The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-03
LEFT Y LEE is
MOUND MYSTERY
MAN SINCE 1S4l
BY GLEN PERKINS

United Press StaR Correspondent
New York, June 3.--CUP) Lefty
Thornton Lee, who led the American
league pitchers In earned-run aver
age and completed games columns
In l94l with a record Of 20 games
won, and then dropped TO lovely
two games won In 1912, had recorded
his first victory OF the year today
and hoped that II marked a turn
in his fortunes.
Lee, in his 18th year in the Amer
lean league and his eighth with the
Chicago White Sox. has been one
Of the mysteries Of major league
pitching In his banner year Of Al,
Lee appeared ready TO cut one Of the
most remarkable records Of the cir
cult. A big fellow with a wide
sweeping delivery. Lees downfall
in AZ was one Of the strange quirkS
Of baseball. An army operation fol-
lowed and in 1913 his original con-
tract called for $1.0O until he had
proved himself able again to pitch
for the White Sox.
Poor Finish
He made a good start and, Of
course, was rewarded with a better
contract by the Sox management.
Lee completed the season with poor
record however, Of five won ana
nine lost This year ne worked hard
in spring training and figured to
snap out Of his slump, but until yes
terday he had started eight times.
Won none and lost six. His COM
petitive spirit prevailed and yester-
day he pitched the Sox to sd
win over the Washington Senator's.
He allowed nine hits in winning, but
was thrifty in all but the sixth, CIV
ing rise to the belief that his arm
had shaken the kinks and was ready
for effective service.
The triumph pulled the Sox out
OF the cellar and was featured by the
hitting Of Thurman Tucker, who
boosted his league-leading average
to AIS with three safeties in four
appearances.
The first place st. Louis Browns
made four singles do for a 80 tri-
umph over the Philadelphia Athlet-
les. Capitalizing on an error, and
punching all their hits into the Sec
ond inning, the Brownies counted
more than enough to win for Bob
Muncrief. Don Black was charged
with the loss Of well pitched game.
The Detroit Tigers, currently the
hottest club in the circuit, stretched
their winning streak to seven games
with Al victory over the Boston
Red Sox. Rudy York and Pinky
Higgins homered In the first frame
to account for three runs and give.
Johnny Corsica more than enough
margin. Joe Bowman was the mound
victim.
The second place New York Yan-l
KEGS found their winning ways again|
through the pitching Of their ace,
Hank Borowy, and beat the Cleve-
land Indians, ST..
Borowy snapped the champions
losing skein at five with an eight
hit performance that gave him his
seventh victory. Rookie Paul CAL
vert bore the brunt Of the Yank's
10-hit attack.
OFT Again
In the National league, the New
York Giants stretched their longest
winning streak Of the season to seven
games in defeating the Pittsburgh
Pirates. Ga. Manager Mel Otis 1lth
and 18th homerS supplied the edge
for RUDE Fischer's first victory.
Jim Tobin pitched the Boston
Braves to a three-hit, 40 shutout
over the second place Cincinnati
Reds. Taking no chances, Tobin
drove In two runs himself his first
time at bat to defeat Ed Heusser.
Claude Passeau snapped mis- los
ing streak to record his first victory
Of the season, as the Chicago Cubs
nipped their losing streak at six
with a 2-l triumph over the Brook
Ign Dodgers. Roy Hughes double
and single by Phil Cavarretta ac-
counted for the marginal tally in the
seventh and slapped Bob Chapman
with his first loss of the year.
The st. Louis Cards hammered
three Philadelphia hurlers for Il
hits to give the Phillies 9-s trounc-
ing. Veteran Pepper Martin led the
Red Bird assault with three bingles
to assist Mort Cooper to an easy
win, his fourth.
YESTERDAYS STAR - Flutter-