The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-07-20
(Reg. U. S. Pat. OFF,
BY OSCAR FRALEY

United Press Staff Correspondent
New York, July 2O-(UP)-He was
a little Italian boy from San Fran
cisco, kid with eyes as big as sauc-
ers who was awed by murderer's row
when they brought him up to the
New York Yankees in 1892.
The men of murderer's row even
then were baseball legends Ruth,
Gehrig, Lazzeri, Dickey, Pipgras,
Pennock, Gomez, Ruffing, Hoag
| Coombs and SeWell. And the kid
from the coast, Frank Peter Joseph
Crosetti, trembled at the thought OF
his own audacity in even attempt
ing to play with them
But the kid clicked. He didn't
swing the heavy bat that made most
of those Yankees famous, but he
was peppery guy, with knack for
place hitting, and smooth fielder
who rapidly became one of the most
important defensive cogs in the
Yankee machine. With Crosetti at
shortstop, that machine became a
juggernaut.
The double-play combination of
Crosetti, Lazzeri and Gehrig paced
the Bronx bombers to the first of
seven pennants which the laughing
little Italian was to help the Yam
KEGS win. He played ll6 games in
his first year and was in the thick
of it as the Yanks won four straight
to take the 1882 World Series.
Then followed three bleak years
as the club came apart at the seams,
but when it hit its stride again
Crosetti was still at short. There
were new names then--DiMaggio,
Selkirk and Rolfe--and for four
straight years they swept all before
them. During this period, the kid
from Frisco was at his peak, He set
a record for shortstops' double plays
in 1938--the year Lazzeri fell by the
wayside- and was the leading short
fielder in the league in 1882 when
the beloved Gehrig took himself out
of the lineup after playing more
consecutive games than any man
in baseball history.
Lost His Job
frankie, an older end wiser Gro
Setti now, played 1A5 games in 1910
when Detroit nosed out the Yankees.
But 194l was a different story. An
other understood italian boy, Scoot-
er Rizzuto, had come into the YAM
kee fold anu Crosetti watched this
youngSter with the fire and dash
of the old Crosetti take the pob that
had been his all those golden years,
The club won the pennant and Gro
setti huddled on the bench through
out a victorious World Series as the
newcomer handled the spot between
second and third.
Last year was a REPETITION. Frankie
was used only sparingly. Except Tor
one game, he sat helpless and hum
Hated on the bench as the Young
st. Louis Cardinals romped over his
team to win the world champion
ship.
This year the Yanks were regard
ed as a bunch of guys named Joe,
Most of the stars had gone into the
service. including Rizzuto. but still
the kid from Frisco--a veteran now
was held in the dugout as other
youngsters received their chance.
Somehow the club stepped in front
in the American League race only
to find its advantage slaShed to a
game and a half on July 3.
1t was then that Crosetti was call
ed back to shortstop. and his per-
Torrance since then has revived
memories of the boy with the saucer
eyes who became part of a legend
in 1882. Since he came back, the
club has won 10 of 16 games, includ-
ing the last seven in row, to | post
its lead to five and one-half games.
Only Crosetti and Dickey remain
of those swashbuckling Yankees OF
old those hard-hitting, happy-go-
lucky guys from murderer's row.
They may not be around much
longer but, IS the kid from Frisco
explains: Wen try to give them
something to remember us by"
And, somehow, you know they will.