The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-05
BOSTON'S BOBBY DOERR A KEEN
 GORDON RIVAL
Red SOx SecOnd.Sacker Improved Greatly; Yanks
 CrOwding Leaders
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY

OC1er oay paSeDeu 1anS were asking if Joe Gordon, the Yankee pivot man, wasn't the greatest second baseman of all time but today the question simply was whether Cor don is the No. l second sacker in the American League.
 Little Bobby Doerr of the Boston Red Sox has moved up by leaps and bounds the past few days to challenge Gordon's claim to the roll as kingpin of second baSemen. Gordon, a world series hero, stArted out burning up the circuit and un- til he pulled a muscle in his back was clouting over 400.
 But Gordon has slumped back to .370 and Doerr, who got a slow start because of an injured back, Is now showing the way to all major league hitters with Q tremendous .467. Hit- ting and fielding like demon Doerr has played havoc with the league leading Cleveland Indians the past two days.
 'Hot" Stu1R
 Yesterday he slapped out 8 dou- ble and two singles for perfect 8 for 3" day at bat, drove in four runs as the Red Sox hauled down the Tribes banner for the second straight day, ,l1-S. He was 1lawlesS afeld, handling five chances per- fectly. On Sunday Doerr hit two singles and Q triple and was in- strumental in the Red Sox 8-4 tri- llmph which snapped Cleveland's 13-ganne winning streak.
 Doerr has hit safely in his last ten straight games and is tied for fourth place in runs batted in in his league with 18 although he's played in only 12 games.
 Joe Cronin, Red Sox pilot, dodges the Gordon-Doerr argument this way: T don't know who is the bet- ter ball player. Either one can play for me. Doerr is the ball players type of ball player. He's out there doing smooth dawless job every day. He's g great team man, as good as anybody on the double play pivot and a whizz on playing ground balls. And Doerr has made himself a great hitter by concentration and practice"
 It's hard to realize that Doerr is now playing his sixth year with the Red Sox and is only 24. He broke in with the Hollywood Pacific Coast League club when he was only 16 and reported to the Red Sox be- fore he'd reached 10. He is built compactly and is bigger than he looks.
 Lou Boots Two
 Doerr's hitting helped Heber New some rack up his fourth straight win although he had to have some relief aid from Tex Hughson at the finish. Lou Boudreau, Cleveland shortstop- pilot, made two errors.
 The Yankees poured 1t on the hapless White Sox again, 6-1, and moved within a game and q half of the lead. It was Chicago's 1lth loss in l2 starts. The Tigers kept on the Indians heels with 9 6-4 win over the Athletics behind rookie Charlie Fuchs who won his third game.
 Pittsburgh moved within half Q game of the Idle Dodgers by nosing out the Braves, 2-l, in Q pitchers duel Between Jim Tohin and Bob Klinger. Elbie Fletcher's ninth in- ming single drove in the winning run after Eddie Miller had made 6 costly error.
 Scoring l2 runs (within two of the record) in the fourth inning the Reds slapped down the Giants. lb-4, as Ray starr went the route. Three errors, four walks and six hits pro- dmced the big inning.
 YESTERDAYS HERO = Bobby Doerr, Red Sox second Daseman whose perfect day at bat with two singles and a double and three runs batted in helped Boston beat Cleye@ iawA Rnr kha gAe0nd Rkfaignk day,