The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-31
lReg. II. s. Pat. OPEL BY JACK CUDDY
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff COrrespOndenO
 New York, March 3l. - CUP) - We pick the Chicago Cubs and De- troit Tigers to meet in the l945 World Series.
 One Of the battery of statisticians who aided us in this selection said. AS long as we're so close to April Fools Day. why don't you pick the seriess winner, too?" We squelched him with the rejoinder that such cover-all prediction might be con- sidered "scabbing" by the prognos- ticators' union.
 A few (million) fans may disagree with our choice of the Cubs to win the National League pennant, rele- gating the St. Louis Cardinals and their three straight pennants to sec ond place. But at the present writ ing 1t seems that Banjo Cholly Grimm and his Chicago Bruins have bit of corner on man. power-as far as Ford Tricks cir cult is concerned.
 If Uncle Sam grabs Billy Nichol- son, National League Home Run King, runs -batted-in champion, our Chicago prediction may be a bit moist. Bashing Billy is in IA; but he is moving in to start the season, and he may last out.
 The Cubs have improved consider ably since last season when they finished fourth, after starting the campaign with 13 straight losses with their morale all shot-and un- dergoing a change in managers from Jimmy Wilson to the ever-popular Grimm. [.
 Grimm's outfit has solid pitching in Claude Passeau, Henry Wyse, Paul Erickson, Ray Prim, Charlie Gassaway, Fly Vandenberg, Jorge Commelas, and George Wooden. It has five catchers. It has an eXper- fenced infield with veterans Pnll Caveretta and Stan Hack and the improving youngsters. Lennie Me- rullo and Don Johnson. Hard-hit- ting Heinz Becker may be able to replace Caveretta at first. permitting Phil to go into the outlield. This would give additional strength to strong force of picket men that in- cludeS Peanuts Lowry, Andy Paiko, Nicholson and rockies Ed Sauer and Frank Secory.
 Meanwhile, the Cardinals seem to lack what it takes for another pen nant. Manager Billy SouthWorth suffered tragic loss in the service death of his flyer son. Their entire first-string outfield will be gone by opening day If Johnny Hopp is taken by Uncle Sam, as expected Stan Musial and Danny Litwhiler already are in. Marty Marion and Walk Cooper are likely to go; also Pitcher Max Lanter. Their excel lent infield of Sanders. Verban Marion and Kurowski is left intact; but the Cards do not shape up as pennant winners.
 In the American League, the De- trot Tigers and the best pitching staff in baseball should beat out the St. Louis Browns, with the New York Yankees coming in third. De- troit's terrific pitching tandem of Hal NeWhouser and Dizzy Trout will have the assistance this season of Al Benton, who has been in serv- ice since l942. Also on hand are Pitchers Frank Overmire, Rufus Gentry, and Johnny Corsica, and minor league prospects Walter Will son, Forrest OlTell and Bob Gil- lespie The Tigers have grand catch ing to handle these fingers.
 Despite the service loss of Pinky Higgins, the Tigers should have a better balanced infield in York CD, Mayo CD, Febb (cc) and Hoover (2b), in the outfield, the booming bat of Dick Wakefield-Who played