The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-05
TANKS DYNASTY
 RULES AMERICAN CIRCUIT AGAIN
Fifth Pennant in Six Years CIinChed in RecOrd.Win-
 ming Time
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY

BY GEORGE kkHkSEY
 United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, September 5. = (UP) = The Yankee dynasty rules the American League again after . one year interlude.
 Tn winning their fifth pennant in six years and their twelfth in his- tory, the Yankees were up to their old tricks. They set Q new recor6- clinching the pennant five days earlier than any other American League pennant winner. The old record was set by the 1886 Tanks who clinched then pennant on Sep- tember Q.
 Now the i94l Tanks would like te wipe out another record set by tl1'
 1886 Yanks-winning the pennanN by @ margin of i9 i-2 games. Witt Q 20-game lead the current Yankee club has an excellent chance to dc 1t.
 The clincher was a 6-S triumph over the Red Sox at Boston yester- day - Q dfab enough affair, eSpes cially since Manager Joe Mccarthy, Joe DiMaggia and Red Ruffing were in New York nursing variety of ailments.
 Even though the Tanks "big three" weren't on hand for the kill- ing, they had plenty to do with hoisting the Bronx bombers back on the American League throne. Joe Mccarthy did 6 magnificent Job of rebuilding and juggling the ls4I Tanks -- some critics think it's tho best managerial job turned in b. him since he took over the New York club in 1881. DiMaggio was the spear head of the Yankee attack through June and July when the Mccarthy men were practically unbeatable. Ruffing was the ace and stabilizer of a Yankee pitching staff that was considered the teams weakest point before the season opened.
 Although there's no campaign on to rank kthe current pennant winner with great Yankee teams of the past, the 194i Tanks have two things in common with their predecessors home run punch and ability to knock down their rivals.
 The Tanks have hit i38 homers. Charlie Keller is the leader with 8 followed by Joe DiMaggio' and Tommy Henrich 27 each and Joe Gordon 22. Earlier in the season when Cleveland was considered the Tanks main threat for the pen nant, the Bronx bombers became downright mean when they saw the Indians in the same ball park with them. The Tanks ability to rise to the occasion and sock the Indians probably had much to do with their transformation into a two-flsted, pcnnant-winning aggregation.
 Another attribute of the Yankees was their ability to make double plays. Their infield was shifted and re-shifted with at least two men playing every position, but the Tanks went right on making double plays. Thus far they've made l67, far more than any other club, and 20 away from the league standard set by Cleveland in 1928.
 The Tanks started feebly and were floundering around in fourth place when Joe Mccarthy shook up his lineup. He started with Joe Gordon at first and the two kid rockies, Gerry Priddy and Phil Rig zuto, around the Keystone sack. Priddy and Rizzuto were overawed by the big leagues and had to have relief. Gordon was moved back to second, Crosetu yanked off the bench and installed at short and Rookie Johnny Sturm placed at first.
 Joe DiMaggio started his fabulous hitting streak on May IS and he hit In 56 straight games for new rec ord. It set the Tanks on fire. They couldn't be stopped in June and July. When Al Smith and Jim Bog by finally held DiMaggio hitless on July 1T, the Tanks had a 7-game lead. From then on, 1t was just B breeze.
 Yankee pitching had quantity if not quality. The Tanks won't have B 20-gane winner but the Y have eight pitchers with percentages over SO ruffing with IA and s is the top winner followed by Gomez vita B and {.
 And last but far from least was the wonderful job of catching Bill Die key did after he was marked as washed up" as a. result of his loA decline.
 This may not be the best Yankee team ever put together but 1t does not have to apologize for the results t achieved.
 The average speed at Americas