The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-09
REDS SET SAIL WITH PITCHING
 OF "BIG THREE'
Thompson Dogs Walters and Derringer at
 Mid=SeasOn
BY PAUL sCHEFFELs

Limited Press Stan C0rresp0ndent)
 New York = (U.P.) = The name of the sage that uttered the time- worn philosophy, "then that has, get", seems to have been lost some- where along the circuit but when applied to the Cincinnati Reds O. 1940, his observation appears any, thing but outdated.
 Last year the National League champion Reds had the two top pitchers of the loop in Bucky wal ters and Paul Derringer, who won 27 and 25 games, respectively. With two pitchers of this caliber, any manager might make more than serious bid for the pennant, but add another potential 20-game winner and the flag would be in the bag"
 Now with the home stretch of the 1940 pennant fight grinding into sight, the eds apparently have found their third 20-game winner in Junior Thompson, a 23-year- old righthander only in his second full season in the major league. Thomp- son won 13 games last year and has stepped into a faster winning tempo this season by registering 10 victories at the halfway mark, right behind Walters and Derringer, who had clicked of f3 and Il decisions at the midway point.
 Record May Be Carved
 If all three mark up 20 or more, 1t will be, according to all available records, the first time in history a team has had three pitchers win that many games. Walters and Derringer are recognized big timers but even they need help on the mound and Thompson, a Glass 0 rookie last year. just up for 8 trial in spring training is figured to give 1t to them.
 The Reds purchased Thompsan in 1888 when he had landed with Syracuse of the International League. At the time. he had lost two out of two and didn't appear to be lucrative investment. He was farmed to Columbia and at the end of POS innings with the Sally League outfit he had won 16 games and lost g. In 9 starts with Columbia he failed to go the route in only one game.
 He was a great prospect but prophecies in reference to his ability were always conditioned with the proviso-"If he can ever learn to control that curve ball."
 Looked Good fin '36
 Bouncing his curve was always ThompSon's weakness. When he won 20 for Paducah in 1886, it was thought he might be ready. But 1t took two more years in the minors for him to master the apparently smiple knack of steering his No. 2 pitch down the proper channel.
 What gave him the priceless con- trol that prevented him from issu- ing more than 55 passes in 152 in- nings last season, earned him . chunk of World Series money and this year has been one of his big- gest assets.
 Manager Bill McKechnies stunt is having his pitchers throw curves as soon as they start warming up each spring." Thompson testifies. 'sThe spring before last was my first real taste or proper training and you can bet I appreciated 1t. No young pitcher could have asked for better treatment than I receoved last season. I was treated as though my name was Derringer of Walters and was coached well, but not too much. My shots on the mound are spaced just right.
 '@Take it from me, McKechnie is more than an ideal manager: he's q dream manager for c ball play- CT, especially for Q young pitcher named Of Eugene Thompson"