The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-13
Close A. [. Race Recalls McGraw's Idea
U. s. Patent Officel
By JACK CUDDY United Press Staff COrrespOndent)

(Un1ted Press stan COrreSpOnoeutJ New York, June 13 - (U.P0 = A new murderers' row in the major leagues-operating under the skull and bones of the Pittsburgh Pirates is ready now to wrest first place in the National Circuit from the faltering Giants.
 The Steeltown Buccaneers are only one game behind the leading New Workers, and they're swashbuckling along.
 You haven't heard much from these menacing Pirates this season because their chief, Frankie Frish, not only is matured, but he keeps his fingers crossed-like the bones on the Corsssr masthead. Frisch, the former Fordham Flash, does not go swaggering through the streets, bragging about the prowess of his Pirates - as he did in the days when he led the rowdy Gas House Gang of St. Louis, from 1883 through 1888.
 Frisch keeps his fingers crossed because turing the five previous sea- sons that he helmed the Pirates, they never menaced the National circuit flag. True, they did wind up in second place in "A; but they were IA 1-2 games off the pace set by the Champion Cards.
 Frisch, despite the rheumatics that kept him abed during spring training, could begin to pop off now because he has a line of potent - though little known-players who are terrorizing practically every pitcher in the league
 The Pirate players may be band of unknowns - A bunch of boys named Joe, Jim and Bob but they are going to town, particularly at bat. And when you see a club batting well in these wartime days it verges on the miraculous - be- cause virtually every one of the other 15 teams in the majors lack punch.
 According to the latest averages, the Pirates lead their circuit at the plate with club-batting mark of .275. They are first in hits with 415, first in runs scored with 232 first in runs batted in with 213, and first in doubles with 77, and in triples with 18.
 Despite this prowess with the wand, they are strangely enough last in the league in home runs, with only 13. This is exactly the number that one man on the pace setting Giants-Catcher Ernie Lom- bardi-has blasted out by ll4mself. But there's reason for this paul city of our-baggers. The Pirates home field at Pittsburgh is so spa cious that home run in most oth- CT parks would be merely fly bal at Forbes Field
 The Pirates have menacing po- tential power. If you include reg ulars utility men and substitutes who fill in frequently in the pinch es', Frankie has six batsmen with averages that range from 300 to .424. They include Lee Handley, Tow playing regularly after arriv- ing late and who has fashioned the .424 mark; Tommy O'Brien, .345; i; Rookie Catcher Bill Salkeld, .329; Rookie Al Gionfriddo, 1928; the ex- Yankee Veteran Jackie Saltzgaver, .320 and Oldster Bob Elliott, 300.
 Some of the other regulars, though only in the upper 200 bracket, make up for their run-of- the-mine averages by carrying on magnificently otherwise. For ex- ample, Johnny Barrett-who has only fair average of .262-is sec ond in the league with runs scored 40. And in the all-important runs- batted-in department, Bob Elliott is second in the league with 38- just one behind the Giants Lom- bardi. And switch hitting Jim Rus sell is next with 37.
 Afield, the Pirates would not cause inspired baseball writers to compose sonnets about the poetry of motion; but they have what ap- pears to be adequate pitching Their mound staff is led by Truett (Rip) Sewell, the "blooper ball ex- pert, who has seven victories Preacher Roe has five; the same as Max Butcher. Nick Strincevich has four. And they have capable reliefers.
 Though the Corsairs got off to a slow start, losing seven of their first nine games, they are moving now And they have that which is SC rare on a wartime day in June