The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-09
INJURIES MADE YEAR COCKEYED
 ONE FOR BEES
Stengel Saw Pinch-Hitter Make Home Run on a
 Single
By GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff CorrespOndent)

United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, Sept. 9.-(UP)-A cockeyed baseball season-thats what Casey Stengel, the irrepressi- ble buffoon who manages the Boston Bees, called 1t.
 Look at those Giants out there," Stengel said pointing to the Terry men in inheld drill "They're shot but they can lick us. When they had a pretty fair club and were at full strength we could hold our own with them"
 Pirates Floating In
 As far as the National league race is concerned, Stengel said not to be too sure that Plttsburg has 1t won.
 "The Pirates have all the best of 1t on the losing side" he said, "but they're floating in. Something may happen to them that they hadn't counted o.. Cincinnati has the strongest power in tn league right now and still can cause trouble. You know think we could have won that pennant if we hadn't had all those injuries. Look at em-Lopez out two months, MacFayden, Shoff- ner and Gene Moore all crippled and lost to the Bees for from six to 10 weeks And I still think we'll finish in first division"
 During August the Bees played at the hottest pace of any club in the league, winning 20 games and 1Aei,Nn 10 Iyf1U ttaA 0l,,l Ssya lta such terrible plight because of in- juries that when Stengel sent sev- eral pitchers to the bullpen the only men left on the Bees bench were Stengel himself, and the two coaches, George Kelly and Mike Kelly. During this period they say that Stengel was the life of the party keeping up the spirits of the club when they were going badly.
 When the Bees would lose a game and a player would have his head hanging low Stengel would take him in hand and tell him about the time he took off his shirt and offer- ed 1t to Bill Klem, the umpire.
 Stengel was managing the Dodgers and 1t seemed that every close play in game against the Giants went against Brooklyn. Finally, Stengel, after losing close decision, took off his blouse and offered 1t to Klem, saying: Wear this one for change, you've been wearing the Giant uni- form all afternoon"
 Or some other tale, of which Stengel has a million.
 During this cockeyed season Stengel says he saw one of the daffl- est players of his experience. Pepper Martin, pinch-hitting. singled over first base and turned 1t into a home run to beat the Bees.
 After Martin singled" he related. Our right fielder fumbled the ball, and then relayed 1t to Fletcher who made a throw to the plate to head of a runner. Martin when to sec- ond on the throw in. The ball hit n corner of the plate and bounced Into the stands. It was one of those crazy bounces you see only once in a lifetime. The umpires decided to award Martin two more bases on It."
 Stengel said that the Bees are one of the easiest clubs to manage he's ever been with.
 Every fellow is interested in his work" he said. "There are no stars or prima donnas. If you offer them a suggestion they pay attention. And every man 0 the club is great team player. We have been getting come exceptional playing from Cuc- cinello, Garms. Erickson, Cooncy and Lopez since he's been back in the game. Our pitching has been all anyone could ask for. wouldn't say we have the best defensive club in the league but I will say that if we get a one-run lead late in the game we are as tough to beat as any club"