The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-03
RUCKER'S NECK INJURY AIDED BY
 'STRETCHER'
BY CARL LUNDQUIST United Press Staff Correspondent

New York, May 3-(UP)-Giant Outfielder Johnny Fucker has drastic but effective method for prolonging a hitting streak and so today - at last - he is fulfilling hopes of the folks in Crabapple, Ga, who felt all along he was the states greatest ball player since Ty Cobb.
 Fucker, mediocre since coming to the Giants in 1940, has hit safe- ly in all 13 games they have play ed, but in order to do it he has had to "hang" himself every day on his own personal "gallows."
 The 29-year-old southerner, ne- phew of Pitcher Nap Fucker, who gained fame with the Brooklyn Dodgers, has fused neck vertebrae. and the injury was so painful It threatened to end his baseball car eer. His batting average went down steadily from 296 the first season, when he was bought by the Giants from Atlanta for S450O0, to a mere PA last year, and it was no secret that he would have quit un- less he found a remedy. Finally, doctor provided him with the con- traption, literally a galloWs, to pull the vertebrae apart.
 From the start of the season 1t was evident the treatments were helping. Always one of the fastest men in the majors, he roved his outfield post more effectively and as lead-off man, touched off more rallies than any other Giant play CT.
 Streak Of "l3"
 He has a .333 average with q hits, and his l3-game streak is the longest in the majors to date. Yes terday was his best day. With tour hits, he batted in four runs in to triumph over the Phllies at Philadelphia. He helped build an early to 0 margin which enabled Relief Pitcher Ace Adams to saly- age the victory when starter Bill VoiSelle blew up and the Phiis tied the score. Buddy Kerr doubled ln the eighth to send home Phil Weln traub with the winning run, keep ing the Giants in first place ahead of the idle Chicago Cubs.
 The St. Louis Cards, who had trouble at Pittsburgh last season, ran into more of the same yester- day. After winning the opener of d double bill, to 2 on Harry DIecheen's SaVen-nit pltcn-na, the Cards were hammered like sand lotters to lose the secona, II to l. A seven-rm rally in the sixth ln- sured the win for Pitcher Max Butcher. The Pirates made Is hits
 The Boston BraN.s gave Nate Andrews two run lead in the first inning and he checked the DCugers thereafter to win, 3 to l, at Brook lyn. Elmer Nieman led the attack on Rookie Vic Lombardi, getting a double and single in two time4 at bat to boos. h., average to 400, second best in the league.
 The Red SoX won their fiftb straight, topping Washington, tc 0, aU Boston on four-h.t pitching by Jim Wilson, who won nls first Major League game. Wilson start ed the winning four-run rally in the eighth with single.
 Al Benton. back at Detroit after navy hitch, became top pitcher of the season, beating Chicago, to l, for his third victory, a four hitter. Previously he had two smut outs, a tWo-hitter ana a tour hitter the Tigers made both runs off Or val Grove in the first on singles Dy Edd.e Mayo, Roy Cullenolne and Rudy York.
 Yank Rookie Wins
 The Yankees handed Russ Chris topher Of Philadelphia his first de- feat, 6 to 4, after he had won three Rookie Allen Gettel pitched the Yankees into first place tie with Chicago in his debut, hurllng a six-hit game.
 Pitcher Allie Reynolds of Cleve- land had nine inning no-hlt, Ec run game within his l3-innig, , to victory over the Browns at St. Lotus Ill the llrSL nlSNL game oi the year. Reynolds yielded all his hits in the first tour innings and was untouchable after that. The Inoians won on straight singles by Mickey Rocco, Myril Hoag ana Eo Carnett off Relief Pitcner Bot Munchief, who succeeded NeLsor Potter in the final inning. The Browns unveiled their l944 pen nant-lamely.
 Cincinnati at Chicago in the Ma tional was rained out.
 WEEKDAYS STAR-Al Benton of the Tigers, whose four-hit, 2 to 1 win over the White Sox gave him three victories in which he has yielded a total of only one run ano