The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-20
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By JACK CUDDY United Press Staff COrrespOndent)
Registered U. s. Patent Office)

By JACK CUDDY
 Limited Press Staff Correspondent
 Bear Mountain, N. r., March 20 -CU.P.) - Proxy Branch Hickey of the Dodgers, reputedly one Of the smartest traders in baseball, must soon go in heavy on the David Harum" stuff if he intends to have a major league catcher behind the plate when the season opens.
 Bespectacled Hickey reluctantly admitted this sad situation today here at the Dodger camp. We must acquire a catcher before the season opens," he said glumly, as if realiz- ing that his admission would auto matically put all other league own CTS on guard.
 Riclsey's statement indicated that he had given up hope of mysterious Mickey Owen or Army-bomd Bob- by Bragan playing for Brooklyn during the 1945 campaign. The Dodgers apparently are left with but one receiver; Stan Andrews who was with the Montreal farm club last year. The Flatbushers must have at least one seasoned backStop.
 Baseball writers, discussing the catcher crisis around the big fire place in the Bear Mountain Inn, suspected that Hickey is trying to get help from the Chicago Cubs, who are reported to have four catchers on their roster. It was understood that big-hearted Branch has offered Frenchy Bordagaray as trading bait. French played third base most of last season and hit .282. Hickey once said of Bordagaray "he is either the greatest rotten third baseman, or the rotteneSt great third base.nan I have ever seen"
 Like most club executives prepar- ing for this fourth season since Pearl Harbor, Hickey has been con- fronted with many manpower prob- lems; but the unexpected catching predicament steamed him to the "berling" point. Deacon Hickey is not a profane man; but his eyes have an unholy glare whenever any one mentions Mickey Owen in his presence.
 Branch had depended upon Owens being a main-stay of the team again this season. About 10 days aLo Owen notified the club that he would join the squad when and If he found man to help him on his far mat Brookline, Mo. Since then, Rickey apparently has heard nothing directly from Owen. But he received mysterious reports in- directly.
 Branch heard that Owen had auctioned of his farm equipment, indicating that the catcher - who had been deferred because of his farming activities was preparing to enter the army. Branch heard also that certain Brooklyn scout, who was supposed to keep the Eb- bets Field office informed about the Owen situation, had purchased two of Mickey's riding horses for $1, 100. But there was no word from the Scout nor from Mickey.
 Owen, who will be 28 on April 4, has been with Brooklyn since the beginning of the 1941 season. That was the year. incidentally, when Mickey pulled the boner in the Yankee-Dodger world series that made him famous. It happened in the ninth inning of the fourth game. The Dodgers were leading, 4-3, and two Tanks were out. Pitcher Hugh Casey had worked the count to and 2 on the third Tank. Tommy Heinrich. Casey wound up and threw sharp break ing curve. Henrich swung and miss ed. It seemed that he had struck out. and that the Dodgers had evened the series. at two games each.
 But such was not the case. The pitch had caught only the corner of Owens blove, and 1t went skid ding away at an angle to the stands, while Heinrich sprinted safely to first base. The rest is his- tory how the Tanks. hammered out four runs, to turn seemingly