The Alaska daily empire., 1922-03-29
CLEVELAND HAS
HOPES OF BIG
BASEBALL Nine
Pennant Hopes Are Again Re-
vived by Indians STUFF
fly Is Mainstay.
BY IRVING VAUGHAN

DALLAS, Tex, March 29.-One
man has revived the pennant hopes
of the Cleveland Indians. That man
his value to ball club are admitted.
but even with the great first sacker
in hand, iris Speakers men will have
a tough row to hoe if they hope to
attain the pinnacle they reached in
the fall of 1920.
In attempting to gauge the posi-
bilities Of the Indians one must deal
with an unknown quantity is the
fighting spirit of the chief himself,
iris Speaker.
There is no doubt that very thing
was the potent factor in the clubs
success of 1920. 1t might have as
serted itself again last season but the
team was wrecked by injuries. Now
the question is, can he take hold
again? If he can the fans will have
to delay awarding to the Yankees
the flag that many seem to think is
already won.
Although numerous things can hap
pen before the season is many days
old, it does not appear probable that
Speakers team will show many alter
atoms over last seasons layouts
O'NeIrs Injury Costly
One can well wonder what might
have happened to the race last sea-
Con if Steve O'Neill catcher, hadn't
been out for six weeks with a broken
finger Other things occurred to dis
hearted the outfit but Speaker and
his men will tell you that it was the
absence Of O'Neill that cost the pen
nant
With Elmer Smith gone to Boston
as part payment for McInnis, the IN
dian manager will have to use Joe
Wood in right field.
Speaker, Of course, is going to e,n-
ploy himself in his accustomed place
in center and nc needs no eulogiliae
In left it will be Charlie Jam 2s0n
With an oecasiona Introduction Of
Joe Evans or Jack Graney. There
also are three fly-pursuing rockies
down here, but two have displayed
nothing startling, while the third,
who is Pat McNulty. created such a
star in the first exhibition game that
the boys were sending back pieces
about another Speaker being discov-
cred. McNulty is a product OF. Ohio
State University.
With Bill Wambsganss for second
and Joe Sewen for short, Speaker
has nothing to worry about in the
vicinity of the keystone sack. For
third base Larry Gardner is still
available, but the Vermont lad is
nearing the end of a brilliant career
and successor must be found.
Stephenson, who did well at second
base when Wamby was injured last
year, is a possibility and so is ore
Ralph Benedict. However, Gardner
probably will hold on for another
year at least This fellow Benedict
is another athlete who passed up a
college captaincy to come south with
the Indians. He halls from Baldwin
Wallace, where he was looked upon
as great athlete. He appears to
have plenty of baseball ability, but
even then it may take time and labor
to finish him off.
When it comes to pitchers the In
dams have a flock of fellows who at
one time or another have made the
ball world sit up and take notice.
Coveleskie, Bagby Morton, Mails and
Sothoron are names to conjure with.
The trouble is that, expecting Cove
eskie, they have been unsteady.
Should they get going together it
would take an army to stop the In
dams.
In addition to the above fiye-and
il seems reasonable that Coveleskie.
Mails and Sothoron each will have
good year-Speaker has long list
of others. One is George Uhle, who
may get to going any time.
Then there is Dave Keefe, obtained
from the Athletics. Great promises
rest with this kid. The second finger
of his right hand is missing, and this
makes II simple matter for him to
throw the deceptive knuckle ball
Summing 1t all up, Speaker need
have no worries aside from pitchers
II he can get Coyey. Mails and Soth
oron to working regularly and fill
in with a couple others. the Indians
will be there or Whereabouts next
October.