The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-08
CHICAGO CLUBS SHOWING EARLY
 SEASON CLASS
BY CARL JS1loD0UIST United Press Staff Correspondent

OHIttU T .cSS CtoAl N~1lCSpOHUcuC
 New York, May 8-CUP)-It was hard to deny the hustling White Sox and Cubs of Chicago a key pos- ition today in the Major League races, even at the risk of offend ing the fearless forecasters who pre- dicted an encore all-St. Louis World Series for 1945.
 It would be foolhardy to class the Chicago clubs as top contenders on the basis of play to date, but it would be just as big mistake to overlook them.
 They stand out because of their superior early season play. And without deprecating the efforts of the Eastern leaders, the New York Giants and Yankees, 1t must be en- phasized that they were "fattening up" on weaker clubs while the Cubs and White Sex took a strong early stand by beating the so-called bet ter clubs in the western sectors of the American and National Leagues.
 Best Record
 The performance of the White Sox stands out particularly. Lead ing the league witll nine victories and three defeats, they have beaten the champion Browns in two games and have sent the Cleveland Indians to the cellar with five straight vic- tories over them.
 The Cubs, hurt little after a IN I 4t r- nevertheless are tied with the world champions for third place with eight victories and six defeats. They have beaten the Wall-regarded Pittsburgh Pirates five out of eight times, the Cards two out of five times and have won their only start against Cincinnati.
 Meanwhile, in the American league the Yankees have won four out of seven against last years cellar:tas, the Washington Senators, have beaten the draft-riddled Boston Red Sox five games in six, and have broken eV5n in two games with the very ordinary Philadelphia Athle- tics.
 The Giants have attained a fine start with 12 victories in l6 games by winning three straight from the eighth place Phillies, winning SIX out of seven from the Boston Braves and breaking even against the Brooklyn Dodgers in six games.
 Real Tests Ahead
 AS the teams square off this week in the first east-west comp tition of the campaign, there may be a sudden reVisicn of the standings with the early leaders getting their first real tests
 The Giants must play the visiting Reds, Cardinals, Pirates and Cubs in order before going on the road to meet the same teams. The Yankees. with the most porous infield in the Majors, play the Tig;rs, Indians. White SoX, and Browns on the road before returning home to entertain them.
 It might be well to remember that after the first month of east W:st play on June year ago, the Cards Pirates and Reds stood one-two- three in the ational League race and that is exactly the way they finished in September At the same time in the American League it was Jha Browns, the Yankees and Tigers and except for the fact that the Tigers nosed out the Yankees for second place there were no other changes. At the start of the east west play in 1914, the Phillies w;re n second place in the National and the Senators rated third in the Americans. At the finish Of the first east-West combat both were in last place, and that is whsre they were 1t the end of the season.
 There were no Major League games yesterday.