The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-27
Playing While III, Red Rolfe Shows Real Spirit Of Tanks
Quits Bench Give Club Pennant Life
BY BURTON BENJAMIN fNRA servlae stafr Corresponds

(NEA Service Staff Correspondent
 Chicago, July 27-Robert Abial Rolfe is your 100 per cent Yankee.
 Red Rolfe has the pride of the New Workers, the competitive ar- dor and hustle so typical of the team. His love of the game is so deeply ingrained he quit the invalid ranks, where the ravagesD of coitis had sent him, to play regularly again.
 Rolfe, like Joe Gordon, Charley Keller, Bill Dickey, Phil Rizzuto, Jerry Priddy, Alley Donald, Ernie Bonham and Spud Chandler, is 8 product of the Yankee chain. He has never been connected with any other organization. He is ac- customed to playing with win- ner and being well paid for 1t.
 He will hold out in the spring something of Yank tradition but once signed, he's all business. He would never run out on the club as Buddy Rosar did. He is thoroughly steeped in Yankee es- prit de corps.
 ROLFE WILL COACH YALE UNLESS HEALTH IMPROVES
 Soundly built = feet Il 1-2 inches, 175 pounds-the 33-year- old New Englander is back in har- ness for what may be his last whirl. Unless his health improves, he will accept a Yale coaching offer for next season.
 AIaxTy vnrkc YNI1Inknd PA1fa as soon as he had hung up his cap and gown and framed his Dart mouth diploma in 1881.
 One appearance as pinch-run- ner, and he was off for Albany of the Eastern League. Then two more preparatory years at New ark-the Yankees never rush a good prospect and his batting averages of .330 and 1926 brought him back to New York.
 He was shifted from shortstop to third base, played S9 games in 1884, has worked almost full schedule ever since. re has ap- peared in five world series, has a lifetime batting average of .296.
 The red heads health began to slide in 19L1. Doctors finally dia- gnosed his aflment as colitis. AL though he has vsiited a dozen specialists, the disease still saps his strength. It is questionable that he will be able to play regularly for the remainder of the season.
 Yet when he returned to the Yanke lineup, July 12, he provid- ed Che spark that set the club back into winning ways after a poor western swing. He hit five home runs, four on consecutive days, a triple, double and five singles in a little more than a week.
 ALWAYS SOMEONE TO
 PICK UP THE SLACK
 Despite his health, he is first on the field. last to leave. He still bunts artistically, pulls a long ball into right field His ability to hit behindT a runner makes him great num- Der two hitter.
 Rolfe's revival is typical of the Yankees. The team never collapses en masse.
 When Joe DiMaggio and Charley Keller were simply loud outs, Joe Gorden, who hit in 29 consecutive games, and Buddy Hassett, a so-so former National Leaguer, provided the punch.
 Frank Crosetti was marshalled to fill in for Rolfe at third base. He surpassed all expectations.
 When Bill Dickey was injured DiMaggio's hitting perked up. Kel- Ter and Tommy Heinrich began to blast. So did Phil RizZuto.
 HEMSLEY GOES BERSERK IN NEW MONKEY SUIT
 Rosar went AWOL. The Tanks signed Rollie Hemlsey. a piece of baseball driftwood. He proceeded to slap out Il hits in his first 20 times at bat and catch with all the fire a Yankee uniform seems to provide.
 Marius Ruso fell victim to an Hank Borowy to win 10 of his first ailing arm. Along come rookie II starts.
 Yet the Yankees credit Rolfe with providing the greatest boost
 Reds real ballplayer. sick or we'll beams Joe Mccarthy. "He further proved that last season when he played through the year although he was sick, and again in the world series. Most men would have been home in bed if they felt the way he did. Now he's doing 1t al over again.
 Once Yankee, always a Yam kee-he might have added.