The Bismarck Tribune

Dodgers Regarded As Contender For Major Loop Title

Brooklyn Closes Gaps in Lineup Through Trade With Cincinnati

New York, March 15.-Overnight the Brooklyn Dodgers seem to have built themselves into formidable contenders for the National League championship.

Their big trade with the Cincinnati Reds enabled the Dodgers to plug two gaping holes in the infield without sacrifice of batting power even though they did part with Cavendish (Babe) Herman, the temperamental outfielder, one of the best natural hitters in the game.

The Robins threw in Wally Gilbert and Ernesto Lombardi with Herman and received from the Reds Tony Cuccinello, Joe Stripp and Clyde Sukeforth.

Boiled down, the trade amounted to an exchange of Cuccinello for Herman. Stripp and Gilbert are third basemen; Sukeforth and Lombardi catchers. So it becomes a trade of a second baseman, Cuccinello, for an outfielder, Herman.

On the surface that would appear to be a fairly even trade. Herman fell off to .313 last season and Cuccinello hit .315, but an analysis would indicate Brooklyn will be helped much more than Cincinnati.

Manager Max Carey now can put on an infield that will have Del Bissonette at first, Cuccinello at second, Glenn Wright at shortstop, and Stripp at third. That quartet, granting that Wright's ankle stands up, seems to compare with any in the league.

The Dodgers perhaps will miss the colorful Herman from the outfield but they previously had added Hack Wilson, a powerful batsman himself and a hitter with a much better-runs-batted-in record than Herman. Wilson, then, will fill one outfield post and Frank (Lefty) O'Doul another. The third will probably go to either Johnny Frederick or Ike Boone.

If Max Carey can get the pitching then the Dodgers should go places.