The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-22
PIRATES LIKELY TO ADD FIGHT FOR NIL. GROWN
Deb Garms Will Be Out- fielder, HandIey on
 Third
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY

United Press Staff COrrespOndent)
 New York, Jan. 22.-(UP)-The Pittsburgh Pirate scame a long way in one season under Frankie Frisch. For years they were the village cut- ups. the boys who could play ball would rather have fun, but Frisch changed all that last season. He converted them into hustling, scrapping outfit and brough them up from sixth place to fourth.
 The Pirates may continue to im- prove ir1 1941 but the going is likely to be a lot tougher. The club is de- fensively unsound and the pitching isn't too classy. But the Pirates can sock. They led the National League in hitting last season, but were the leagues worst fielders, making 216 errors.
 Outside of the pitching staff Frisch has his club pretty well set. Third base isn't settled because the Pitts burgh roster shows Deb Garms, Na- tional League batting champ, who finished the season at the hot corner listed as an outfielder. That means that Lee Handley is likely to go back to third, where he played 30 games last season before losing his job to Garms.
 The rest of the infield will be El- bic Fletcher at first, Frankie Gus tine at second and Arky Vaughan at short. Gustine, who made good last season as a 20-year-old rookie, should continue to improve and tighten up the Pirates inner de- fense. Ali Anderson, rookie Short- stop who hit .351 for Atlanta, and Stu Martin, bought from the Cards, are likely to do the utility chores. Ace Parker, the pro football star who broke his leg while playing short for Syracuse last season, is on the roster but may forsake a major league career to continue with the Brooklyn Football Dodgers.
 Pittsburgh's young outf1eld of Maurice Van Robays in left, Vince DiMaggio in center and Bob Elliott in right is likely to be an even bet ter trio in 1941. They all can sock DiMaggio, who is one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, showed marked improvement last season in correcting his batting weakness. If Garms shifts to the outfield, he is likely to have to ride the bench unless he can oust Van Robays from his job. Best of the rookie outfelders appear to be Ed die Stewart, who hit .32O for San Diego, and Floyd Yount, back up from Little Rock where he hit PTS.
 The best pitcher on the Pittsburgh staff last season was Rip Sewell, who won 16 and lost 5, and he's likely to be top man again. He should get the most help from Joe Bowman, Mace Brown, Max Butch CT, Dick Lanahan, John Lanning and Ken Heintzelman, all from last years staff. Heintzelman, young southpaw, looks like the best com CT. Russ Bauers is still a question mark. John Gee. last years $35 ,0OO rookie who was the flop of the year because of arm trouble, will be back trying to regain his form after re- maining inactive and taking treat ments.
 Seven rookie pitchers arc listed but only one of them, Jay Wilkie, a southpaw from Seattle, won more than half his games. Wilkie won 13 and lost 5, Oadis Swigart, who won g and lost g at Syracuse and report ed last last season, is probably the brightest prospect among the others who include Dick Conger from Beaumont. Elmer Rambert, Bill Clemenson and Lloyd Dietz from Syracuse and John Copple from Harrisburg.
 The Pirates catching staff is tou-notch, with Al Lopez recovered from injuries and ready to catch 100 games. Theren be quite battle among young Joe Schultz, who hit 1925 for Portland, Ray Mueller, who hit 240 for Rochester, and Eddie Fernandez, who joined the Pirates last season from Portland, for the No. 2 job. The veteran Virgil Davis, still one of the leagues best hitters, probably will perform as a third stringer.
 Tomorrow: The New York Giants).