The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-10-09
CHARLEY KELLER
PROVES HERO OF
WORLD SERIES
Yankee Outfielder Only
One Year Out of Minors;
Four Straight Again
BY HARRY FERGUSON
UNITED Press Sports Editor

UNITED Press Sports Editor
Cincinnati, Oct. 9-(UP) The
New York Yankees, world champions
of baseball for the fourth consecu-
tive year and victors in four straight
games for the last two seasons. will
let you name your own game and
beat you at it.
There can't be much doubt any
more, as Cincinnati went into
mourning for the Reds, that the
Yankees of 1938-39 are one of the
greatest ball teams ever put togeth-
er. No one doubts that they are the
most versatile.
If you want to play close, heads
up baseball behind a classy pitcher,
they will beat you at that. If you
want to risk everything on defense,
they will surpass you afield. And If
you want to slug with them-well,
that is like drawing a sharp, new
razor across your throat.
The remarkable thing in the SER
les that just ended is the way the
Yankees can adapt themselves to
any situation. In the first game in
New York, the Reds came up with
Paul Derringer, who pitched we'll
enough to win five of any seven
ball games whether in the World
Series or not. But manager Joe Nc
Carthy of the Yankees called on
Rufus the Red Ruffing with the re-
suit that the Reds looked at high
class pitching such as they seldom
see in the National League.
1t was the same story in the sec
ond game. Bucky Walters, with a
battling sinker ball, figured to be a
tough man for the Yanks to beat.
Mccarthy knew he was going to
have to get good pitching so he
trotted out Monte Pearson, frail
sort Of fellow who has a great knack
of coming through when the chips
are down. Pearson subdued the Reds
with a two hitter-the best pitched
game of the series.
Then the series shifted to the west
and the Reds were on home grounds
where they figured to hit better.
And they did, but the Yankees rose
up and matched and unmatched
at the slugging. Mccarthy unveiled
his super-special for 1884 swar-
thy kid named Charlie Keller who is
only one year out Of the minor
leagues.
Keller had given some indication
of what might happen when he
smote mighty triple in the first
game In New York. But that was
mild compared to what he did out
here. Two years ago home plate in
Crosley field was moved closer to
the right field bleachers In the hope
that Wal Goodman would drop
home runs there. Keller. also left
handed hitter, took one look at that
set-up and decided 1t was his dish.
On Saturday he broke out with
two homers and yesterday he got
another. If you are looking for
hero Of this series take Mr.. Keller.
You won't find any better. But he
didn't have to carry the whole bur-
den when 1t became smuggling
match, Those tried and true home
run veterans, Joe DiMaggio and Bill
Dickey, had the range too, and It
became downright dangerous to &C.
cupy a seat in the bleachers when
the Yankees were at bat.
Saturday for instance, the Yank-
ees got only five hits, but four Of
them were home runs.
Yesterday Keller helped himself
to another homer and Dickey got
one too, Just to keep In practice for
the sart of the 1910 season.
The pay-off on Yankee power
really came yesterday. They were
faced by the two best pitchers of
the Cincinnati club-Derringer and
Walters, perhaps the two best pitch
ers In the National League. But they
whaled away at them as though
they were fresh out of the bushes.
Defensively the Yankees are
strongest where they need to be
strong-right down the middle of
the diamond. Gordon and Crossetti
are the finest double play team In
the game and Cincinnati fans gasp
ed at the effortless way in which
the boys sponged UP hard chances.
Back Of them was the best CENTER
fielder In the business, Joe DiMag.
gio. who put on the act yesterday
by racing to the centerfield fence
spinning suddenly and catching 0
ball that had double" written al,
over 1t.
The Reds seemed to have Q
chance for a while yesterday, but
they finally went down in the tenth
inning and lost. z to 4. Their de-
fese collapsed and Derringer, after
working well for six innings, finally
got touched for couple of home
runs. There was no alibi for the
Reds-they were outhit, outfielded.
outpitched and outthought.
Inc Yankees opponents usually