The Pittsburgh Press (October 9, 1943)
Veterans Crosetti, Dickey show fine form for Yanks
By Walter Byers, United Press staff writer
St. Louis, Missouri –
In few World Series has the contrast of youth and age been so vividly portrayed as in this year’s autumnal classic. The Yankees, only two games shy of their 10th World Championship, to date have capitalized on their experience, while the Cardinals have blundered with the nervousness of youth’s inexperience.
Two of New York’s coolest and canniest veterans have been Frank Crosetti, once replaced by young Phil Rizzuto as Yankees shortstop, and Bill Dickey, the old Arkansas traveler. Crosetti, at the age of 33, took over his old position again this year when Rizzuto joined the Navy and is playing in his sixth World Series. The veteran Italian is probably the Series’ biggest and most pleasant surprise. While handling 17 fielding chances, Crosetti has made
Dickey, who tied Babe Ruth’s World Series record for playing with one club when he performed in one club when he performed in the third game last Thursday, will be playing his 37th Series game tomorrow.
Although the big Yankees catcher doesn’t hit as hard or run as fast as he once did, Dickey is still the incomparable Dickey. He has played errorless baseball and is hitting .273 for three games.
What ‘freshmen’ are doing
Contrasted to the oldsters, here’s what some of the “freshmen” have accomplished to date while making their debut in baseball’s “party of the year.”
Bill Johnson (Yankees third baseman who is generally considered 1943’s “rookie of the year”) has a .417 average to date, accented by his base-clearing triple in the eighth inning of the third game, scored three runs and made five hits, has handled five fielding chances in flawless fashion and has been one of the Series’ outstanding players.
Danny Litwhiler (Cardinals outfielder who came from Philadelphia in mid-season to get his first World Series opportunity) robbed Nick Etten of a possible hit for the last putout of the first game, failed to hit safely until the third game when he broke in with two singles to drive in both Cardinals runs, stole a hit from Joe Gordon in the second inning of the third game with a one-handed shoestring catch, has handled nine outputs without an error.
Nick Etten (former Philadelphian who took over Yankees first base when Babe Dahlgren was demoted) has driven in two runs, has generally been the Yankees’ biggest offensive disappointment, and has successfully executed 25 fielding plays with only one error – a mental lapse in the fifth inning of the first game which eventually permitted the Cards to tie the score.
Alpha Brazle (rookie southpaw from Cortez, Colorado, who jumped from Sacramento to the Cardinals as a replacement for Howard Pollet) charged with three Yankees-earned runs and loss of the third game, for seven innings pitched three-hit ball and permitted one unearned run until the Cardinals defense fell apart in the big Yankees eighth.
Debut as outfielder
John Lindell (who advanced from Kansas City to the New York parent club as a pitcher and is making his debut in the Yankees outfield) scored a run in the third game while picking up his first hit of the Series, yielded his place to Bud Metheny in the second game after starting in the series opener, has handled five putouts without an error, and was the chief cause for Whitey Kurowski’s fumble, which ignited the Yankees’ game-winning eighth inning of the third contest.
Lou Klein (Cardinals second baseman who is replacing Jimmy Brown in this year’s champion) has made two hits in 12 appearances, participated in three double plays and has handled 15 fielding chances, making only one error when he booted a grounder in the first game.