The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-05
.DELANCEY HOPES FOR COMEBACK
 IN BIG LEAGUE
St. Louis Star of 1884 Al- ready Has Beaten Lung
 Infection
BY HARRY FERGUSON Limited Press Sports Editor)

St. Petersburgh, Fla, March 5 - (U.P) = Only five years ago he was a rising, blazing star but time IS quick to dim the memory so to only a few of you will the name of Bill Delaney mean anything.
 The story about him is that he has come back = back along the steep twisted road that leads out of the shadow of death-and that once again he is crouched behind the plate, barking encouragement to whoever is pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals.
 Delancey set his cap at cocky angle on the left side of his head in sun drenched Waterfront Park to- day and talked about the time death brushed him with her wings at stage of his career when he seemed about to develop into one of the greatest catchers of baseball.
 Maybe you remember him in the 1884 world series when the Card- inals and the Detroit Tigers, each boasting great right-hand pitcher in Dizzy Dean and Schoolboy Rowe, collided in 8 battle that went the full seven games. Delancey caught every inning of every game for the Cardinals in that series, handled pitchers superbly, hit hard and out gassed the entire Gas House Gang with his fighting spirit. It seemed that at the start of the 1885 season he was going into golden era. But during the season he became tired and sluggish, and one day doctor told him that he had pleurisy and that one of his lungs had developed tubercular infection.
 Back To Baseball
 Baseball said goodbye to Bill De. lancey that day, and soon he head- ed west for the warm, dry air of New Mexico. He was the last one to think that he would ever put on the mask and protector again. But there he stands today in the Cardinal training camp, one foot on the dug out steps, and this is what he says:
 T got along prety well out west and when the time came that they let me get at the wheel of my car and take a ride, began to develop hunch that would be back up here. They had ball club at Albu- querque and they were kind enough to make me manager of it.
 At first I didn't do anything but manage from the bench, Then, as I got stronger and more confident, l would go out and pitch in batting practice once in while. Last year I did little pinch hitting, but did, mt attempt to play as regular. Now, they tell me I'm all right and the officials of the St. Louis club were willing to give me a chance. So here I am"
 Delancey thinks his toughest job will be to get back his batting eye. What little hitting he has done since he left the Cardinals has been done against minor league pitching and at infrequent intervals. He is going to take his time in training and see whether climatic conditions in the east and middle west have any effect on his health. Mechan- ically he is great catcher and few weeks more work should bring him back all his old time skill.
 The spirit that sparked the Gas House Gang is still there, and if hard work is all that is necessary Bill will be in there catching some games this summer. He arrives on the field early and is among the last to leave. aatfH
 Looking brown, healthy and solid, Bill would like to believe that these last few years have just been a va cation and that he is ready to pick up again where he left off in that bruising world series of 1884.