The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-06
Reviews and Previews

From our corner the recent de- cision on the part of the Board of Park Commissioners to let Fred Davi promote 'ofessional baseball at the Municipal Stadium on Sum- day afternoons has a two-fold sig nificance. First, 1t shows that many Waterburians are coming out of their prolonged apathy to- wards sports and secondly, the trend towards professional base- ball and away from amateur ball games. Although the trend is none too definite one way or the other, 1t is there. The fans seem to be interested in Amateur ball in grammar and high school and then in the City Amateur League ball but when pro-ball was ushered in and such big leaguers as Bill John son and others were engaged to play for the local team, their drawing card is too great. As sev- eral oldtimers have stated they were interested in and will still support the CAL now but that they would like to see a livewire like DaW given chance. They believe that the kind of ball he will offer and is offering is a progressive step in putting Waterbury back on the map as far as sports are con- cerned. This reasoning seems to have its points and we are inclined to go along with it. We are in- clined to believe that Fred Davi is on the right track and should get public support. The thing we would like to see is MT Davi at the Stadium on Sunday and the CAL continue cooperate at another time. It should be worked on the same basis as the school system where the student goes from grammar to high school, to college; so should the young player go from gram mar school ball to high school then to college or to City Amateur, SEMI PRO, then continue on to the top as big leaguer. But there seems to be room for speculation on this subject, although now that the die is cast let's back MT. Davi up and help him put Waterbury back on the map as far as sports are concerned.
 The Big League baseball picture seems to have taken a turn for the worse instead of the better since the War Manpower Office has made the announcement that their recent edict stating that Big League players who were under contract last season may leave their war job to take up baseball again, will have no effect on &c., lective Service. This new develop ment will definitely give the base ball moguls something to think about. The point that once again brought this manpower point to a head was that Cy Fucker, a Dodg- CT rookie has been notified by his draft board that he will be classi- fled as a job jumper for leaving his war job in Wisconsin to take a less essential job in baseball. we are further enlightened by tie a11- nouncement from Selective Service that such player or players can be inducted under lower physical standards. Of course this situa- tion should have been ironed out before this, nevertheless who says that their is no discrimination against professional athletes.
 Frank White, former assistant to Tom Mccarthy at the Rowland & Hughes Company and now con- nected with the Colonial Trust banking establishment has enlist ed in the U. s. Navy. He is jun for at the Crosby High School and is interested in all sports. Frank is expecting to don his Navy blues at boot training camp any day now. Good luck and Good hunting, Frank!
 Johnny Reardon, Nick Barone, and Win Petteway will be the foundation on which J. O. P. Man. herz will build his 1945 edition of the Crosby baseball nine. These lads made high regulations for themselves last season and 1t VIII be up to them to teach the young sters a few vital statistics. AS for pitching one of the vital spots on every team prospects are not as vet tested. But as soon as spring training gets under way in all probability in the next week or so MT. Manherz will be able to round