New-York tribune., 1921-11-29

crack at the worlds champion Glants
the National League in the annual TT
Doubtless Huggins will be retained
by the Battling Colonies. II for no
other reason than that the club won It's
frst American League pcnnant under
his direction and reaped golden har-
vest in doing so because Of the close
ness Of the race throughout, Cleveland
carrying the Yankees down almost TO
the very last game.
But the sailing is not so smooth Tor
Huggins as it was one year ago, ana
this because of circumstances over
which he had absolutely no control.
While every champion must carry q
certain amount of respect, the pros
poets of the 1922 Yankees cannot be
even vaguely surmised until 1t is de-
termined just what Judge Lands pur-
poses to do with the three Yankee play
ers-Babe Ruth, Bob Meusel and Bill
Piercy--who defed the rule which for
bids members Of major league cham
pions engaging in transforming games
at the close of the worlds series.
Huggins's outfield was none too
strong with the mighty Ruth and Bob
Meusel. the two big guns of the heavy
artillery, at their very best. What it
would be with the pair removed for
any part of the championship season
would be sad, indeed, to contemplate.
There is always the possibility that the
club will have to worry along without
the two, for time at least. next spring.
Miller Proved Tonic
Elmer Miller proved wonderful
tonic to that garden trio after he
joined the club late in the season. De-
fensively he has not superior in the
major leagues, with the possible ex-
q deadly hitter in the minors, improved
greatly on his return over his previous
batting form as Yankee, and with
the confidence gained in the closing
weeks may indeed shine as star of
the first order. But he cannot patrol
the entire outfeld alone.
Bobbie Roth of whom 40 much was
expected. was fat disappointment last
season because of an attack of water
on the knee. which slowed him up
greatly and kept him on the bench al
most all season. 1t is very doubtful if
he can come back to his establis shed
the years ay-off. Hawkes. and other
Young outf elders are no more than ex-
Feriments.
The pitching Of the Yankees was an
ether weak department in 1921, due pri-
narily to the lapse of Bob Shawkey
and the absence of one dependable left
handler. Carl Mays carried the team on
his shoulders till Waite Hoyt finally
arrived late in the campaign Higgins,
then, has reason to believe he will start
the next campaign with two great right
handed pitchers. Mays and Hoyt If
Shawkey's arm is right after long
rest the New York Americans will have
about the best right-handed corps in
fast company. Jack Quinn is through,
but Piarcv seems brilliant prospect,
provided he is pardoned. Rip Collins
has tempted patience long enough.
Two good left handlers would round
out real pitching staff for the Yam
KEGS Harper is almost as much Of a
gamble as when he came here in a
trade a year AGO A broken finger kept
him out of the game for more than half
OF last season. He had been pitching
GOOD bell. after slow start, when he
was injured. He pitched some good
ball after he had recovered, and practi-
cally clinched the pennant by taking the
measure Of Walter Johnson at criti-
cal point.
Harper Lacks Control
The only trouble with Harper is lack
"a COHtipi w men He iS SOou lie IS
very. very GOOD When he is bad it is
because he is wild, and when wild he's
a million to one. Higgins believes
Harper will round to in time, for he
is st II young. He cites the cases of
Jim Vaughn, George Tyler and Wild
Bill Donovan Provided Harper should
gain control Che has everything else).
the pitching outlook would not be 60
gloomy.
Lefty O'Doul Is coming back from
San Francisco. Out on the Coast they
regard him as one of the finest left
handlers Of q decade. O'Doul hung
around W tn Higgins a couple of years
as outheld candidate and reserve port.
slider. He wore out three or four sets
of trousers on the bench, but playec
in nothing but exhibition games
Against minor league and independent
clubs he pitched we'll enough. But h,
did not then take the game seriousl,
and in the opinion of his manager die
not possess & really fast ball. H
curve was a thing Of beauty. O'Doul
it is said, has finally mastered a fas
ball with wicked jump. If SO he will
have no cause to worry over th
future for ten years to come.
The Yankee infeld is strong Peckin
paugh may be about to hit the chutes
but in the worlds series, and indeed
throughout the season (save for dis
tressing batting slump) proved him
self st II among the front flight 0
short felders. McNally and Ward ar
sill youngsters Walter Pipp is a
the crest of his physical prowess. An,
in addition the Yankees have cor