Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-26
Yanks, Griffn1en
Hammer Dead
Sphere So|id|y
Dodgers Use of Old
Pellet Seen Illegal;
Cardinals Nip Reds
BY JUDSON BAILEY.


The major leagues are as con-
fused about the balata ball as
bunch of freshmen at the Junior
prom and perhaps it is a good thing
today is an open date so that every
body can take stock-of themselves
and OF the balls that are being used.
In games played at Brooklyn
against the Phillies last week end
leftover supply of last years balls
was used. the changeover being
made in the third inning of Satur-
days struggle. But other clubs in
both leagues still are using the new
1943 model even though all parties
concerned say it is dead.
The Herald Tribune in New York
raised the question today of whether
or not it was legal for the Dodgers
to use different ball from other
major league clubs and pointed out
that the National and American
Leagues were bound by agreement
to use exactly the same ball-dead,
alive or manned.
Another question beginning to
sprout in some peoples minds is
whether the lack of hitting in early
games should be blamed on the ball
at all, or whether it has simply
been that the hitters haven't sharp
ened their batting eyes.
Batters Stir Up Commotion.
Dead ball or not Washington's
Nationals made 10 hits and scored
II runs in the first game of a dou-
ble-header. They also scored five
runs on six hits in the nightcap to
sweep the bargain bill from the
Philadelphia Athletics. 1872 and SO.
Alex Carrasquel pitched two-hit ball
in the nightcap.
The New York Yankees also sue
ceeded in making II hits while
blasting the Boston Red Sox. IL, to
continue unbeaten in first place in
the American League. There was
one game in the National League in
Which 20 hits were made. 10 by each
team. as the Pittsburgh Pirates con-
quered the Chicago Cubs. 60.
All of these games were played
with the dead" ball and inasmuch
as the batters managed to stir up
quite commotion, there was room
for suspicion that maybe the rea-
son the st. Louis Cardinals and
Cincinnati Reds played another 10
game could be attributed to good
pitching or weak hitting-or both.
Yesterday it was Lefty Johnny
Wander Nicer who lost the decision
to Lefty Howard Pollet of the Cardi-
mails as the two Western rivals
grappled in their hitting vacuum at
Crosley Field. Wander Nicer. who
had won the 10 job in II innings
on opening day allowed just four
hits to Pollet's five, but in the fifth
inning Walker Cooper tripled and
came home on a squeeze bunt by
Buster Adams
Dodgers Finally Beaten.
The Reds received two other set
backs. Catcher Ray Mueller suf-
fered a split finger and Outfelde-
Mike Mccormick went home to visit
before being indicted.
The Dodgers were handed their
first licking, and the Phillies gained
their first victory, 80, as Rookie
Jack Kraus, former Brooklyn farm
hand. held Leo Durocher's handles to
SIX scattered hits Philadelphia S
scoring included Danny Litwhiler's
second homer of the new season.
Nate Andrews held the New York
Giants to seven hits as the Boston
Braves copied an 8-3 verdict with
five runs in the seventh and eighth
innings.
Detroit and Cleveland divided a
ouhle-header. both scores being Al.
In the first game Jim Bagbv hit a
tWo-run triple to help win his own
game although the Tribe was held
to three hits. Little Frank Over
mire's flve-hit chucking captured the
second game for the Tigers.
With George McQuinn hitting a
homer, the st. Louis Browns stopped
the Chicago White Sox, 81. in game
that had to be called after seven
innings. The second game of a
scheduled double bill was postponed