The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-09
(Reg. U. s. Pat. Off.) B JACK CUDDY
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, July g. (UP-When it's gas-house time in old Missouri, visitors can expect rougr going at St. Loo.
 The spirit of the Gas House Gang" seems suddenly to have per- meated Billy Southworth's bolster aOus, cocky Cardinals, who headed back to St: Louis today supremely confident of taking over the Ma tional league lead during their long home stand.
 No one came right out and said: 'We'll take over the lead, and we'll win the pennant for the fourth straight time.' No one said this not even Manager Billy. But the attitude and actions of the entire Red Bird squad spoke louder than words as they celebrated with great din and thwacking horseplay in the Ebbets field locker room after talk ing Sundays double header from the Dodgers in straight sets, GA, 6-4.
 'There1l be no joy in Flatbush 1Odl JlIC (ClC6A oA4Oo "AAO had just knocked Brooklyns 'bums" out of first place, meanwhile finish ing their tour of seven cities with Q bag of Is victories in 25 games. It had been 8 very successful road trip, except for that three-game mishap at Boston. The Cards won three of four contests each from the Pirates, Cubs, Phillies, Giants and Dodgers, and broke even in two en- eoanterS with the Reds. They aver Aged $40 for invading the home aesds of every other club in the league.
 Despite this excellent road show ing, the Cards are in third place -one-half game behind Brooklyn, and game and half behind the leading Cubs. The Cards have ad- vanced only one notch in the stand Ing and moved only one game closer to the lead since they started their tour on June 15. There were two reasons for this: CD The Cubs set 8 terrific road clip, winning 13 of 16; and CD the Dodgers enjoyed such early-foot that on June 9 they had first-place lead of three and half games.
 However, it was apparent in the locker room that the swashbuckling Cardinal players figure they at last have hit their championship stride and that they will take over the lead before their home stand ends on Aug. 3. If they do, it will be the first time they have enjoyed top ranking this season. The champions got off to a slow start, and on May 27-for eXample-were in fifth place, eight games off the pace.
 A reporter, surprised at the lock- CT room jubilation, inquired of Eouthworth, Holy Cripes! what has happened to your club?-why this is like the old Pepper Martin days"
 Pilot Billy, attired only in wide grin-as he towelled himself brisk ly before his locker-said, the boys feel pretty good about beating the Dodgers three out of four-and about the whole road trip. They've got fine spirit-this bunch. They feel pretty confident"
 What about you?' the reporter asked.
 oh tits still anybody's race. We've got good club-fair pitch ing. pretty fair punch fast afield and fine spirit. We showed well >n the road trip because it was the first time this season I've had most N my regulars on the field at the name time-not all of them because Johnny Hopp was hit in the head at Chicago nd just returned to regular play today. Marty Marion just got sick. And some of the pitchers have had arm trouble Bre-