lief work.
Not So Good
Only one jnfield has PLAYED
through an entire major league
season. Mize at first was an in-and-
outer last season. Second base IL
tne major gap. Stu Martin hasn't
recovered from his breakdown in
health, and the job may fall to
Jimmy Brown or AL Cuccinello,' both
from Rochester. If all fail, Frisch
VIII have to take his 39-year-old
legs out there again. Don Cutter
idge looked good at third late last
season but still has to win his ma
Jor league spurs.
The outfield will be Medwick, T.
moore and Pepper Martin It Moore's
legs, victims Of chronic charley
horses, and his bad shoulder come
around. Otherwise Padgett, a big
fast ny-chaser who hit 1929 for CO.
lumbus last season in his second
year IN organized baseball, will get
the call. Frenchy Bordagaray, who
mt .3l4 for Brooklyn last season.
looks like he'll win a utility out
fielder's berth.
FIRST or fifth, and the Cards might
!inisn IN any spot In that span,
tney still have the old Gashouse
spirit and will be feared at Wrigley
Field, the Polo Grounds, Forbes