The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-05-15
(Reg. U. S. Pat. Off,
BY JACK GUENTHER

United Press STAFF Correspondent
New York, May 15.-(UP)-What
promises to be one Of the most
hetieally hilarious series of the Ma
tional league season Is now in
progress at that hilariously hectic
baseball sanctum, EbbetS Field. The
Pittsburgh Pirates are embroiled
with the Brooklyn Dodgers and
their joint activities represent an
inspired blend of melodrama and
low comedy.
The melodrama is provided by
the fact that these two teams are
heading the pennant chase. 1t is
no surprise that Brooklyn is at the
head of the class. The strength Of
the Buns is acknowledged even in
St. Louis. Pittsburgh, however, Is
sort of an unlimited guest. Al
though they have little claim to the
position, the Pirates are holding
second place.
This fact dovetails nicely with
the slapstick elements of the 5tua-
ton. The reason the Bold Buccos
are holding up is four-fold. 1t is
composed of. your friends and mine,
Brothers Phelps, Wasdell, Coscarart
and Hamlin. These renegade Dodg-
ers were traded to Pittsburgh for
Arkie Vaughan and they are i'm
bued with a holy zeal to show UP
Larry MacPhail as sucker.
Ex-DOdgers Shine
They can do this rather neat
trick by punching the ears off their
former mates at every opportunity.
They tried this yesterday and al
though they failed, the defeat GER
tainly wasn't their fault. The Flat
bush faithful laughed when Oscar
art, Phelps and Wasdeu went out
to play but many a grin was frozen
before the afternoon was over.
Although Brooklyn won the first
of the three games, IA, the ex-
Buns gave the flock a thorough
past!ng. Coecarart hit a single and
was party to two double-plays.
Wasdell bombed out two doubles
that rocked MacPhail to his spine.
Phelps did even better. The re-
formed blimp, batting in the clean
up spot, hit a double, a homer and
drove in two runs.
After this lethal demonstration
had been duly surveyed by the
chagined Bum rooters, the reason
for the quite unusual silence of the
four renegades became apparent.
All four of the former Dodgers re-
fused to voice their laments to sport
writer's when they arrived In town,
but they proved rather convincing
ly that their actions speak louder
than words.
With Coscarart and WasdelI in
stalled in regular positions In the
Pirate llne-up and Phelps sharing
the catching burdens with Al Lopez
who used to be a Dodger, too
the Pittsburgh entry has shown an
amazing inclination TO cling DO the
upper strata, How long the Pirates
VIII remain aloft nobody knows. The
point is, they are there now.
They are there because although
the material Is weak the spirit Is
willing. Frank Frisch Is famed for
his fireseating. Under him players
may lose but the players always
hustle, The Pirates are hustling
now, The change In their habits
during the last few years Is obvious,
They din't just scramble like school,
boys, They have q measure OF polse,
The p0ise Is the product OF many
things, E'rlsch transformed Bob El-
lott from an outfieldeF into O third
baseman TO settle on Irritating in
fleld problem and TO make room
for IWagdell. Both experiments
worked out nicely. Then Phelps
proved himself almost q new man.
Along with Wasdell, he has added
substantial power 10 the attack.
Not So Bn1
To date, the Pirates have been
fairly lucky. on paper the D. Ell ING
Is Week, yct On 10, oCcae..-., .iie