The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-04-16
GRAND OLD GAME
set FOR THIRD
WARTIME SEASON
BY JACK HAND


, Tuesday a season that many crepe
. hangers said never would star
and confident of its ability to car
ry through to the usual World Sc
ries.
Barring any unexpected shu1
down order from the White House
the game figures to survive its
third wartime year by counter
balancing expec t e d weekday
slunps with big night and Sunday
crowds.
By filling in draft-depleted ranks
with minor league1s, most Of them
with Double A experience, the ma
tional game will be able to pre-
sent product that is not dissimi-
lar to the 1913 version.
Recent Selective Service orders
that postponed induction of men
over 26 temporarily improved the
situation of many established IA
stars.
On the whole, however, the sea-
son will provide the biggest OPP
portunity for Rockies since Abner
Doubleday tossed out the first ball.
Clustered around such familiar
names as Bobby Doerr, George
Case, the Cooper boys and Bill
Nicholson you'll find Grey Clarke,
Ed Busch, Gene Mauch, Luis Sua-
rez and George Hausmann in the
opening box scores.
In the National League the ba-
lance of power centers around the
Western teams and the Champion
st. Louis Cardinals in particular.
An open race is in prospect in
the American league where New
York, the 1943 pennant winner,
Washington and Chicago rank as
preseason favorites.
Without trying to crystal gaze
about who will come and who
will go, here's the way the clubs
stack up now:
National League
st. Louis - Little change from
the 1943 version which won pen
nant by 10 games, Manager Billy
Southworth still has Mort and
Walker Cooper, Max Lanier, Har-
ry Gumbert, Stan Musial, Danny
Litwhiler and all the infield ex-
cept Lou Klein. Emil Verban from
Columbus will play second to
round out the best-looking club in
either league. A standout.
Cincinnati - Willy Bill McKech-
MES pitching has been hard hit
by the loss of Johnny Wander
Nicer and probably Joe Beggs and
Elmer Riddle.
Bucky Walters and Ray Starr
still available with Tom De1acruZ,
81 game winner at Syracuse.
Woody Williams replacing Lonnie
Frey at second and Buck Fausett
or Steve Mesner at third with Ed
die Miller and Frank Mccormick
give good infield. Eric Upton and
G. Walker returning in outfield.
Pittsburgh-Pirates are thin all
way around but have good first
team. Addition of Babe Dahlgren
goes far toward making up for
loss of Elbie Fletcher. Lee Hand
ley making comeback as second
baseman. Elliott, Frank Cuisine,
Pete Coscarart, Vince Dimaggio.
Tom O'Brien, John Barrett, Jim
Russell and Frank Coleman still
around. Rip Sewell tops pitching
staff that includes promising new
corners in Edwin Roe, N c k
Strincevich and Art Cuccurullo.
Chicago Outfield exceptionally
strong with Nicholson, Lou Novi-
koff, Ival Goodman, Dominic Dali
lesandro plus Andy Pafdo and Ed
Saure. Phil Cavaretta only infield
holdover but good requirements
in Don Johnson, Bill Schuster and
Tommy York. Catching hard hit
and pitching only fair but Paul
Derringer, and Henry Wyse avail.
able.
observation-disclosures have infield
problems with second and third
unsettled. Outfield tops with Augie
Galan and Luis Dino although
Dixie Walker trying to be infield
er. Whit Wyatt, Curt Davis, Ha,
Gregg, RUDE Melton top fail
mound staff.
New York-Strengthened infielc
with Phil Weintraub at first ane
! freshman prospects George Haus
: mann and Hugh Luby at secone
and third. Joe Medwick, Johnny
Rucker and Mel OFT in outfield
pitching very weak with rookie
: Bill Voiselle and Cliff Melton bes
lockers.
Philadelphia - Addition of Tony
Lupien should help unsettled in
field. Catching untried, outfiele
okay with Elvin Adams. Cooker
Triplett, Ron Northey but Dicl
, Barrett. Al Gerheauser only de.
. pendable hurlers.
Boston-lacks punch all around
Outfield fair. Pitching stronges'
point with Jim Tobin. Al Javery
Nate Andrews and Charles Bar.
/ rett.
American League
New York Return of Spuc
Chandler. Ernie Bonham and Rol
lie Hemsley convert club into
choice despite left side infiele
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