The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-08
REPORT CUBS
 OFFER S8O,OO0 FOR .39O HITTER
By CARL LUNDQUIST United Press Staff Correspondent


 sturdy wrists that brought Tommy Holmes a national juvenile bag punching championship as a five year-old were reviving pennant hopes of the Braves today and mak- ing him a good bet to win the Ma tional league batting title.
 He is one of the most sought after players in the majors with reliable reports saying the Cubs have offered as much as $80,000 for him. possibly to replace Bill Nicholson, their own ace slugger, if he goes into military service.
 Holmes, who won the bag-punch- ing title against boys twice his age at New York's old Madison Square Garden in 1923, might not have been a big leaguer but for those power ful wrists.
 Now in his fourth season with the Braves it is wrist action hitting that has given him fancy average of
 390 and enabled him to rattle Philly hurlers for 10 hits in two days and to set the pace for the ma jors in hits, 64, and in runs, with 40.
 Yesterday was typical day for the Brooklyn-born 27-year-old star, who might have become a champion boxer had not his parents per suaded him to lay down the padded gloves for a ball and bat
 To Ia won twice, 3 to l and ' to 3, ex- tending the Phils' losing streak to II games, longest of the season He drove in three runs and scored two himself, making it easy for pitch CTS Jim Tobin and Tom Barley to win from the fading Phils.
 Holmes, whose baseball began with the Brooklyn Bay Parkway sand lotters, the same team which gave the majors Hank Greenberg, Buddy Hassett and Pete Gray. once again IS learning to hit. but his wrist action adaptability makes it easy for him to pick up valuable pointers. In 1887 at Norfolk in the Piedmont league. Manager Johnny Neun con- Verted him from a left-handed pull hitter to a choke batter who could hit to all fields. That took away his prowess as a homer hitter. but boosted his average. Now, Boston coach. Del Bissonette. has taught hlm to pull the ball again. He still hltS to any field the occasion de- mands, but is hitting more honers
 The Giants won gift" victory from the Dodgers at the Polo Grounds' 10 to 5, scoring eight un- earned runs on eight Brooklyn er- TOTS. Dodgers pitchers also contri- outed to the delinquency with two Wlld pitches, seven walks and a hit oatSman. Catcher Clyde Sukeforth had a passed ball and the winning Giant pitcher, Van Mungo got into the spirit of things with two wild pitches and three walks.
 Errors also helped Cincinnati to z to victory at Pittsburgh. three mlsplays giving the Bucs three runs m the third as veteran Joe Bowman mad It easy in winning his second game since coming from the Red Sox.
 The Cards topped the Cubs at St. LOUIS, to 4, to go into second place. Cub Third Baseman. Stan Hack, made his first error of the season on hard ground ball after handling 159 chances clearly. Rookie Jack Creel, with relief help rom Harry Brecheen gained his fourth victory. Elvin (Buster) Adams hit a two-run homer. his elgnth of the season, for the Cards.
 The Browns knocked the White SoX out Of the first division for the nrst time this season, winning two at Chicago, 6 to and 6 to ?. Jack kramer had a seven-hit Shutout in the first game and Newman (Tey) Shirley, finally getting some hitting support. won handily as the Browns teed oil on two pitchers for 13 hits.
 The Tigers closed in on the lead ing Yankees, winning to 2 be- hlnd Hal Newhouser at Cleveland. to go within game of first place, NeWhouSer, winning his seventh game, fashioned a five-hitter De- tfoit made five of its II singles in the seventh to score all it's runs.
 The Red Sox swept four games With the Athletics at Boston. win ning the finale, to 4, as OutfeIder Boo Johnson provided the margin Wlth a tWo-run homer. Bob Gar DarK broke up the game in tba 1o-b With a bases loaded single which scored ePte Foxx. Veteran relief Pitcher Mike Ryba was the winner.
 Ne" York and Washington had an open date in the American. YESTERDAYS STAR Major league leading hitter Tommy Holmes of the Braves, who boosted ms average seven points to .39O with llVe nv hits in double victory over the Phillies.