The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-07
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff CorrespOndentl

New York, Jan. 7.-UP)-The re- conditioned New York Yankees will be the team to beat in the 1941 American league pennant race.
 In gearing the Tanks for the drive to regain their lost laurelS, the accent will be heavily on youth. Ed Barrow, president of the Tanks, has been cleaning house during the winter, getting the club streamlined so that Manager Joe Mccarthy can patch up the weak spots with young sters developed on the Yankee farm clubs at Newark and Kansas City.
 Fifteen of the 3 players on the Yankee roster are newcomers. Als ready five veterans have been cut loose. Monte Pearson was sold to the Reds. Bump Hadley was ped- dled to the Giants. Jake Powell was shipped to San Francisco. Billy Knickedbocker was traded to the White Sox for Ken Silvestri, reserve catcher. Arndt Jorgens retired. Other Tanks are likely to go before the season opens April 1.
 Mccarthy will have his hands full rebuilding the Yanuks despite the fact thatt he rookie crop coming up appears unusually bright. Very few Yanks are certain of their jobs, and the competition should be keen for almost every spot except Joe Dl- Magg.o's center field berth.
 No one will recognize the Yan. kee infield next summer There is a chance that every spot may be manned by somebody besides the 1940 regular Babe Dahlgren will have to compete with John Strum. who hit .312 for Kansas City, at first and then there's chance that Tommy Heinrich might be brought in from the outfield to take over the initial sack.
 One of McCarthy's biggest prob. lens will be deciding whether to break up the Kansas City kid iIl- field combination of Gerry Priddy and Phil R.zzuto. Rizzuto, a dim inutive shortstop who hit BAT for Kansas City, appears certain to play ;hortstop, but Priddy's future seems l in doubt. He may be moved to third or again Joe Gordon, an es- ! tablished star at second, may be | transferred to third. Red Rolfe, who took a terrific nose dive last Sea- son, vii try to retain his third base job but that may not be possible in the face of keen rivalry. Frank Crosetti is likely to be the clubs utility infielder.
 The probable outfield lineup will be Charlie Keller in left, D1Maggio in center, and Henrich in right. However, this lineup may be altered by shifting Heinrich to first Tommy Holmes, a fine all-around ball player who hit .317 for Newark, is going to make strong bid for an out field job and if he makes godo, he may force the Heinrich shift. George Selkirk and Mike Cratak will be the utility outfielders.
 Ruffing Slipping?
 The pitching staff is going to get good overhaul.ng. Red Ruffing is no longer the ace. That spot may now go to Marius Russo, the south paw who is headed for big things. Lefty Gomez has to prove he can pitch to stick Ernie Bonham, Mar win Breuer and Alley Donald are likely to get regular pitching jobs in the next Setup.
 Nine of the 18 pitchers on the roster are newcomers. Kansas City is sending up three great prospects in Charlie Stanceau, who won b and lost 8; John Lindell, who won IS and lost T; and Don Hendrickson, who won Is and lost T. From New ark will come Steve Peck, who won 14 and lost 4; George Washburn, who won 18 and lost 8; Red Branch, who won 15 and lost g; George Bar lev, who won IS and lost 8: and AL len Gettel, who won and lost 5. Rinado Aridizoia who won 15 and lost 20 for Hollywood, rounds out the greatest bunch of rookie pitch CTS any club has brought up ID years.
 Washburn, Stanceau, Hendrickson and Branch seem most likely to stick. They all have Yankee build biz and tall-and nave a compete repertoire of pitching tricks. ! Brl Dickey will have to stage a comeback to keep Buddy Rosar from taking over his first-string catching
 job. It's unlikely that Dickey will keep intact his record of having 100 or more games for 12 straight years. | Silyestri from the White Sox will be the third string man.