The Key West citizen., 1954-09-29
ROser, And Dolby
Ailing As '54
Classic Starts
BY JOE REIcHLER

World Series opens at Ine Polo
Grounds today with the Cleveland
Indians heavy favoriteS over the
New York Giants despite the fact
that their two power hitters-A1
Rosen and Larry Doby-are suf-
fering minor miseries. They wee
listed to start, however.
Rosen, the rlghthanded Slugge:,
missed the final game of the reg
ular season last Sunday because
of pulled right thigh muscle.
Dolby, the American Leagues
home run and runs batted in lead
er-and the Indians chief left.
handed strength, pulled muscle
in his right shouler last Satur-
day and also sat out the finale
Sunday. He still can't swing
freely.
On the pitching front, rival man
ayers Leo Durocher of the Giants
and AL Lopez of the Indians, a
pair of old spring rivals, open
with their aces.
No surprises. No CANDLES. No
last minute switches. The opening
game pitchers were strictly as ad.
vertiSed with Sal Maglie hurting
for the Giants and Bob Lemon for
the Indians.
Leading off with Maglie was
strictly in character for Durocher
The 37-year old Highlander was
Leo's front man in every impor-
tant series during the regular sea.
son stretch drive. Lopez has said
all along that if the Giants opened
with Maglie, he would pit Lemon
against him.
Just as the Is to 10 odds favored
Cleveland to capture the world
The Indians, who set a record by
winning Ill games during the reg
Ilar season to dethrone the New
York Yankees, are undefeated in
World Series competition. They
whipped Brooklyn in 1920 and Bos-
.on In 194S. Lemon, a 23-game win
Ter this past season, was in two
World Series games in 1948 and
Won both.
The Giants, on the other hand,
lave lost more World Series
,ameS than any other club. They
AVE appeared in Is fall classics
nd have bowed in nine of them.
Iaglie pitched five innings in the
,951 World Series against the
Yankees and lost.
"Who else could l pick but Mag
lie? Durocher answered.
Lopez said he would follow
lemon with Early Wynn, his other
45-game winner, in the second
came and Durocher will use John
~ Antonelli, his 21-game winning
.efthander. Leo declined to reveal
his third game pitcher but Lopez
'Inhesitatingly named Mike Garcia
Who just missed giving the Indi-
ms three 20-game winners.
Garcia will pitch Friday in
Cleveland even if he works in re-
ief in one of the two games
dere," the soft spoken Cleveland
,kipper said.
Both managers were confident of
''ictory although they obviously
lad great respect for each othe-
While Durocher was naturally ca
,er to see the Giants get off on the
'inning foot, he thought the second
,ame would be the key contest of
he series.
IF Antonelli can check those
uys," he mused, II may have a
urprlse in store for them"
The surprise, of course, would
>e Don Liddle, like Antonelli, a
efthander. So it comes down to
his. If Antonelli wins tomorrow,
idd.e will probably pitch the
hird game for the Giants. If the
indians beat Antonelli, Leo's third
;ame choice will be Highlander
Ruben Gomez.
Just as in the case of the start
1g pitchers, the respective batting
riders showed no surprises. Each
cam will field its regular"
lineup.
Dave Philley, the only doubtful
starter in the Cleveland lineup be-
cause of his .226 batting mark, was
right field and batting sixth. In
eft field for the Giants will be
Dusty Rhodes, who had been al.
srnating with Monte Irwin during
ne past two months. Rhodes, a
eft-handed power-hitter with a
BAL batting average, plays when
he opposing pitcher is righthand
d. He bats fourth between Den
1ueller and Willie Mays.
Excitement ran high, perhaps
3ecause it marked the first time
4 six years that a team other
aan the Yankees was one of the
contestants. Odds-makers reported
hat the betting was brisk with the
indians favored a 6 to 5 to win
he opener.