The Wilmington morning star., 1946-10-07

The middle by HOWE Pollet,
s.me played on the opening day
- World Series since 1907.
# was a heartbreaker for Pollet,
r,5o in the ninth inning, had been
r;+hjn one strike of winning the
tisbt, nerve-tingling battle and send
inc tbe under-dog Red Birds away
IN IN front. Had he whipped that
third strike past Tom Mcbride,
soy highlander, the Cards would
have won, 2 to /.
But Mcbride slashed a single be-
tpeen shortstop and third to score
nincb.runner Don Gutteridge with
he tying run and send the struggle
Into overtime, and set the scene
ir York's titantic smash.
In the eighth inning the Cardinals
had taken the lead 81 on a holly
sisouted play in which Whitley
Yrrowski scored on Joe Garagiolo's
Nv that Dom Di Maggie misjudg-
ed.
For big Rudy the blow was the
Ultimate climax to one of the most
Spectacular comebacks ever eff
fected by a veteran of the Big
Leagues. A year ago he was play
mp first for the Detroit Tigers in
another World Series, and doing a
very ordinary job of it, to be gen
erOus.
Many observers said fatty he
was through, washed-up, and it
came as something of a surprise
curing the winter when the Red
Sox grabbed him. But Rudy shed
30 pounds in the off-season, report
ed at Sarasota, Fla, in the pink,
and went on to play a terrific first
base for the Sox all season. Sunday
he finally and fully repaid man.
ager Joe Cronin for the faith he
had shown in him.
1t was only by grace of a stray
pebble on the infield that first Nc
Bride. and then York, had a chance
10 spoil a beautifully pitched game
by Pollet, who for nine innings
matched Tex Hughson, right
handed Boston ace, pitch for pitch,
and even had some the better of it.
One was away in the ninth when
Pinky Higgins, Sox third sacker,
slapped a bouncer to Marty Marion
a short that was labelled an easy
out. Just as Marty started to grab
the ball, it struck the pebble and
squicted through his legs. Glen
Russell, a pinch-hitter then shot a
single into center, but Pollet Whit
fed another pinch-hitter for the
second out. That was when Mcbride
came through with the crucial sock
that eventually decided the game.
Earl Johnson, a southpaW, pitch
led the tenth for the Sox and gain
ed credit for the victory. Hughson
mad given up seven safeties and
struck out five in his nine-inninG
stint. Pollet eventually yielded nine
%Sateties, but he was steady and
stlngy all through the early innings,
and he scarcely deserved to lose.
The widest incident of the game
arose in the eighth frame, when
the Cards pushed across the run
that put them in front, 2 to l..
They had tied it up in the sixth on
a ringing double off the right field
|sal by Stan MusiaI, the Nation
|! Leagues leading slugger.
With two down in the eighth,
Alrowski, Card third baseman,
Slapped a single into left, bringing
Up Garagiola, rookie Card catcher.
Who had not hit in three previous
Fles, The crowd yelled for another
inter, but Manager Eddie Dyer
tH. the youngster in.
daragiola rewarded him with a
CeFFltlc blow out toward center
Eleld. Dom DiMaggio started in,
seemed to lose the ball momentari-
IN the sun, and back-pedalled
desperately. He just managed to
81 MS glove on it, but it bounced
away.
Gsragiola easily rounded second.
rno then dug for third. Kurowski,
neahtlme, had rounded third and
eppeared certain to score easily.
pu' higgins, the Sox third-base-
aaA' somehow got in Whitey's
ssy' and when Garagiola was
I.o|A out at third on a sharp re-
from DiMaggio to Pesky to
k+sglAS, there was doubt whether
"IoWski had crossed the plate be-
VT me out was made.
rae umpire Lee Ballanfant Of
+s National League called the run
Rsou' bringing a concerted shout
IVY rom the crowd and an equal
Vohcerted roar from Cronin and
BOX players. They swarmed
-vuhd Ballanfant demanding q re-