The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-07
GOMEZ TO PITCH
FOR n. Y. YANKS;
THOMP SET
Third Cripple Called By
Mccarthy Berger to
Start for Reds
BY HARRY FERGUSON
United Press Sports EditOr)

Cincinnati, Oct. z. (UP)-Man.
ager Joe Mccarthy Of the New
York Yankees dug deep into his bag
Of tricks today and came out with
$50 pounds of bone and MUSCLE
named Lefty Gomez to send against
the Cincinnati Reds in the third
game Of the World Series.
A Shudder that could be felt all
the way to the suburbs ran through
Cincinnati when Mccarthy an
nounced that Gomez, the great
Gomez with his fast one that
smokes like an 1890 locomotive and
his hair pin curve, would be out
there this afternoon trying to make
1t three straight for the Yankees.
For Gomez has never been defeated
In World Series game and the
only thing that could be more dam
gerous to the Reds is a glass full
OF strychnine mixed with rat poison.
Mccarthy has pulled many q trick
out OF the bag in his day, but none
can match this one Of bringing
Senior Gomez up to physical peak
Tor this all important game starting
at 1870 p. m. EST. Four days ago
Gomez seem to be definitely out
OF the series. He had strained a
muscle in his right side and he had
enough adhesive tape on him to
stock a pharmacy. But yesterday the
Senior ripped the tape away. made
a couple Of his celebrated wise
cracks and went out to test his
whalebone left arm.
I'm ready" he reported and Nc
Carthy gave him the green light.
Gomez has been wearing a polo
belt to support the strained muscle
In his side, and he may have it on
when he pitches this afternoon. He
worked one game during the season
wearing The belt and said it. was
no handicap.
The hopes Of this town-and this
town Is something to see as the Reds
prepare to make their last-ditch
stand on home grounds-were all
on a youngster who a year ago was
an obscure pitcher for Columbia,
3: G., IN the Sally league. Junior
IhmpSon never dreamed a year ago
that this afternoon Manager Biz
Mckechnie Of the Reds would send
him out to. start a World Series
game and try to do q Job that was
too much for Bucky Walters and
Paul Derringer, the two best pitch.
ers OF the National league.
There Is a great Cinderella story
In the making out here today Of
Thompson,s arm and heart are Stout
enough for the greatest assignment
OF his life. The pressure will be
heavier than q brides biscuits, for
If the Reds lose this one their
cause will be lost. The only thing
Mccarthy will have to worry about
then will be whether to send Bump
Hadley, Oral Hildebrand or Red
Ruffing in to deliver the Knockout
punch.
Thompson Is o quiet, confident
youngster who has won 10 games
and lost five. He looked like a great
prospect during spring training this
year, but no one believed he would
emerge so soon as the No. 3 man
on the Reds pitching staff. His
chance came when Johnny Van Der
Nicer, Lee GriSSom and Whitley
Moore, on whom McKechnie had
counted heavily, failed. If he has
control, he Is q hard man to hit,
but no one-not even the kid himself
knows what will happen when he
steps out there to face the big bats
Of the Yankees.
Cincinnati. welcoming the Reds
home yesterday as though they were
victors instead of losers in the first
two games, has plenty of con-
hdence in Thompson. An enormous
parade formed at the railroad sta
ton when the Reds train came in
and went to city hall where Mayor
James Stewart made a we-have-
just-begun-to-fight speech.
The streets are thronged with
people carrying Red banners, wear
ing red caps and yelling to one an
other what the Reds will do to the
Yankees now that the home team
has escaped from the big city Of
New York to play on familiar field
A crowd of 500 stands outside the
Netherland-Plaza hotel from morn
ing till night. hoping to get q
glimpse Of q ball player.
Despite the fact that Wally
Berger, the Reds left fielder, has
looked bad afield and at bat, he
probably will start today. He still
has his sore toe, but Cincinnati
would forgive some of his fielding
lapses If he would only get in there
and bust the ball as he did during
the regular season.
I'VE won the pennant with the
hne-up that Is In there now" Nc
Kechnie said, land we will stick
with it today"