The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-06
.CROSETTI NAMED
YANK NO. | HERO
OF OPENING co.
Winning ShOrtstOp Made
Three Great Plays
Against Cubs
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY

UNITED Press staff Correspondent
Chicago. Oct. 6--(UP)-The YAM
KEGS today had a new "Grande
Bambino" little spindle-legged
Frankie Crosetti from Fisherman's
Wharf, San Francisco.
After all these years, in which
Yankee might proved right and the
home run was the answer to all their
problems, along came dark-eyed
Frank Crosetti and In one afternoon
revealed another side Of the great
Yankee machine.
With three dazzling plays, exc
cuted all the way from third to
second base-as wide q margin Of
territory as any shortstop ever COW
cred In one world series game
Crosetti stole the thunder from
the Yanks' big berthas. His sure
hands, keen eyes, nirnble feet and
deadly arm choked of the Cubs
most dangerous threats In the
opening world series game and en-
abled the Yanks to win, 81.
Viva CroSetti Long live q fine
shortshop
That's what was being said among
the wise men Of the American
league today. Fellows like Bucky
Harris, Lew Fonseca and Roger
Peckinpaugh, who've played around
the keystone sack themselves and
know the value Of defense were
praising Crosetti's work as one Of
the finest exhibitions In world series
history.
Fourth Series
This Is the fourth time Crosetti,
q slight, trim fellow who looks out
Of place among the bulky Yanks,
has played in the world series but
no one ever has paid much atten-
ton to him. He's always been rele-
gated to the background by those
fence busting fellows like Ruth, Di-
Maggie, Gehrig, Dickey and others.
But no longer can you forget Gro
setti. The three plays he made In
the opening game yesterday which
undoubtedly saved the day for the
Yanks were typical Of the kind Of
ball he's been playing for years and
for which he has been getting little
or no mention because ONE brute
woul dcome along and knock the
bail out Of the park.
In the second inning Crosetti
halted the first Cub threat when
he raced near the four line behind
third base and recovered q hit OF
Rolfe's glove and threw Stanley
Hack out at home plate. =
''That was one Of the smartest
plays I've seen in the world series
In long time" said Lew Fonseca,
former White Sox manager. "Cro-
setti recovered the ball running
away from the plate. Then he
stopped fully, and recovered his
balance while Hack was speeding
towards home with the run which
would have tied the game. He
didn't try to throw until he was
set. Many players would have be-
come panicky and In their haste
thrown the ball into the grandstand.
But when Crosetti cut loose he had
dead aim and made perfect throw
to get Hack"
Neat Double
Then In the seventh inning when
the Cubs made threatening gestures
again, It was Croseti who put out
the FIRE. Cavarretta lead on the
seventh with single. Crosetti
gobbled UP Reynolds grounder,
stepped onto second and tossed to
0ehrig for double play. That play
became highly important Q few
minutes later when Gabby Hartnett
tripled. Again 1t was Crosetti who
shut the door In the Cubs face.
with Hartnett ON third and the
Yanks leading, 81, Collins got
what looked like o certain single
through the box.
From nowhere Crosetti raced be-
hind second, scooped up the ball
and rified II to first TO get Collins
by a step. II was the greatest play
Of the game-a play that would have
been credit to q Wagner, q Ban
croft, or a Tinker. It killed OF
whatever chance the Cubs had Of
making serious trouble and estab-
,ished Crosetti as the No. hero in
the Yanks' ranks. Movie aside d.
Maggie, Gehrig, Rolfe and all the
ret Of you Yanks. The little BAN.
bino Crosetti stands alone today.