The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-27
Cards "Neuer Know When They're Licked"
rdon Miscast As Priddy And Rizzuto Disappoint
Tanks Trying
 To Make Deal For Joe Kuhel

New York, May T-Only Joseph Vincent McCarthy's obStinacy kept Gerald Priddy on second base and Joe Gordon on first as the proud Yankees sank to the brink of the second division.
 That and the fact that Johnny Sturm, the New Workers only other first Sacker, packed less punch than Ken Overlin.
 It was Joe Mccarthy who con- ceived the idea of switching Cor don, the games top second base man, to first base and there were indications that baseball's most suc- cessful manager disliked to admit 1t was all a mistake.
 The first sign that Mccarthy wasn't precisely in paroxysms of glee over the situation came in a report that the Yankees hoped to land Joe Kuhel of the White Sox.
 Since early in the training sea- son, Jimmy Dykes has fancied Phil Cavarretta of the Cubs as 8 first baseman.
 If he could land Cavarretta, Kuhel would be available as trad ing material, and Dykes wouldn't object to being given Q free hand with lasso among young New York pitches.
 Meanwhile, as veteran players expressed 1t, Gerry priddy was beat- ing his brains out by being forced to stick in the thick of the fighting, and Phil Rizzuto would have bene- fited from the steadying influence of the brilliant Gordon alongside him.
 GORDON HAD TO BE BENCHED AS RECRUIT SECOND SACKER
 Some believed a rest would straighten Priddy out. He needed time in which to collect himself.
 As are all youngsters breaking in, Priddy and Little Scooter Rizzuto were oyeranxious.
 Gordon couldn't hit when he came tip in 1888.
 Mccarthy used his collision with Joe DiMaggio as an excuse to bench the widely ballyhooed Gordon. No one knew the flying oregonian when he returned to tho lineup.
 Priddy got of on the wrong foot,
 The muddy blond wasn't hitting, and this apparently affected his work in the field.
 It is lncongrouS, however, that an athlete who was the key man in a Kansas City inficld, which established an all-time baseball record by making 1e3 double plays should appear to know 50 little about playing second base in major league style.
 Priddy made wrong moves, and hits trickled through. He failed to cover the bag when he should.
 Mccarthy actually held secret practice to school the Los Angeles lad.
 And an inSurmountable Priddy handicap was lack Or speed afoot. PUTTING GORDON ON FIRST LIKE HOBBLINo WHIRLAWAY
 Rizutto and Priddy cor tinued to make double Killings.
 The Yankees show the way in both big wheels in that department with considerable to spare.
 But Rizzuto and Priddy at times seemed to have no notion of how to prevent the baserunner from breaking Up Q double play. Big Ray Mack Of Cleveland, for example twice practically knocked the dim. inutive shortstop into the left tielc stands.
 Rizzuto and Priddy Tipped the ball around to retire old men art kids in the American Association but 1t was an altogether different proposition when they were Up a. gainSt swift and smart runners.
 Rizzuto stopped hitting and coult have a stronger arm.
 When the infieid became litter! and there were bad throws, Cor don gave an excellent imitation o playing first base in q straitjacket.
 It was then that close obscry CTS wondered If Mccarthy didn' wish he had Babe Dahleren back.
 Gordon, the irStinctive ball play CT, used to and capable of goinl magnificent distances, was likel to run out of a play at first bas at any time.
 Putting Joe Gordon on first baS was like hobbllng Whirlaway. |