The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-22
Naugatuck Club Leads City League Race|
.dsgs Sgosg n.k
 < kT@&k
(Reg. U. s. Pat. Office) By JACK CUDDY


 United Press Stan COrrespOndent)
 New York, May 22--(UP)-west- ern clubs, paced by the Detroit | Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals, showed g S6-point advantage in strength over eastern major league teams in the seasons first phase of intersectional play, completed yes- terday.
 The eight western outfits won 57 and lost 53 games during east-west competition which opened May 10. Their average of .518 was .036 bet ter than the .482 registered by the eastern octet.
 A breakdown of the figures dis closes, however, that this slight advantage exists largely because of the superiority of the four western national circuit representatives - Cardinals, Reds, Pirates and Cubs lover eastern invaders. The story was different in the American league, where the four eastern de- lenders = Yankees, Senators, Red Sox and Athletics -proved generally superior to westerners.
 Eastern National Leaguers- Phil- lies, Giants, Braves and Dodgers averaged an unsuccessful road trip, losing 32 games while winning only p, for .407 Their showing was worse than that of the travelling western quartet - Browns, Tigers, Indians and White Sox - who dropped .31 while winning %, for .446.
 The Cardinals passed the National circulit during intersectional play with 9 wins and 5 losses; and they were ably supported by fellow vest erners: Pittsburgh (8-5); Cincinnati (8-6)l and Chicago (7-6). This con- trasted with the performance of western American league outfits. The Detroit Tigers made the best intersectional showing of any team in the majors, with 10-4, a trump hal tour that lifted them from last place to the fourth rung. However, none of the other American wester- ners played up to 500; their road records being: Browns (4-10); .In- dians (6-8); and White Sox (5-9).
 lone of the eastern American- circuit representatives did as well as the Tigers; but none of them dropped below 500 while defending. The Athletics, Red Sox and Yankees each won'8 and lost 6; while Wash ington broke even with and 2. Among eastern National leaguers. However, Boston's Braves were the only outfit to break even on the road. They hit 800 on the nose with 2 and '. Brooklyn skidded, with A. 10; while the Giants registered 5-7, and the Phillies 6.8.
 This quartet of eastern National leaguers had an unsuccessful road trip although their total of hits was 524 against 493 for the superior westerners, who made their safeties count. The situation was more nor- nal in the American division, where the superior customers out-hit the visiting westerners, 523 to 516.
 The second phase of intersectional play begins Wednesday, with vest ern National teams invading the east, and eastern American clubs touring the west Meanwhile the Giants will sandwich in a game at Brooklyn tomorrow night.
 The weather warmed during the first period of intersectional compe- tition, and games were well ate tendance, thanks to night ball, drawing 164,360 fans to 12 home stands that included two double headers. fl The Athletics were second with 150,127 at 12 home stands. including two doubleheaders, ex- actly the same program with which the Yankees drey 147, ,237. Pittsburgh led the National circuit with 107, ,834 at II home stands. including two doubleheaders.