The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-16
DERR|NCER ALSO. DEFEATED BY, ST.L0UIS CARDS
Brooklyn Saddest Town on Earth As Despised
 Giants Beat Wyatt
By GEORGE KIRKsEY


 United Press Stan CorrespOndent)
 New York, April 16-(UP)-The day-old baseball season was a jum- ble of surprises and shocks today. With Bullet Bob Teller, big Paul Derringer and Rufus the Red Ruff fling all licked on opening day, anything can happen during the next i53 games of the campaign.
 Lesson No. 1 of opening day was: Take nothing for granted in base ball. Manager Bill McKechnie of the world champion Cincinnati Reds, Manager Leo Durocher of the highly -touted Brooklyn Dodgers and Manager Bucky Harris of the Wash 1ngton Senators among others all would be justified in impressing that old baseball axion on their athletes.
 Indicator No. 1 on opening day was: Baseball is in for a record- breaking year at the box office. A total of 197,839 paid customers att tended the seven games (one was rained out) as compared to 83,902 for eight games last season., Cleve- land had the largest crowd, 46,064, an opening day record for that city.
 Feller's defeat was the days big gest shock. Last year on opening day Teller hurled the majors first opening day rlo-hit, rlo-run game. This year the White Sox drove him to cover, aided strongly by his own wildness, and beat the highly-re- garded Indians, 4-3. Teller walked seven, hit two others and allowed five hits in six innings. The Tribe trailed, Az, when he left the game. Bespectacled Bill Dietrich went the route for the White Sox, yielding seven hits.
 The Cardinals thumped Derringer soundly as they triumphed over the Reds, 7-3. Derringer was rapped for ten hits in seven things and left the game under fire in the eighth. Ernie Roy, Country Slaughter and Johnny Mize clouted homers, the latter two getting theirs with mate on base. Frank Mccormick hit two homers for the Reds.
 Saddest home town crowd was Brooklyn's 31 ,604 turnout. The merry Dodgers raised their hopes high by getting off to @ 40 lead against the Giants but they weic dashed in strong finish by the Terrymen.
 The Giants unlimbered on Whit Wyatt in the eighth and scored four runs, the rally being featured by new Giant Joe Orengo's double which drove in the tying and win- ming runs. Orengo also made a circus catch of a foul fly in the ninth, leaning over box full of Dodger fans to make the catch.
 Rookie Ace Adams did some neat eelief pitching to throttle the Dodgers in the last three frames.
 The Chicago Cubs got off to a fly ing start under their new pilot, Jimmy Wilson. With four rockies in the lineup the Cubs beat the Pirates, 7-4. Although painfully hurt by linedrive in the first in- ming, Claude Passeau went the route for the Cubs. Bill Nicholson's homer with two on did the damage. Rookie shortstop Lou Stringer made four errors and rookie outfielder Lou Novkoff went hitless.
 Cy Blanton pitched @ four-hitter as the Phillies beat the Bees, 7--6, but he had Q scare in the ninth when Eddie Miller hit a homer with two mates on. Nick Etten, Phils' rookie first baseman, hit 8 homer and three singles for a perfect day at bat.
 History repeated itself as Chubby Dean southpawed Philadelphia to a 3--l triumph over the Yankees and Red Rufiing. A year ago Dean beat Ruff1ng, 2-1, allowing only five hits, the same total he yielded yes- terday. Sam Chapman's 4l0-foot homer with a mate on in the sev- enth broke scoreless tie.
 Washington went into the ninth leading Boston, 6-4, but the Red Sox put on a three run rally which gave them & 7-6 victory. Danny MacFayden walked Joe Cronin with the bases loaded in the ninth, fore ing in the winning run. Cronin and Bobby Doerr hit homers, the latter with mate on.
 The American league champion Tigers were rained out of their de- but against the Browns at St. Louis.
 YESTERDAYS HERO-Bill Diet rich, bespectacled White Sox pitcher who o,lthurled the redoubtable Bob Teller, rated baseballs greatest y,ar,sva 4vSSaava lya nlx,i..r Fyl.i.a~. a