The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-10
BY JACK CUDDY

United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York. October 10. = (UP) We have just deciphered a code mes sage from our Flatbush operative, No. I'll, whom we kittinishly call "old seven-come- eleven" His dis patch states that Branch Hickey definitely will be general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943, if the Gowanus Gamboliers have a general manager.
 Naturally, we do not know where old I'll got this information, but he has been correct consistently in the past, SO we'll string along with him.
 Conversations have reached the "pernt" where the Dodgers brass hats have decided to (D hire hymn singing Rickey as a replacement for Lieutenant Colonel Larry MacPhail, or CD operate without a general manager, letting the board of direc- tors do the general supervising. At least, that's what our agent says.
 Hickey Is "In"
 He adds, "and if you know this board of directors. you can bet right now that Rickey is in. These direc- tors are nice fellers personally, but they don't want to be bothered di- recting a ball club in wartime. Larry MacPhail found it so hard to gather the directors for meeting that he sometimes considered sending out the cops to bring them in. At times months would elapSe between meet ings. Meanwhile poor Larry would have to make transactions involv- ing thousands of dollars. Then he'd worry about those deals, fearing that he might have exceeded his author ity and that he'd be caught in the middle if anything backfired. Un- fortunately, the Dodgers must have a general manager"
 The Dodger directors figured on stalling as long as possible, due to the uncertainty of the game. our in- formant said. And then, If they couldn't get Ricket at reasonable salary, they figured on supervising the present set-up, which includes business manager Jack Collins, road secretary John MacoDnaid, farm di- rector Ted McGrew and manager Leo Durocher, unless Leo-the-Lip enters the Navy.
 If this information is true, 1t means that the directors favor Ric- key, the resigned vice president and general manager of the world cham pion Cardinals, over string of other candidates who were reported under consideration. These included road secretary MacoDnald; Mike Kelley, owner of the Minneapolis club; Earl Mann, president of the Atlanta club; George Weiss, director of the Yan- kee farm system; and Frank J. Shaughnessy, president of the inter national league.
 Won't Talk
 However, this much is certain - Hickey has been in New York con- ferring lengthily with the directors since the world series. Before he checked out of his hotel last night, apparently heading back to St. Louis, Hickey said, T can't discuss the sit- uation now, as my contract with st. Louis does not expire until January l."
 James Mulvey, vice-president of the Dodgers and apparently key man on the board of directors, admitted to reporters, i've couldn't give this job to anyone but an experienced baseball man."
 Well. 6l-year-old Hickey has had plenty of baseball experience. He has been a Cardinal official for 2b years. He originated the "farm sys- tenn" of using smaller clubs as il- cubators of talent, thus removing the necessity of going Into the major league market to buy players when needed. He Is considered the shrewd- est trader in the game.