The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
CINCINNATI TANNED FOR SERIES
TIGERS FAVORED
ATT TO 10 ODDS
Still Uncertain If lombard
Or Frey Will Start For
Reds In Opening Game
ny JuDSON BAILEY

washed over the Queen city today,
basebalps notable per-
sonages and lifting the populace
into a high state of excitement
in advance of Wednesdays first
game between Detroit's Tigers and
Cincinnati's Reds.
The community changed over
night from a quiet. hospitable Ohio
river town to the baseball capital
of the world, as every incoming
train and plane disgorged a new
batch of diamond addicts.
Hotel lobbies were damned. Lit
tie knots of fans clustered along
curbs of the streets to discuss all
the fascinating uncertainties that
surround the struggle for tn e
World championship.
The big question Of today, as it
was yesterday and will be tomor'
row, was whether two of the Reds
injured regulars, Catcher Ernie
lombard and second baseman
Lonnie Frey, would be able tc
play. Not even Manager Bill NC
Kechnie knew the answer.
The Tigers already were estab'
lished betting favorites at Z to
10 and the crippled condition OF
the Cincinnati team made it likely
that the odds against the Reds.
originally even money. Woule
lengthen probably to 7 or 8 or S.
Tickets still were a frantic prob
lem for some fans, intent on see
ing the extravaganza get under
way at 1870 p. m. (EST) Wednes.
day.
The ball club took large ads in
the Cincinnati papers to ask fans
to cooperate by reporting scalpers.
But fabulous prices were asked by
ticket brokers and you had to know
somebody who k somebody
else to get reserved seats, even
through these channels.
The pressure was much greater
this year than last and Crosley
field was certain to be jammed
to its absolute capacity of about
5000 including bleachers and
standing room, which will be sole
the day of the game.
The weatherman said shower!
were a possibility for opening day
but if the weather is fit to play
the crowd will be there.
The Tigers were due tonight,
from Detroit by special train ane
both teams will work out light,
tomorrow.
Not until then r the probable
pitchers likely to become known,
Managers McKechnie and Del Ba
ker have committed themselves,
only to Paul Derringer and Buck,
Walters for Cincinnati, and Bucl
Newsom and Schoolboy Rowe TO,
Detroit in the first two games
order a yet undecided.
Derringer, a 20 and IL winner
during the regular season, was the
Reds most likely choice for the
opener, of course, for several rea
sons. He proved he had a stou'
heart in last years first game
which Cincinnati lost to the Nev
York Yankees 2-1 in the nintl
inning; and he throws curve,
which the Detroit Dynamiters MAJ
find troublesome. d
Rowe gained an edge over New
som in the guessing for the Tigers
No. l man because Of his steadi
ness. His season record is l6 wo,
and 3 lost.
Although McKechnie himself salt
he didn't know whether his Grip
Piles would be able to start, som,
Cincinnati players said they be
lieved Frey, whose right big to-
is broken, probably could take hi!
place in the lineup but that Lom
bardi likely would miss at leas
the first game. The big catche,
sprained his right ankle two weeks
ago in Brooklyn. The last day o.
two he has been hobbling like /:
lame steer.
Jimmy Wilson, Cincannati's play
ing coach, was ready to take III
the catching chore but summed
up the situation by saying, wv,
need Lum's big piece of lumber
swinging in there"
Outfield Jim Ripple, who wa;
hit on the wrist by a pitched bal
in yesterdays final with the Pitts
burgh Pirates, was around toda,
r'aring to 60, although he said hi
wrist was a bit painful.
The Detroit club was in goo,
condition-as good at least as j
has been in all season, although
the Tigers infield, averaging s.
years in age, was full of squeak!
and creaks. -.
The short left and center fielt
fences in Crosley field looked clos,
enough, however, for D Detroit
right-handed power hitters to off
set a lot of fielding weaknesses
Left field here is 1928 feet from
home plate and center field 1877
At Briggs stadium in Detroit, wher,
the teams will move Friday for a
least two and maybe three games
the distances are respectively 80
and 40. Playing mostly at home
the Tigers set a major league rec
ord by hitting home runs in l!
consecutive games during thei
September surge and as one De
troit writer remarked on seem,
the field here, Hank ,Greenberl
can bunt over these fences"