The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-06-15
RISE OF REDS
OUTSTANDING
Improvement Over Last
Season One of Seasons
Main Developments
By GEORGE KIRKsEY ,
IJ,;teJ Pres, Staff Correspondent


NEW YORK, June Is. (UP)-
The rise of the Cincinnati Reds
from a last-placc club year ago
into a pcnnant contender is one
Of the most important develop
mcnts of the 1888 season. Inc
Reds are riding high in third place
today only 5 1-2 games back OF
the Ieague-leading Giants
Events of the past few days IN
dicate manager Bill Mckechnie
thinks the Reds have chance TO
win the pennant. He traded IN
solder Alex KampOurls to the
Giants for outfelder Wally Ber-
ger: traded pitcher AL HolIingS-
worth and catcher Virgil Davis
and a reported 100000 TO tne
Pbillies for pitcher Bucky wal
ters; and infelder Buck Jordan 10
the Phillies for infelder Justin
stein That's more trading IN
few days than most other eluOe
have done all season.
Instead of taking it easy yes
terday when the Reds game was
called off because of the late ar
rival of the Brooklyn Dodgers
McKechnic went to the Pol0
Grounds to scout the Giants ana
Pirates two of the clubs the Reds
have TO beat out in the NATIONAL
League race. -,
! In McKechnie'S absence Gabriel
Paul, secretary of the Reds, eX-
plained the Cincinnati pilots ideas
about the race.
: "McKechnie is playing every
game rs it comes he said. HE
ISN'T thinking about remnants.
Sometimes he doesn't even know
who's going to pitch two hours
before a game. But with Walters
on the staff, Bill figures he II have
three top notch pitchers. The 9TH
er two are Derringer and Wander
Nicer" -.
If the Reds finish in first dlvl-
sion or draw 100000 persons at
home. McKechnie will get 4 So
600 bonus in addition to his $50
900 salary. From present lndlca-
tions McKechnie will clinch ms
bonus on both counts.
Among the principal reasons
for the Reds rise are Mchechnle 5
astutc managerial leadership; the
of Paul Derringer; the
hitting and fielding OF
rookie first baSeman Frank NC
Cormick; the lusty hitting OF
catcher Ernie Lombard; the ar
rival of young Johnny Wander
Nicer as a pitching star; and an
outfeld defense.
McKechnic'S patient leadership
has done much to bring Meteor
nick and Wander Nicer to the
lore as two of the leagues great
st young players. Critics insisted
would never make a
big league hitter yet McKechnie
went along with him and today
he is batting .359. McCormick's
fielding also has been sensational
and given the Reds their best IN
ner defense in years.
Wander Meer's big weakness
when McKechnie started working
On him was wildnesS. McKechnie
figured he could cure this wild
streak by using Wander Nicer
more often and ne was right. Van
der Nicer has won six games and
lost two, including his recent no.
hit, no-run affair.
Derringer has won nire games
already this year. Last season ne
didn't win his ninth game until
September /.
lombard always has been u
terrific hitter but his base hits are
coming at more advantageous
time for the Reds this season than
ever before.
Last season the Reds outfeld
was like a sieve with fly balls
dropping all around such outheld-
crs as Chick Hafey, Hub Walker,
and Phil Weintraub. Dusty Cooke,
who played left field until ne was
hurt, Harry Craft and lval Good
man all have been playing, bril-
liant defensive ball. In addition
Goodman is having his best year
Mt the plate, with Id homers to
his credit. He seems certain to hit
more homers than any other Gin
cinnati player in history. The
present record is 10 made by Har.