Evening star., 1943-06-28
Gordon Appears
Swapping Out Of
Great Slump
Yonk Boosts Average
As Points in 4 Tits:
Races Unchanged
BY SID FEDER,
Associated Press SPORTS Writer


Don't look now. folks, but the
latest hospital reports indicate Joe
Gordon's long-ailing bat may be
about to sit up and take a little
nourishment again.
The patient still is pretty weak,
mind you, with hitting "tempera-
ture" of only 238 at the moment,
which means no visitors and plenty
Of sunshine still to come. But in the
last few days it's been showing that
there still are signs of life Topping
off the recovery" with four hits in
the twin bill the Yankees cut up
with the Red Sox yesterday-includ-
ing tWo-run homer that won the
opener for the Bombers-the Flash
has Clipped in with eight safe wal
lops in four games and pulled his
average up As points.
Now, this may not mean that the
slump which has been taking all the
shine off Joe since eariy last
September finally has responded to
medical treatment. But the fact
that he shows he still knows a bat
may be used for something besides
stirring up bathtub gin is heartening
at least.
Slump Hard to Explain.
It's been one of the worst slumps
In modern times, largely because
there didn't seem to be any reason
Tor 1t. In the World Series last fall
ne wasn't only the goat-he was the
whole sheep ranch. At the time
there was one story that the war
was affecting his play; that he wor.
REQ so much about where he could
MT into the picture that he lust
didn't give a rap about baseball.
And his awful antics have been
going on all through this spring IN
to now. At times it not only has
been evident in his stickwork, but
even in his fielding, which is like
saying he also stopped eating, be-
cause playing that middle base is
about as natural to Joe as tearing
into a steak.
But now he's on the wav again
and yesterday, with a single two
doubles. a homer and three runs
batted In, he was the head man OF
a big league party that popped up
with some Of the fanciest parlor
tricks of the year.
Ihere were such things, for in
stance, as Hurler HOWE Krist win.
nlng both ends of a double header
for the St Louis Cardinals: Cleve-
lanos Orls Hockett. who once
wanted to quit baseball climbing to
the top of the American League
oattlng pile, and the Cincinnati
Reds taking both ends of a double
Dill Tor the first time since last Sep
tember.
Races Remain UNCHANGED.
AS for the pennant chases hoth
leagues Just as we'll might have
stood IN bed, because the Yanks held
onto their 1a-game bulge in the
american League and the Cards
stayed half game in front in the
National.
Gordon's homer gave the Yanks
a 30 opener win over the Red Soy
but in the afterpiece Bobby Doerr
belted four-bagger to tie the score
and then knocked in the deciding
run with hit in the 18th after a
as decision. Meantime, Washing
IONS second-place Senators, after
taking the first game from the
Athletics, 80, blew the nightcap "a
The Cards clouted the Chicago
CUBS, 80. on Danny Litwhiler's two
homers, and 4-3 on a two-run rally
IN the eighth, with Krist taking both
verdlcts in relief roles. They had
10 DO 1t to stay in the drivers seat
because the cooled-off BROOKLYN
DoogerS got hot and failed the
Phlllies, o. and 60, with Rube
Melton serving up a three hitter for
the nightcap.
Reds Reach First Division.
Elmer Riddle tossed seven-hitter
and ancient Ray Starr and Joe Beeps
got together on a six-hitter az the
Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates
6-3 and 81, to move into the Ma
tlonal Leagues first division. The
Boston Braves bombed the New York
Giants, 10-l, with a seven-run sixth
inning spree in the opener. Then
Mel Otis Offers came back, 60. in
the second act behind JOHNNY
Wlttigs five-hit elbowing.
The Cleveland Indians whipped
the Chicago White Sox, 81, in their
opener, but Edgar Smith tossed a
four-hitter to give the Sox a 20
edge in the five-inning afterpiece.
The st. Louis Browns knocked over
the Detroit Tigers, 6-3, and the
Tigers came back, 9-5, in the night
cap, with Rudy York rifino +ro