Salt Lake Telegram | 1937-09-28 | Page 16 | Mccarthy Playing Fine First Base for Giants

Jolting Giant -By Pap pr r j Klzr'M W" ISADJ PV( lit Ml Or LATJT U .fiA jW OAiS: 11,1 J LjJ Vff) fT JU. - GAMES I' W 'l ji p-- & a a r H asamtsiii i n miiani e i McCarthy Playing Fine First Base for Giants By Associated Press ' Johnny McCarthy's recent batting splurge not only has been a great help to the Giants in their pennant drive, but it has gone a long way to vindicate Terry's judgment of the lanky first seeker. I Terry was pretty well satisfied that McCarthy was tha man to take over his old post at first after Long John had played several gamea for the Giants late in the aeason last year. Tha way in which McCarthy pulled drives into tha right field stands at tha time convinced Terry that ha would be a mighty bandy chap to have around the Polo Grounds. McCarthy reported re-ported to the portlona, Terry replaced him with Sam Leslie. Sam always haa beea a healthy cloutar, but his fielding did not compare with the brand McCarthy Mc-Carthy flashed. But with Ott and ether Giant sluggers ' In batting slumps, Terry was forced to recruit every possible bit of available power at the plate. An injury to Leslie's wrist forced him to tha sidelines and gave McCarthy Mc-Carthy another chance to play regularly. reg-ularly. It so happened that the Giants were Just about bitting their winning stride again after their midaeason letdown and Johnny fell right into step with tha rest of the team. He really blossomed out In the game that marked the Cardinals' farewell appearance at the Polo Grounds. It was a hectic struggle that went 10 innings before the Giants won. McCarthy's two home runs kept the Giants In the ball game and In first place. He followed fol-lowed that batting spree up with four more homers, making a total of six circuit blows in nins games. If McCarthy keeps up his current pace, Sam Leslie's dream of playing In the world series Is not likely to be realised. Giants' training camp in Havana Lealie thia apring secure In the knowledge that he would get a thorough trial at first Terry had promised him as much. Even when Johnny failed to burn up the grapefruit circuit with his hitting. Terry did not give him up. Hs was a flash in the field and sooner or later, Terry figured, he would find the knack of hitting big league pitching. When the season rolled along and McCarthy's batting average failed te assume anything like robust pro-