Evening star., 1946-04-24
New Starting Hur|er
Makes Club Potent
Rival Of Cards
BY Jock Hand
Associo'ed Press Sports Writer

Ed Heads no-hitter dWarfs the
rest of the baseball news today
emphasizing the latentSstrength of
Brooklyn staff that may give the
st. Louis Cardinals many anxious
moments.
Not so long ago In Sanford, Fla,
President Branch Hickey of the
Flock despaired of the Dodger hur-
ing corps. B. r. said ne didn't
have single nrst-class stopper"
in the bunch.
That was before Kirby Higbe re-
turned from the Army, before Joe
Hatten signeo a contract, before
anybody ever heard of Hank Behr-
man and-before Head proved his
right arm was sound.
The lean pitcher from Selma,
Ala, couldn't have picked a more
effective way of proving to the
Brooklyn management that he had
recovered completely from arm
trouble that once threatened to
eHQ nlS dig league career.
Making his first start since July,
1914, the excl definitely estab-
lished himself as first-line chucker
on Leo DuOcher's list although the
skipper wasn't around to see the
fun. Leo was busy appearing in a
Brooklyn court in connection with
his alleged battle with a fan at
Ebbets Field last summer.
Started as Lefthander.
Head was the last of the first
string tossers to get starting shot
as Durocher had paraded Hal
Gregg, Behrman, Vic Lombardi
Higbe, Hatten and Ralph Branca
in order
The 26-year-old chucker, who
started life as lefthander but
shifted over to the other side after
breaking his left arm in an acci-
dent. left little to be desired. Sew
eral hundred of the 26,787 BROOKLYN
customers, mobbed him with con-
gratulations after the final out.
Head walked three men and one
got life on an error by Shortstop
Pee Wee Reese. Fine fielding plays
saved him three times. Rookie Carl
Furillo ran to the exit gate in right
center to drag down Tommy Holmes
long drive, and Pete Reiser made
tlne stop on Al Roberge's smash
in the third.
Rookie Hits First Homer.
The most exciting touch was pro-
vlded by Rookie Catcher Ferrell
Anderson, who had hit his first big
league homer in the sixth for the
final run of the Brooks SO margin
over Boston's Mort Cooper. After
Head walked Pinch-H Hitter Chuck
Workman in the ninth he struck
out Connie Ryan and Anderson s
bullet peg to first picked off Work.
man for a most important double
play.
1t was sixth straight win for
the Dodgers, but they needed it to
remain in first place tie with the
st. Louis Cardinals. who also reeled
on sixth successive victory at the
expense of Cincinnati. 80. Reliefer
Ken Burkhart. the second of three
Red Bird chuckers, received the
creolt when three singles, an error
and an Quilted fly cost Nate lizard
Luck Andrews another setback. :.
Freshman Billy Cox bobbled a
ball at shortstop that helped Chi
cago trim Pittsburgh. 81, for Claude
Passeau's first win of the campaign.
Rookie Ed Ablosta matched Pas
seau's f1ve-hit effort, but walked
10 men.
Judd Makes Comeback.
Oscar Judd bounced back from
an opening day shellacking to toss
Philadelphia to an 81 edge over
the New York Giants with the help
OF Ron Northey's tWo-run homer
off Harry Feldman.
The New York Yankees advanced
into frst-place tie with Boston by
planking Philadelphia. 80. 1t was
a second straight nod for Al Gettel,
who travelled north with the Yanks'
e squad, over the Mackmen. Nick
Etten's two-run homer doomed Lum
Harris. Boston and New York open
an interesting tWo-game series at
FenWay Park today.
Bill Dietrich outpitched Al Ben
ton as Chicago trimmed Detroit.
81, although a stomach ailment
forced DietNch to retire after seven
frames. Joe Haynes. who relieved.
was just as good, protecting a five
hit effort.
A scheduled Cleveland at st. Louis
contest was rained out.