Show 0 RICE pO TO 0 BREAK the news abruptly his name is Paul Derringer born in Springfield Ky some 37 years ago Big Paul 6 feet 3 3 inches in height displacement pounds has always been one of my favorite favorite favorite fa fa- pitchers In 1931 after knocking around arounds s with Danville and x l' l Rochester Big Paul t won 18 games fora forthe for forthe a the Cardinals erg against 8 losses losses- a and then took a heavy dip in hi 1932 Paul Derringer The Kentucky Rifleman Rifleman Rifleman Ri Ri- fleman was a complete complete complete com com- dud in 1933 when he won 7 games and lost 27 games for St. St Louis and Cincinnati That year Paul couldn't dent the surface of a custard pie He wasn't much better better better bet bet- ter a year later in 1934 After that he stumbled along for a while But Buthe Buthe Buthe he had big years in 1938 1939 and 1940 And then again he began skidding skidding skidding skid skid- ding a trifle largely through early season injuries Just a year ago Paul won 12 and lost 16 games with the Reds- Reds only so so-so Not so hot for Paul Paul-al- Paul al although though he was n no nb longer any kid In my opinion Bill Dickey once told me Derringer is one of the best pitchers I t ever tried to hit He I has more than his share of speed- speed he has a fine curve ball and ban and he has control I cant can't understand why Derringer doesn't win around 22 or even 25 games a year I can tell you hes he's that good Hes He's one of the few pitchers I never liked to face In any event Paul Derringer began began be be- gan his pro season at the age of 37 with four successive wins vins over the Cardinals and the Pirates picked as the two strongest clubs in inthe inthe inthe the National League Pitching for the Cubs Derringer may be an upsetting factor in the National League race For the Cubs ha have ve shown the league better pitching pitch ing than any anyone one looked for Char Charlie lie Grimm has gotten them away al at what you might call spring pennant speed where a year ago at this time they were deep down in the quick san sands s out of sight at the bottom It might be mentioned here that Derringer is on a par with Bill Dickey as a field shot shot and and a better deer shot around the Florida Ever Ever- glades My fy guess would be that Derringer Der ringer is close to being the best besl pitcher in either league on a par with Mort Cooper and Bucky Wal Val terse zei and Lindell We ran into what you might call a representative gathering of baseball people a few days ago including veteran baseball writers managers manager and time old-time ball players Someone started talking about the best baseball baseball baseball base base- ball player in the American League today George the Yankee Yankee Yankee Yan Yan- kee second baseman drew a unanimous unanimous vote for this spot As Harry put it Stirn weiss would have been a star in prewar prewar pre pre- war days He will still be a star in postwar play The Yankee infielder infield- infield er is a strong hitter a fine infielder and a great base He is fast and smart An around all-around athlete well up on the competitive side In the opinion roundup that followed followed followed fol fol- lowed Boudreau of Cleveland and Stephens of the Browns were placed close to the Yankee entry for allaround allaround allaround all- all around ability This is no news to Joe McCarthy McCarthy was keen about his crack infielder back in his rookie days hear a lot more about this fellow he said a year ago after the first few days of spring training He uHe can do about all you could ask from froman an infielder where all he needs is a little more experience joins the combination of baseball and football stars He was one of the best backs North Carolina ever had a chunky bullet McCarthy 1 has never been any too tool l hilarious about football players Joe claims they get too many shoulder ankle and knee bruises or injuries that often return as haunting ghosts of former gridiron glory Yet Stirn Stirn- weiss and Spud Chandler two of his best men were both football stars So was Johnny Lindell in high school which Johnny proved in inputting inputting putting Jutting that famous block on Kurowski Kurow- Kurow ski sId in the 1913 13 world series Lindell is another winning type whose absence would make more than a small difference in the present present present pres pres- ent race which may be just as steamy as the one last season that moved on to the final pitch Lindell himself believes the Yankees' Yankees allaround allaround allaround all- all around power and pitching will carry carry carry car car- ry them through this time whether he is with them or not Speed Comes First Recently I asked Carl Hubbell now a Giant scout what he considered considered considered consid consid- ered first in selecting pitchers First of all ll Hubbell said a Cia pitcher must have speed He must have an arm that can slip that fastone fastone fast fastone one by you If he has speed you youcan youcan youcan can probably teach him a curve ball ban and control later on If he lacks speed he has almost no chance Here and there you'll get a slow-ball slow pitcher pitch pitch- er who can get by But not one in a hundred can turn the trick I 1 u |