The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-03
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BY JACK CUDDY United Press Staff Correspondent)

New York, May 3-CUP)-Russ Christopher, the Athletics skinny right-hander, was naturally dlsap- pointed when the Tanks snapped his winning string at three straight But he was smiling his shy smile again today and still calling him self the luckiest pitcher in base ball.
 The tall, lean lad from point Richmond, Calf. last2d only four innings yesterday against the Tanks who nicked him for nine hits and six runs as they tagged him with his first defeat of the season. Before taking the mound ct Yankee Stadium, he had opened the campaign brilliantly with a victory over Washington and two over Boston.
 T felt pretty blue when I walked to the showers after the fourth inning" he explained later. T felt I had let the toys down and they've been giving me swell sup port. But gradually the blues went away as I began to remember what an extremely lucky fellow I am"
 The reporter hoped that 27-year- old Christopher would not crumple under the effort of conversation. As he climbed out of his gray road uniform in the locker room, Russ looked like one of these starving prisoners being released from German concentrat camp. There's so little meat on his six footfour frame. He packs only ITO pounds. Seemed that any sudden gust of air would wait him away. His hair and broWs. though a dull brown, provide an unexpected con- trast to his somewhat pallid skin.
 Why was this refugee from the prison-camp pictures such lucky fellow?
 Tn the first place, was unex- pectedly lucky to start off with three straight wins this season." the right-hander said, because I'm a hot-weather pitcher I sel- dom have good control until the weather gets warm. Unless my arm is perspiring, I cant feel the loca- tion of the plate. It's hard to de- scribe. but you just have to feel where the plate is. And you can't get the feel when your arm is cola
 Even more important is the fact that Russ is lucky to be pitchin at all now" Seems that he pulled a ligament in his right elbow while flingipg for Wenatchee, Wash, Of the Western International League in 194O. The elbow went bad again in '43 when he was with the Athle- tics, putting him on the bench for about two months. Coach Earle Brucker experimented with Russ and decided that he might remain in baseball if he pitched side-arm instead of overland. Russ, who had tried few side-arm slants in spring training, made the change under Brucker's supervision and survived. Except for Brucker's savvy, I'd be out of baseball now Christopher declares.
 Lady Luck also grinned at the scraWny Californian in this some what goofy fashion: Using the side arm, I developed good sinked-a sinker I could throw with different speeds. But, a funny thing about that. .sirker, about once i:- five times it will take off-sail up instead of going down. So, I never know ex- actly where It's going when throw it. Under the circumstances, I'm mighty lucky to have any control of my best pitch; and I'm lucky al- so that the catcher can stop the sailer when he's expecting sinker.'
 In addition, the doctors doubted the big fellows ability to play ball when he started back in '38-be- cause of his "galloping haart." It beats too fast-like the ticker of Ran Sanders, Cardinals first base man. Christopher is 4-F'er be- cause of his heart. And speaking of hearts, Russ married his sweetheart, Virginia, about 18 months ago. She has become an ardent baseball fan. They now have coZy little apart ment in Philadelphia. '... D.
 So-you can understand why big Russ considers himself the luckiest pitcher in baseball, regardless of yesterdays setback.