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Sox Misfits1 Form A Winning Pattern Richards Has Taken Other Teams Castoffs and Made Them Into Flag Contender By OSCAR FRALEY United P*ess Sports Writer A band of gorgeous misfits perched with jaunty determination atop the American League today in what could be the rags-to-riches epic of the sports year. Sweeping an 11 -game eastern tour and taking three at home from the St. Louis Browns has boosted the surprising White Sox in front of the World Champion New York Yankees, and the murderous Boston Red Sox. But this stunning surge by a club which finished sixth last season, 38 games back, wasnt the miracle. This was: That 21 players contributed to the victory parade — and 19 of them were castoffs on whom other clubs had given up. Sure, they had it earlier in large enough quantities to attract the eyes of such powerhouses as the Yanks, Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers. But filling the glory gaps also were players dusted off by such doormats as the As, Pirates and BrownSr From top to bottom its a club of castoffs who came back. In the process, theyre making the masterminds of the opposition rue the day they slighted them by sale, trade and lowly waiver. Joe Dobson and "Billy Pierce have been the big pitchers with three victories each in this victory skein where Comiskeys chucking castoffs have gone the distance in 10 of the 14 games. Dobson came to Chicago, along with outfielder Al Zarilla, from Boston. The Red Sox dealt him off to get pitching strength. Pierce came out nf t.hp. TV»frrnifc rhain Two From Yankee Chain v Randy Grumpert, a two-time winner in that current streak, was released in 1948 by the Yanks on waivers, and Ken Holcombe, who also has won two, is out of the Yankee chain also. Harry Dorish, yet another game winner in this skein, was given up on |by the Browns and drafted from Toronto. Sal Rogovin, who contributed one win, is a pitcher the Tigers gave up on, and outfielder Paul Lehner and third baseman Minnie Minoso have been big stick wielders. They were acquired in a three-way deal with the As and Cleveland. The only home-grown product among the winning pitchers is Howie Judson, who had three losing seasons with the Sox. His sole White Sox development partner is outfielder Jim Busby, up from Sacramento. All the way through the line-up from there its a story of misfits and castoffs who have found their spot. Catcher Gus Niarhos was a Yankee spare tire and Phil Masi traveled *from the Braves down to Pittsburgh. First baseman Eddie Robinson was dis-penable at Cleveland and Washington; second baseman Nelson Fox was traded away even by the As; shortstop Chico Carrasquel came out of the Dodger chain and shortstop Joe Demaestri was a Red Sox farmhand drafted from Louisville. Minoso at third came from the Indians; the Browns .gave up on his sub, Floyd Baker, in 1944, and he fought back from mediocrity to Milwaukee. Bob Dillinger wasnt indispensable with the As or the Pirates. Among the outfielders, Boston let go of Zarilla; the Yanks and even Washington gave up Ed Stewart; the As found no sorrow of the moment in parting with Paul Lehner, and- pinch-hitter Hank Majeski never was an aE-time immortal with the Braves, Yanks or As. But theyve all found it, at least for the moment. And its not only the "Miracle of the Midway," but an uncomfortable marvel to the rest of the American League. 5
