The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-22
.RICKEY SIGNS TWO VETERANS FOR PROTECTION
Got Waner, COoney; Also Wanted Crabtree; ; SisIer
 New DOdger Scout
Ry PAUL sCHEFFREs

United Press Stan COrroepondent)
 New York, Jan. --(UP)--The Brooklyn Dodgers gained Q measure of security h the wartime major league player turmoil today with the addition of veteran outnelders Johnny Copney and Paul Waner, both previously released outright by the Boston Braves.
 Faced with a serious shortage ill playing talent, particularly in the outf1eld siuce Pete Reiser and rookie Tom Taturn have entered the Army and Dixie walker has sieni. fled his intention of quitting, Presi. dent Branch Hickey signed the two vbserans, sold first hasetIlal Babe pahlgren and hired four more scouts.
 equality becomes secondary, to quantity in these days of the draft" |" Hickey said in revealing the acquisi- ton of Wafler, 40-year-old veteran of 17 years in the majors, and Majors, and Cooney, who Is nearing 42 and came up to the big time in 1921. Rickey's four new scouts are wid Mathews, Charlottesville, Mo, for- ner Washington and Philadelphia Athletics outflelder; Bob Finch, for. iner athletic director at St. Louis University: Fresco Thompson, and George Sisler of St. Louis, former Brown star.
 Dahlgren was peddled to Indian.. apolis of the American Association but curiously enough, Rickey had no explanation why he and other clubs. despite the iI1anpower short. age, had waived the first baseman out of the majors.
 Wanted Crabtrce, Too
 Rickey admitted there had been lots of bidding" for Cooney and added that he also had tried to land the veteran Estel Crabtree, signed earlier in the week by Cincinnati, but the Reds got there first"
 T can't understand why the clubs are letting these players go with the Inanpower situation as acute as 1t is," Rickey said. '"rhey think they have plenty of players-I'tn not criticizlng them but I am try. ing to do what I think is best for Brooklyn.".
 A native of Cranston, R. l.. Cooney first landed in the majors in 1921, served with Brooklyn from 1885 to 1887 inclusive, and then went back to Boston. He participated In only 77 games last season, 64 in rightfield and g at first base, hit. ting POT.
 Waner, born in FIarrah, Okla, went to Brooklyn for Q short time started with Pittsburgh in 1928, in 194i and then to Boston. He took part in IA games last year, 94 in left field and the remainder in a pinch hitting role, hitting .266. During the 1942 campaign, he be- came the seventh player in major league history to reach the SOOO- hit mark.
 Expected to reveal something new about Manager Leo Durocher's draft status, Hickey said there twas nothing new" but announced that Tatum, Montreal outfielder expect ed to reach the Dodgers this year, was in the Army Signal Corps.
 Nine Scouts
 The four new scout additions boost the Dodgers ivory hunting staff to nine. The others are Ted McGrew, TTn Greeflwade of Wil- lard, Mo; Tom Downey. San Fran cisco, Dick Fisher of Buffalo, and Justin Fitzgerald, San Francisco. Hickey said they would cover all sand lots and colleges thoroughly in a system which may become more effective than the farm setup."
 Don't think please, that I've raided the Cardinal staR," Hickey said. T feel that these men were a definite personal organization of
 Hickey said the Dodgers would play Yale University at New Haven, April 6, in an exhibition game and that contests were being sought with the Army team.
 ''PrOtection"
 President Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers announced today that he had signed center fielder Johnny Cooney and right fielder Paul Waner, both released earlier this week by the Boston Braves.
 Cooney is q and Waner Is 40.
 we have to protect ourselves against 6 shortage of players" Hickey explained in announcing the signing of the veteran free agents.