The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-12
BY JACK CUDDY

Limited Press StaIt COrFeSpOnuehCJ
 New York, September 12. = (UP) - This is the day on which the Cardinals and Dodgers tangle 1n hand to- hand combat to determine whether the St. Louis "experiment" team can draw even with the pen misunderstanding Dodgers, providing perhaps the most fascinating com petition of 1942 - at least ln base ball.
 If the Cards win they'll be ex- actly even with the Dodgers in the race for the National League flag. And they will become immediate favorites to take the pennant be- cause of their winning momentum, which, before today's contest had registered 28 victories in their last B contests.
 The Cardinals are SO confident Of victory today and in the remaining IA games that they already are saving, q wonder how much Bobo Newsom is figuring on getting for his second place split? No Cardinal, however, will permit himself to be quoted in this respect
 Nevertheless, Manager Billy Southworth of the Cards says, I'm pitching Max Lanier. He goes In regardless of whom the Dodgers start on the mound - be 1t Max Macon or anyone else.
 Talk to Cardinal players, for ex- ample. pitcher Mort Cooper, who blanked the Dodgers 80 yesterday in the first contest of the current two-game series the so-called "crucial' series. Cooper says, "the boys on our club are not thinking about the pennant. Manager Southworth has emphasized that we're not to think of anything put the game today, and that we must go out and win every game we play, regardless of the future or what today's victory may mean III the pennant chase. Every day Is a new ball game and to hell with the pennant."
 We asked Southworth about thls and he said, "Yes, that's true. 1vt got my boys concentrating on win ming today's game, every day. Nat urally I hope we win the pennant but I've thrust the flag asioe a' we tackle each game."
 Southworth wis tickled at yes terday's victory, in which pitcher Cooper yielded but three hits.-trl umph that cut the Dodgers lead t' one lone game. But Manager Southworth said Tt doesn't matter what happened yesterday, or what may happen 10 morrow. We've got to win today.
 Certainly we've been moving III with a great surge. During the pas few weeks we've cut the Dodge lead to one game. We've won 2S o our last 33 games. What is respons ible for that up-surge? Well, II | tell you.
 "When we started the season W had only two seasoned players a regular berths - Jimmy Brown an' Terry Moore. Some of the other had been U in the majors for on year or two, but they weren't sea soned like Dolf Camilli and Blll Herman of the Dodgers.
 "Because we started with a youn team, we lost much time and JOS :, valuable games early in the seasol while I was experimenting - tryln to fit the right Gug into the righ berth. In the past few weeks, l,v at last found the right jobs for tn right players, and we have been go ing to town. The team is clicKn from top to bottom. and will con tinue to click, I hope. It's youne fast stepping, hard hitting out fit that should go places, but IT making no predictions"
 Meanwhile, pitcher Cooper = hero of yesterdays engagement . said: "Our team is young tean but 1t has the finest spirit of an st. Louis club during the four year I've been with the Cards. It's a grea all-round team.
 But why ask me about that? AS me about the two hits and two TUT got yesterday. Even my wife an my fiye-year- -old boy = whom
 named after Lon Warneke -- calle up and congratulated me on m hitting, not on my pitching. Brothe at least I really believe I've leaTne to hit, and you won't believe it 2 cause my average Is on R par wit my hat, which is 8 size seven. would be the happlest moment my life # soushworth would onl announce inst I'm 10 be the club