Evening star., 1941-10-01


A crowd of around 10000 was pres
ent to witness the opening duel
between the metropolitan rivals.
Not only were the bleachers
crammed to capacity, but the enor-
nous third tier also was filled quick
ly when it was thrown open in mid
morning. These were the only Sec
tions not reserved.
Dull Wait for Early Birds.
1t was a dull wait for the early
comers, as no entertainment what
soever was provided by the man
agement-not even a band. For the
first time in many a world series
there was no sign Of Al Schacht,
the baseball comedian. He is In
Hollywood. preparing to appear in
forthcoming movie based on the
life of the late Lou Gehrig.
The weather steadily became more
ideal, with only a trace of a nip
in the air and no overcoats needed.
The usual corps of photographers
was camped in front of the Yankee
dugout, waiting for the heroes to
stick their heads out.
Promptly at IL am, as per con-
tract, a good-sized band seated
itself sedately near the center-field
fiagpole and got down to business.
Several hundred ushers and work.
men welded brooms on the exposed
sections of the grandstand. sweep
ing off the water and tidying up for
the customers.
The Yankees were first to appear
for batting practice. Stanley Bor-
dagaray. reserve outfielder, was first
to take his batting licks against the
practice pitching of Coach Schultz.
Second Stringers Up First.
All the Yankee second stringers
were given their licks before the
regulars began smacking the ball
around.
In the midst of the Yankee prac-
tice, the Dodgers made their ap-
pearance, strutting across the dia-
mond to their dugout, and the roar
that went up was something to
hear. The boos of the Yankee sup
porters and the cheers of the loyal
Flatbush fans were about evenly
divided
Joe Di Maggie was the first YAM
kee to pole one into the stands.
He caught one of Charley Stanceu's
fast ones and picked it properly as
the Dodgers looked on with respect.
Charley Keller of the Yankees
took his turn at the plate, hit a
couple of good ones and then trotted
to the outfield to shag flies. His
recently injured ankle appeared not
to be bothering him much, though
he did favor it slightly.
Di Maggie and Dolf Camilli, the
Dodgers slugging first baseman
were most in demand by the pho
tographers.
The Yankees used full staff of
four pitchers simply for their batting
practice licks. After Schultz, Cro-
setti and Stanceau, the highest
priced regular practice elbower in
the business, Paul Schreiber. served
them up. Keller accommodated all
but Schultz by knocking one out OF
the lot off each.
Durocher Wound Up.
Durocher was as wound up as
top when he arrived and had two
rapid arguments about his possible
starting pitcher before settling down
Living up to their theme as the
kids from the other side of the
tracks, the Dodgers had their bat
ting practice balls brought out In
big heavy bag and this was car
ried by Freddie Fitzsimmons, who
is regarded as a cinch to start at
least one game.
Even the thousands of confirmed
Brooklyn addicts on the upper shelf
Of stands had to cheer when Second
sacker Joe Gordon poked three ir
row into the left-field seats.
Yankee ofncials disclosed that
some 1000 of the faithful had beer
waiting to get into the ball park
as early as 6 am. These fans hao
been lined up four deep all along
the sidewalks outside of the un.
reserved and bleacher sections.
Yankees Leave Field.
The stands rocked as the Yanks
left the field and the Dodgers took
over the batting practice cage Be.
ing the boss, Manager Durocher was
first to take his cut. The pitcher
at the start was Luke Hamlin. the
hot-potato man with the boom.
boom ball. Jimmy Wasdell, who
followed Durocher into the cage
promptly picked a pair of Luke's
groove balls into the right-felc
seats.
The longest and loudest howl o1
all poured out of the stands wher
Camilli, the National League home.
run king, walloped two into the
right-field seats, both of them sharp
whistling liners.
BY 12:40 the sun was out in full
force, and only the first base line
was in shadow. BY the same time
the roofs of the apartment house.
out beyond the center field fence
were jammed with spectators, ane
the elevated station platform outside
Of left field had a couple of hundred
standees, who only had to pay S.
cent fare for the privilege.
A battery of some 200 photog.
raphers backed the rival managers
Durocher and Mccarthy, agains
the backstop screen and shot theil
pictures in various poses from shak.
ing hands to glaring at each other
Following Hamlin, Ed Albosta
rookie right-hander fresh up from
Dixie, took over the pitching chores
for the Dodger batting practice
Mickey Owen, Brooklyn catcher
greeted him with a clout into the
left-f1eld seats.
BY l pm. the bleacherS ane
upper stands were packed solid, ane
the mezzanine and lower stand.
were about three quarters full, anc
the place definitely took on tha'
traditional World Series color q.
the sun grew hotter.