The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-12
TWO Teams Picked by n. c. Hamil-
ton to Win Pennant In Ameri-
can and National
Leagues.
BOTH HAVE THE PUNCH
cleveland and Boston Red Sox Most
Likely to Give Teams the Hard.
est Raee Of Any In
League.
Rx Fl G. HAMILTON

IInlL00 fES00 Quail OoAAO0boANNAs.J
NEW YORK. April IA long-dis-
lance shot at the worlds series en-
trants appears to the writer 10 IN
yolye Cincinnati and Chicago.
Cincinnati has the National league
team that figures to win the pennant
N the Tenor league, and the White
Sox look good to repeat In the Amer
lean.
On just one thing hinges the
chances for the Reds to kick history
and precedent into cooked hat and
get into a worlds series for the first
time in the history Of the fall classic.
That one thing is Chr1sty Mathew
sons ability to keep his pitching stan
In trim and develop couple OF
Youngsters who can stand the Nat
ional league pace In only fair sort
Of way.
Last year Matty showed his ability
with pitchers by bringing out Clar-
ence Mitchell and Mike Reagan. He
has even better material to work with
this year. The result should be PEN
nant.
Matty has the best outfield in the
National league.
He has Hal Chase at first base and
Heinie Groh at third-two of the best
infielders in either league. He has
young Koph, fair ball player. to
station at shortstop, with Lee Magee
at second base. The heavy fire of
. Chase and Groh, however. should off
set this weakness. A good fielding
shortstop can do wonders in an in
field where he has backing by hitting
among other members.
In addition to these defenses Matty
possesses one of the smartest catch
ers in baseball in Tom Clarke, and
one Of the best hitting catchers in
Ivy Wingo. The latter needs lot Of
work. II he gets it this year he will
do better than for the last two sea
sons.
With SCHNEIDER, Eller and Reagan
to bear the heavy pitching burden.
at least two youngsters should sail
into prominence with Mathewson's
coaching. Bressler and Conley are
capable recruits - each with big
. league experience. Matty should have
no trouble in whipping them into
shape. Dutch Reuther, splendid util-
ity man. may show some OF the stuff
that caused experts to predict star
career for him as a pitcher a year ago
when he went up to the Cubs.
This team has the punch-the abil-
lily to get men on bases and push
them around for runs. They should
win unless accidents break up their
combination.
AS for the White Sox-it has been
said for the most part. They have on
ly one dangerous rival in the Ameri-
can league and that is Boston. But
the Red Sox. made up of players who
\ have been filled In during the winter,
should not be expected to hit stiff
enough pace to carry It to pennant
over the tough going that Is sure to
develop in the younger circuit
Clarence Rowland's pitching staff
is Intact. His infield hasn't lost a SIN
gle cog. and his outfield stands where
1t left off last year.
There is playing sense, punch and
defensive greatness IN this team
and 1t has the heart. The combination
is hard to beat. II the Red Sox
achieve 1t they will be entitled to the
glory. for the White Sox appear even
stronger than a year ago in compar-
lson with the rest Of the league.
The Giants have lost ground during
the winter, and 1t appears likely the
Cubs and Cardinals will both beat
out the McGraw gang. The Cubs fig
ure as the strongest rival of the
Reds.
The Red Sox and Indians are the
strongest challengers Of the worlds
champions, with the former showing
more strength than Cleveland, which
mas suffered heavily in the loss of
payers to the army and navy