The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-22
Today's Sport
 Parade
(Reg. U. s. Pat. On.) BY LACK CUDDY


United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, Dec. 22-(UP)-Suc. cess in sports, particularly baseball, can provide some talented athlete with extremely lucrative careers yet for Ted Lyons, Chicago White Sox righthanded pitching veteran, ex- ceptional ability brought hard luck -he was too capable for his own good.
 Lyons, 43, oldest pitcher in the major leagues, reports shortly to Quantico, Va. as first lieutenant in the marines. Although he left baseball with one of the greatest victory records in that sports long history, he was tied to a mediocre team by the very ableness of his own efforts.
 The amiable, good looking Scotch-Irishiman got an unlucky break the very day in 1923 that he stepped of the B.ylor university campus into the uniform of the White Sox. Tn 20 years of pitch ing for these doormatS of the American league he won 259 games, yet not once did his club finish in first place to provide him with the thrill that makes every baseball mans life complete-per rticipation in the world series.
 Lyons could have grumbled about the low card he drew in the dia- mond draw but he took bad hand and played 1t to the hilt. Official American league averages released today capped his superb career by making his 2.i0 earned run average the best in the league.
 Great Job
 Tn lS0 innings of pitching, he faced 68l batters-all this, while younger players than he had re- tired-won l, lost s4ix, gave up l67 hits, 42 earned runs out of a total of 52, allowed 26 bases on balls and famed 50.
 Superlatives grow scarce when it comes to describing the will to win that has made Lyons such year. in, year-out idol of baseball men.
 Perhaps @ remark made at chance argument in a recent dug out discussion can best Illustrate what We mean. The debate hinged on a theoretical game which would have had thousands of dollars hanging on the outcome with the selection of a pitcher coming from choice of the major league moundsInen, past and present.
 The immortal Iris Speaker shot his answer in the debate: "I'd pick Ted Lyons without a second thought. With him on the hill. l wouldn't have a thing to worry about. They don't come any tougher"
 Jimmy Dykes, manager of the White Sox, is another Lyons rooter and if cigar-smoking Jimmy can't recognize baseball talent, then mo- body can.
 My dream team-a squad of all- time wonders-would consist of nine guys like Lyons," Dykes says
 Only a short while ago, voluble, wise-cracking Jimmy received sev- eral complaints because he sent Ted to the hill regularly on Sum- day. Dykes had the perfect come- back.
 Wraps on
 Sunday is doubleheader day and I'll be alarmed if I don't think the folks in the stands want to see at east one good. well-pitched game. So I take the wraps of Teddy"
 Shred circumstance or a random nod from an ivory scout often dic- tete fame or oblivion for a baseball player. A scout misses his connec- tions and a boy in the bushes or on the campus is signed by an also- ran: an application to, let us say. the Yankees. or Red Sox goes astray, an da player winds up working for 8 club that never wins a pennant.
 You can beat around the bush with Lyons or ask him all the clever, subtle questions you like. sut .ile'li never moan about being a victim of fate. He said time and again that he never wanted to pitch for any other club but the White | Cox and repeats that after we win this war. he wants to come back again with the same club.
 There should always be spot at l Comiskey park for Lyons-if there isn't. brother, they'll have to answer to us.