The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-27
tReg. U. s. Pat. oflce) By JACK CUDDY

0S sA(A GOgOA
 Limited Press Stan COrrespOndentl
 New York. July 27-(UP)-The case of Fritz ostermueller - cause celebre of those who wish to union- ize baseball players-gained strength last night as the s6-year-old south- paw was credited with his sixth vic- tory with the Pittsburgh Pirates, against two defeats,
 Lean Fritz. whom Branch Hickey of the gasping Brooklyn Dodgers tried to ride out of the major leagues on the waiver rail, added another bullet to the interested c, l. O's ammunition as the Pirates regained second place in the Na- tional league flag race with a 6-5 victory over the New York Giants.
 Although Ostermueller, now in his 10th season of major league play, was removed in the ninth inning, he earned the victory with which he was credited despite poor lield- ing support. Third Baseman Bob Elliott, for example, made three costly errors; and Buddy Kerrs home run in the eighth took a ques- tionahle bounce right over Jim Russelfs head.
 Regardless Of Manager Mel 0tts stormy but futile protest against the final out of Phil Weintrauh who claimed that the pitch had hit his foot instead Of the bat, OsteFmuel- leE was credited with his sixth Pittsburgh victory since Joining the G0rsalFs in early June-slK Viet0r- ies that the tail-end Dodgers could have used like eanteens of ice water for . parehed and expiring pFos- peetoF in Death Valley,
 President Riekey of the bomb- shelter Dodgers made use of the gF0tesque and to0thless waiver clause to get rid Of 0steFmueller on June l, just five weeks before Yet eFan Fritz to have become a "ten- year man iD the naaj0rs--a distines ton that would have prevented his being sent back to the minors, eg, eept as R free agent who could make his own terms and demand his own bonus foY signing with Q fNlflof eluu,
 0steFmuelleP and Pitcher Bill L0hFmaD were waived out of the National league and sent to 6yra- ellsa by Hickey ln exchange for Out- lielder Rosen, osteTmuelleg refused 10 report at Syracuse Immediately, Frankie PFiseh, shTewd pilot of the Pirates, negotiated with Leo Miller, RhFeWd general manager Of the Syracuse club, who sold Tebellious osteFmuelleF to the Pirates for 8 reported slb-s00 instead of the ST. 800 waiver price,
 At that time, Rlekey's attempt to railroad 0steTmueller out of the m@JoFs-just i've weeks before he became a i0syeaF maDu-eaused jnv alenatlan among most players in 0FganlFed ball, 0steFmnelleP had the courage to telephone Commissioner Lands, eyplalniDg hls refusal to report to Syracuse, Lands, we m. geFsteNd, backed him iD his attitude, MeanRhlle, the Q, !, O., which has been investigating possibilities 0l nnlQnlslng ball players, became pagr tleulaTly interested iD the 0stepr mpelleF ease, And as ostsvnnellsv perfarmed nobly foV the Plgales gltl hls fasthRll, curves sllders, tekesoffs, ebangeruns, etc, iD wins nlng WorkFh0Fse fashi0n, he gave fhe q, ! Q, something to shout ab0ntwWhen the time Is ripe, That lnle VIII Do when the pGgime Of tallglS elqs, possibly next year,
 Despite the abuses Of the waiver clause, most ball playsvs have cons lldenee D ltansis, who generally has protected theiP rights but when nneleDt kenessW steps down from hls post because of aga-then the q, | Q, vi ltry to step jn, and Ine QstermpelleP case VII be mighty Important in Us pampsigD,