The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-01
WYATT OR DAVIS.
 TO FACE CHAMPS. IN FIRST GAME.
Landis Puts Clamp on Arguments and Sailing;
 Ruffing Ready
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff COrrespondent)

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 New York, October 1. - (UP) - The five-star final, three-alarm fire, call-out- -the-reserve World Series between the mighty New York Yan. kees and Brooklyn's beautiful buns" - the rags to riches guys of baseball-opens today.
 As they say on the sidewalks or dear old Flatbush, it's every man for themSelf from now on. Be- tween the first pitch and the last out, 1t promises to be one Of the most bizarre battles in World Series annals.
 Experts pick the Yankees, but the Dodgers reign supreme in the hearts of the nations rooterS who will De in seventh heaven when the buns do right, and die thousand and one deaths when they falter. Never tn baseball history has one team had so man fanatical followers from Got ham to Podunk as this Brooklyn outfit led by "Lippy Leo" Durocher.
 When the strains of the Star Spanked Banner float through the october breeze at 1880 o'clock (EST) there are likely to be as many as 10000 fans damned into Yankee Stadium. With slightly over 4l,O0O reserved and box seats sold, another 28,000 - l4,o00 upper tier and l4,00O bleacher tickets were placed on sale this morning. If all are sold, which seems likely unless weather conditions interfere, the crowd will set a single game World Series rec- ord. The present record is 66,660 set in 6 Yankee Giant game in the 1886 series.
 Tanks 1925 and S-6
 Despite all the hoopla and hurrah for the "Bums," the Tanks remain firm betting favorites. Betting commissioners quote the Tanks i2-5 to win the series and 8-5 to win the opener. The Dodgers are l-2 for the series and 5.7 for the first game.
 Red Rufflng, veteran of five World Series, was nominated by Manager Joe Mccarthy to pitch the opener for the Yankees. Four times Rutf" ing has started the World Series for the Tanks and the only man ever to beat him was King Carl Hubbell, who did 1t in his prime in 1886. Now 37 and with l7 years Of pitching service in the American League behind him, Ruffing hasn't the blazing fast ball he once owned, but he's still a tough customer. He won IS games and lost six during the season but was worked sparingly by Manager Mccarthy to give him ample rest between starts.
 While Manager Mccarthy laid his cards on the table by announcing his regular lineup and his starting pitcher, Manager Durocher of the Dodgers injected an air of mystery Into the proceedings by refusing to name his starter.
 Davis To start?
 A few days ago everyone thought Whit wyatt, the drawing Georgian who won % games and pitched the pennant-clinching victory iI1 Bos" ton, would open. Now 1t may be any one of three - Wyatt, Curt Davis or Freddy Fitzsimmons.
 q don't know myself" Durocher said last night. All know Is it won't be Higbe. I'm considering Wyatt, Davis and Fitzsimmons."
 Those close to Durocher believe Curt Davis, the lean, anemic-l look ing righthander who, they say, has ice- water in his veins, will draw the all-important opening job. Davis throws a low, side-arm sinker and some of the heavy thinkers seem 10 believe this pitch will make trouble for the Yankees. It is @ fact that Davis was successful in pitching against the Yankees in the spring.
 Another reason for starting Davis Is the fact that If he's to pitch more than once in the series, he must start the opener. Davis couldn't come back without at least four days rest and that would mean the series would have to 90 six games. The Yankee supporters laugh at this possibility and say the series will be over before the 35-year old Davis can be wheeled into action again,
 But Durocher's secrecy about his starting pitcher may be nothing more than plot to keep Whit Wyatt from worrying. When It comes time to warm up "Lppy Leo" may toss 8 brand new white ball to Wyatt and say:
 Whit, you're my man to knock 'em down in this big game"
 So much for the starting pitch CTS. Both clubs held their final drills at Yankee Stadium yesterday. And the tipoff on the entire series might have been this little item = Only one Dodger (Joe Medwick) hit a ball into the stands during batting practice while the Tanks lombard ed 'em into the seats in both fields.
 The swaggering confidence of the Tanks was brought hom after prac- tice when they totally ignored the National League cohmpions. With