The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-10
CINCY REDS MAY
BEAT BROOKLYN
FOR RUNNER-UP
United Press Baseball Ex-
pert Diagnoses Base
ball Race
Editors Note.

American League race and their
subsequent World Series victory.
His National League choice, the
Reds, ran third.
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY
UNITED Press STAFF Correspondent
New York, April 10-(UP)-The
glorious bumbs of Brooklyn have had
their day. They'll have to come down
off the National League throne this
season and make way for the st.
Louis Cardinals frisky, swash-
bucklng gang imbued with "they
can't lick us" spirit.
The Cards still think they had
the best ball club last season when
they trailed the Dodgers Z 10 games
despite an injury INK which deprived
them of their full strength for all
but five days Of the season. st. Louis
has a better ball club this season.
1t has speed, pitching, balance and
strong reserve strength.
If the Cardinals have any weak
ness, it's lack of long distance punch.
But they may not need that. To
overcome the loss of Mize and Pad
gett, the Cards have added speed
and consistency to their attack.
They have six 80 hitters in their
batting order. The Cards never won
a pennant with Mize playing rst,
and insiders think that they'll be
better off without him. The Cards
will open up with two rockies in the
regular lineup-Stan Musical in
left field and Ray Sanders at first.
If either fails, Johnny Hopp, who
hit 1903 last year, will take over.
HOpp Not Needed?
The tip-off on the strength OF
the Cards is the fact that they may
be able to keep a man as fast and
able as Hopp on the bench. The
Cards infield Is high class regard
less of who plays first. Crespi and
Marion, with years experience
under their belts, may be the lea
CUES best keystone combination.
But the Cards main strength lies
in their pitching. It is not only good
but it's deep. Cooper, Warneke,
White, Lanier, Pollet. Gumbert
Lohrman, Shoun and Krist repre-
sent one of the best all-round pitch
ing stats in baseball. With five
lefties on their staff, the Cards have
the best southpay group. Right
handler Mort Cooper, who had tc
take time out for an arm operation
last season, Is the man to watch
He looks like a sure 20-game win
ner.
Brooklyn may not be able to save
second place. The Reds, who
slumped from Worlds champs ir
1910 to their last season, are likely
to hit the comebacy trail and finish
second. Cincinnatis pitching still
must be rated baseballs best. Wal
tiers, Derringer, Wander Nicer, Rid
die, Thompson, Moore and the sur
prise veteran-rookie star, will put
the Reds up close,
Three other changes may help Gin
cinnati-Gerald Walker, bought
Cleveland, to play left field, Rollie
Hemsley behind the bat and rookie
Bert Haas from Columbus at third.
Walker and Haas figure to bolster
the feeble Reds attack. If wal
Goodman stages comeback in
right field, the Reds can be counted
serious contenderS.
The Dodgers will be far from
pushovers but already their good
luck charm SENS to have deserted
them. Dolf Camilli and Billy Her
man have just been treated at
Johns Hopkins Hospital for ailing
backs. Pete Reiser, National League
batting champion, has been re-clas-
sified Ia. Even partial loss of these
key men would hurt the Dodgers
plenty.
Brooklyn, although it still has ire
mendous hitting power. can't match
either Cincinnati or st. Louis in
pitching. -Four of the Dodgers
are old men, as pitchers go. Fitz-
simmons is Al, Johnny Allen So,
Curt Davis 35, and Larry French 81.
Any or all might go at the same
time. Even Whit Wyatt, who won
% games last season, is coming on
"a and might not be able to carry
the burden he did year ago. Kirby
Higbe's wildness this spring also has
been far from encouraging.
Not Much Advantage
In addition to Arky Vaughan from
the Pirates to play third has added
no more kick to the Dodger attack.
However, Joe Medwick's apparent
decline decline may offset the adj
vantage gained by Vaughan's pres
ence.
The Giants, who have looked hor-
rible this spring, aren't as bad as
the records indicate. In fact Mel
OFT, feeling his way in his new job,
has built the framework of fairly
good club. 1t may surprise, especial
ly If Fiddler Bill McGeen pitches
up to expectations and Hank Lei
Der and Johnny Mize hit well, and
battle Pittsburgh for fourth place.
The Pirates, with plenty Of power,
are nevertheless in the question
mark class. They have no stand
out pitcher and the left side of the
infield-with Pete CoScarart at
short and the converted outfielder
Bob Elliott at thirds definitely a
problem.
There seems little hope Of the
Cubs getting out of sixth place.
Neither their pitching or attack
looks any better. The Boston Braves
still have too many old men to be
more than an occasional annoyance.
The Phile viii finish last again
sure thing.