The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
PIRATES RATED TEAM TO BEAT
 IN 1945 RACE
(Editors-This is the second in series on the 1945 prospects of the Major League baseball
BY LEO H. PETERSEN limited ProSS Cnopfs ENitor

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 New York, March 28-UP)- The Pittsburgh Pirates are going into the l945 National League pennant race tagged as the team to beat.
 They were the hottest club in baseball during the last two months of the 1914 season, but the St. Louis Cardinals were so far in front of the pack when the Pirates started their drive that all they could do was whittle down the Redbird lead.
 But that late season showing was enough to convince such base ball managers as Leo Durocher of Brooklyn, Bob Coleman of Boston and Freddy Fitzsimmons of Phil adelphia that the Pirates will be the team to beat this year. General manager Herb Pennock of the Phillies feels that way about it, too.
 Manager Frankie Frisch has lost little from his 1914 squad and has added several rockies whom he hopes will help the Pirates get off to fast start
 Unless Uncle Sam interferes, F'risch appears well set at all po- sitions, although he could use an- other starting pitcher. But what Major League Club couldn't?
 He will go with Rip Sewell, Max Butcher, Nick Strincevich, Xavier Rescigno and Preacher Roe as the big five of his pitching staff with Fritz Ostermueller and Ray Starr available for spot assignments. Most promising of the rockies is Leonard Gilmore, who won q games while losing but five with Albany last season.
 Art Cuccurullo is back for an- other try while also fighting for places on the staff are Ken Gables, up from Oakland, and Joseph Vi- telli.
 Back to catch them will be the dependable Al Lopez, who needs only 4O-odd games to surpass the Major League record held by Gab- by Hartnett William Salkeld, up from San Diego, may win the sec ond string catching berth from Henry Camelli. Also available If the going gets rough is Coach Spud Davis
 Although they haven't all re- ported as yet, the infield appears set with Babe Dahlgren at first, Pete CoScarat at second. either Frankie Gustine or Frank Zak at short and Bob Elliott at third. The Pirates a big boost when the hard-hitting Elliott was rejected for military service.
 Victor Barnhardt, son of the old Pirates star, Clyde Barnhardt, seems to have won a utility infield role. The youngster hit .310 with Albany last year. Lee Handley and Al Rubeling, both of whom were with the team last year, and Hen ry Sweeney, a rookie up from York where he hit 1884, also are batCling for infield posts.
 Frischs biggest problem may be to generate enough hitting power among his outfielderS. Jim Rus sell with a mark of .312, was the leading hitter among the fly chas- CTS last year with Vice DiMaggio slipping to .240. DiMaggio has asked to be traded and may not be with the club in 1945. He got in the doghouse when he protested the $4.50 a day meal allowance which the club gave players.
 The fleet Johnny Barrett Is sure of one outfield post with RusseA in another. If DiMaggio is sold or traded, the third spot may go to one of two rookies--Bill Rodgers and Al Gionfriddo, both up from Albany where they hit .339 last year. Frank Colman, Tommy OBrien and Lloyd Waner also are back along with Ed Stewart. re- turning to the game after a years absence.
 All in all the feeling IS that the 1945 squad makes up the most im- pressive Pittsburgh team since the pennant winning club of 1927.