The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-18
Three Indians
 Stopped DiMaggiO But Yankees Won
Smith, Bagby, Pitchers, Infielder Keltner Broke
 Up Hitting Streak
BY CHARLES P. MCMAHON United Press Staff Correspondent)

BY CHARLES P. MCMAHON United Press Staff Correspondent)
 Cleveland, Ohio, July IS. - (UP) = Three men stopped the great Joe DiMaggio last night in the presence of 67,46S persons conscious of being on-lookers while history was made.
 The gangling youth with the long nose and snapping eyes was in the course of compiling one of base balls most remarkable records. He had hit safely in 56 consecutive games, surpassing record so good it had stood for A years.
 Wee Willie Keller, its compiler, had hit hafetly in 43 consecutive. games. But Ty Cob, George Sis1er, Iris Speaker, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig all in that long success sion of immortals that came after hadn't been able to touch his rec ord until DfMaggio came along.
 Now, under the harsh, white lights bathing the playing field of the Cleveland Stadium, he was out to hit in his 47th game and most of the thousands in the packed stands were there to watch him do 1t, believing that no one could stop him - certainly not the aging pitcher, who had never amounted to much anyway, the Cleveland In- dians had put on the mound against him and his New York Yankees.
 Big Chance
 But Pitcher Al Smith had confi- dence in himself. This David pitted against Goliath had been @ Na- tional League cast-off only two years ago and his entire career had been one of half successes mingled with failures. Tonight he had been given the chance of stopping the hitter that no other pitcher in the American League including his team mate, Bobby Teller, had been able to stop. fN
 First inning, DiMaggio up. A fast ball, high and outside. DiMag- gio let it go for ball. Then u curve, breaking low over the outside corner. The superb supple body of DiMaggio swung, bat met ball with solid impact, and the ball hurtled into the infield at such a velocity that it was @ blurred streak to the on-lookers. The crowds roar was cut short, for third baSeman Ken Keltner stabbed>it back-handed and flung it to first. He was the first of the three who were to stop DiMaggio.
 Fourth inning, DiMaggio up. A fast ball, low and outside. Ball one. A fast ball over the outside corner. DiMaggio let it go by and the umpire cried, Strike" A few booS from the stands. A curve, breaking inside. Ball two. A screw ball, breaking over the outside cor- Ter. DiMaggio took a terrific swing, and the crowd roared. Strike two. A fast ball. He swung, fouled. old Al Smith was trying hard. His next, a curve, broke inside, and DiMaggio walked.
 Seventh inning, DiMaggiO up. The first pitch was a waist high curve and Di Maggie whacked 1t to Keltner who threw him out.
 Bowed Out
 The other Yanks fell on Smith in the next inning and he was taken out, but he was the second of the three who stopped DiMaggio.
 Eighth inning. Dl Maggie up. Out there on the mound vas Jim Bagby. IT., son of the great pitcher who pitched Cleveland to q pennant in 1920. q tail youth who he'd never been any great shakes. Smith had put three men on base. and here he was pitching to the great Die Maggie with the bases loaded. Fast ball. outside, ball one. Fast ball. inside. DiAlaggio foulad ll, 4 curve, breaking wide. Ball two. 4 fast ball and niAGagaio swung. It was a patheiieally weak GF0under which EaoFtst0p NeliGronu grabbed and snapped to tho Meeond haaQfsnla, starting a double plas.
 Fie WAa the slilfa 0f Che fhFee vie stopped plAaa&6i9.
 The Yankees Wn1 the hall game, nevertheless.