The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
GIANTS.SLOWLY FALLING APART
 AS CONTENDERS
Once Famous New York Club Has Grown Old With
 HubbeIl, Ott, Terry
BY GEoRGE KIRKsEY

United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, Jan. 23-(UP)-The New York Giants have been slowly disintegrating since they won two straight pennantS in 1886 and 1887. They were third in 1888, Fifth in 1889 and sixth in 194O.
 Bill Terry's stabs at rebuilding the Giants have been something less than vigorous. The club has grown old with Carl Hubbell and Mel Ott and Terry hasn't been able to de- velop or find new blood to revive the glory of the McGraw era. Once the dominant club in New York, the Giants now play third fiddle to the Yankees and Dodgers
 AS presently constituted the Giants do not look any part of contender. However, it doesn't seem likely they'll be quite as bad as they were last season when they plunged to percentage of .474 and finished 27 1-2 games behind the Reds
 The Giants have made some at- temptS to patch up their club but none of their deals can be termed a major move designed to win a pennant They bought Pitcher Joe Bowman and Infielder Joe Orengo from the Cardinals, purchased Out fielder Morrie Arnovich from the Reds, bought Pitcher Bump Hadley at the waiver price from the Tanks and signed Gabby Hartnett, ex-cub manager, as player coach. In clear ing house, the Giants sent Tony Cuccinello to Jersey City, lily Van- denburg to the Cardinals, and Roy Joiner and John Dickshot to Holly wood.
 The strongest feature of the Giants is their catching staff, with Harry Danning, who caught 140 games last season, one of baseball's s top receivers. Ken O'Dea is good No. 2 man and Rae Blaemire, up from Jersey City, is a competent maskman but & weak hitter. The 40-year old Hartnett will be kept on the available list.
 Hal Schumacher and Carl Hub bell were the Giants aces last sea- son, and it looks like they'll have to fill those roles again. Schumacher an unlucky pitcher. deserved a bet ter record last season than 13 and 13. Hubbel's record was II and 12. He's good only with ample rest. Oth- CTS returning from last years staff are Bill Johrman, Cliff Melton, Harry Gumbert, Paul Dean, Walter Brown, and Jim Lynn.
 Bowman, who won 2 and lost for the Cards last season, is counted on to be a regular. He'll at least help keep the Giant -Dodger feud burning because of his beaning of Medw1ck last summer. Hadley, cast off by the Tanks, is calculated to be the No. 1 relief man. The young crop doesn't promise a lot. Bob Carpenter, who came up late last season from Knoxville with a 13 and Is record and won two games for the Giants, is perhaps the best of six rockies. Ace Adams, who won B and lost 5 for Knoxville, is con- ceded a chance to hang on.
 The infield is 8 problem except at first where Babe Young made the grade successfully last season and AS0 C1AC 11dllGo III Iu11S OdtISU Ill with 101. Burgess Whitehead is likely to play second Much depends on whether Billy Jurges had com pletely recovered from the ill ef- fleets of last summers beaning and can play 154 games at short. If Jurges can't go at top speed, it'll be a crusching blow to the Giants. Orengo is expected to play third. Nick Witek, Lou Chiozza, George Myatt and Johnny Mccarthy will compete for the utility jobs.
 The Giants outfield plans revolve around Johnny Fucker, the speed boy, making good in center. After a miserable start last season, Rucker began to look like ball player to- ward the end. Arnovich was bought for left field but may be lost to the army by June 1. In that case, it'll be Joe Moore or Frank Demaree ill left. Ott is sure of his job in right. Jimmy Maynard, rookie from Richmond, showed some possibilities when he came up late last season.