The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-06-26
Walker Still
 FIotbush kinq
By OSCAR FRALEY

New York, June 26-(UP)-Fred (Dixie) Walker of the Dodgers may be walking toward the baseball shadows but there's no doubt ir Flatbush today that the peoples cherce" is responsible for keeping the ferocious gentlemen at the tor of the National League.
 The name of Walker has lost none of its brilliant lustre at Eb- bets Field this season. In fact. it is growing brighter than ever as result of homeric batting and field ing feats by the man from Alabam. As of yesterday he was leaoNng the National League with mark of .368 and doing everything in right field except mow the grass.
 Which isn't too bad for 8 fellow who, they said, was well over the hill as he neared 36. AS a matter of fact, Dixie was expected few short months ago to wind up with very splintery pair of pants at the ball orchard along the Gowanus this year.
 Lip Counted on Youth
 During Spring training at Day. tona Beach, Manager Leo Durocher had high hopes for a Hart, Schaf- finer and Marx outfleld as part of brother Branch Rickey's youth movement. All that remained for these youngsters to take over from such performers as Dixie and the pennant would be nailed to the mast across the river from Man haitian.
 The Furillo-Whitman-Hermanski group was destined for greatness, the Lip proclaimed, and in the pro- cess it was not for Hermanski to beat out Walker but for the BrS mingham veteran to oust the new conner. Once again Leo was wrong for it proved to be vice versa as Dixie refused to be consigned to the scrap heap. Furillo and Her manski currently are grappling over the center field berth = and out there in right field is the familiar figure in whose honor the Dixie Walker Chowder and Marching Society was formed
 There is very good reason and it must be that Dixie is a very young 35 nearing 36. Because as the surprising Dodgers continue to sweep along on top of the favored Cardinals, Walker more often than not is the fellow holding the club together; banging out vital base hits, and making those dazzling catches which send the marching Society members off into fits of diamond ecstasy.
 Had Tough Shedding
 If this should prove to be the last big year for the drawling outfielder the finale is very nice to consider Because Dixie Walker caught plen- ty of Jumps during his long base ball career before finding his niche near the end of the trail.
 He bounced around plenty and always was slowed by injuries. They thought he might be the man to replace the great Babe Ruth, until he broke a collarbone and injured a shoulder. It bothered him with the White Sox and then, hitting his stride at Detroit, he injured a kneecap. It was at Brooklyn. since 1889, that Dixie came home. And even he knows, in what may be his final fling, that the trail is get ting more narrow.
 But I'd like to be on one more World Series winner before it's all over," he explained. And if I'm going to make it, this will have to be the year."
 It would be a great payoff by the fates, particularly if he keeps go- ing at his present pace. But even so, don't count him out yet for 1947. As far as the Brooklyn blea- cherries are concerned, he could play right field on crutches-and after that he could always be mayor.