Evening star., 1943-10-04
New York 7-10Choice
With Fans Pop-Eyed
On Eve Of Classic
BY SID FEEDER,
Associated Press Sports Write

sand more fish" jammed themselves
into Pa Knickerbockers Sardine can
today and everything was about
ready for the World Series-except
how to get tickets, where to sleep
and what was cooking with Mort
Cooper,s ailing arm.
The village really was hopping and
popping for this return bout between
the New York Yankees and the St.
Louis Cardinals starting tomorrow
at the stadium. And with the Yanks
installed as 7-to-10 favorites to win
back the world championship the
st. Louis swifties took from them
last year, the big question was
whether Mort and his mysterious
sore arm or Lefty Max Lanier and
his fork-side f1ipper would tangle
with Spud Chandler on opening day,
provided Spud got Marse Joe Nc
Carthy's expected call.
1t was New Year eve on every
street and the hotels. night clubs
and restaurants were hitting nothing
but iackpots as indications were the
first three games, all in New York,
may he the fanciest financial fuses
in series history. AS a matter OF
fact. it was lucky the Cards had
hotel reservations for their arrival
lotn this afternoon, because they'd
hordly like the benches in Central
Fark. Those were about the only
accommodat ations left.
Game Gate Record Looms.
There was more than an outside
chance the stadium cash registers
would play their first sellout tune
for a fall classic. Gus Fan and
the missus and some 10000 of their
relatives would turn out for the
opening, thereby wiping out the
69,902 single-game attendance rec
ord which these same two outfits
drew for their Sunday game a year
ago.
Pasteboards were as scarce as soda
shops on the Sahara and it was
strictly bank night for the ticket
scalpers.
Although the Yanks were sup
posed to have weaker team than
last year, with Joe Di Maggie and
Phil Rizzuto and Red Ruffing off
to war, the gambling guys boosted
the betting price notch in their
favor over the week end. These
betting boys are the kind Of fellows
who usually do business with black
ink and the chances are they have
been influenced by the Bombers'
power hitting and the way the Yam
kee varsity Fingers have been siz-
Zllng the last few weeks.
Hank BoroWy was riding a six
game winning streak as the season
ended; Chandler posted the lowest
earned-run average in 20 years ard
Marius Russo, Ernie Bonham and
Charley Wensloff all wound up with
some OF their better Tipping.
Card Pitching Is Problem.
In this respect, Billy Southworth
was bringing quiz program in with
him. For the past few weeks. Coop
er's arm has been acting up although
no one has said he won't be ready
come opening day.
This development, or the fact
that Morris been belted out four
times by American Leaguers-twice
in last years series and twice in all
star games-has led to a definite
indication that Billy the Kid may
put the finger on Lanier for the
first game. Following up the top two
probably will be a couple more
lefties, Alpha Brazle and Harry
Brecheen, partly to cope with the
Yanks' left-handed hitting strength
but mostly because they're better
than anyone else in the Card bull
pen.
On the artillery side, the Cards
have Stan Musial, National League
batting boss with a 1851 season av-
erage, as we'll as all the running
tricks t!,ov worked so handily in
last years set Against this, the
Yanks 60 into the series with 100
homers for the season for the 10Th
year in row, and their old-time
handy habit of breaking loose and
knocking the roof in on a pitcher
any time.
Left-handed hurting has been
troublesome to them this year, but
not enough to make. them whip out
the crying towel. And while the St.
Louis larrupers outhit them by 25
points as club this season, the up
town thumpers still are the games
pest run making machine.