The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-04-08
GIANTS LOOK
LIKE WINNERS
IN NATIONAL
Everything Points to Fifth
Straight Pennant at
Polo Grounds
BY BILLY EVANS

In figuring the chances of the
eight clubs in the National League,
it Is simply impossible to get away
from the New York Giants as first
choice.
All angles point to the winning
of fifth consecutive pennant by
that club. Last season the Giants
won fourth straight flag, setting
a new major league record.
In figuring the chances OF the
Giants, the tact and personality OF
Manager John McGraw stands out.
He gets results. 1t seems Il club
managed by McGraw must of neces-
sity be a pennant contender.
While McGraw has perhaps man
aged greater teams than his present
club, yet Il man for man comparison
Of the Giants of 1925 makes it rate
the class of the league by com
Portable margin.
M,Graw Infieid Has Strength
In figuring the strength Of the
Giants and their ability to win Il
fifth consecutive pennant, the in
impresses. remnants are seldom
won by clubs with weak inner de-
Tense The Giants infield is the
best in the National if mot the
majors.
The brilliant Frisch, the depend
able Groh, the flashy Jackson. and
the versatile Kelly make a combina
tion hard to beat. Close up is Lind
strom, the hero of the 1924 world
series.
No doubt McGraw would welcome
more battery strength, | know that
he is hopeful that several of his
young pitchers will help him this
year. Yet it seems that regardless
of pitching, the offensive and de-
fensive strength and fighting spirit
typical of its leader, usually carries
McGraW's teams to victory.
l feel safe in venturing the Opin-
ion that the team that beats New
York will win the National League
pennant.
The Brooklyn club, runnerup last
season. is not an impressive team as
you give it the once over, yet it
has great hidden power.
Superlative pitching, plus an Of
fensive punch, made the Dodgers "a
contender last season rather than a
strong Or flashy defense. In doping
Brooklyn to press New York, it must
continue to get the fine pitching that
featured the clubs play last year
Pittsburg and Chicago are the two
question marks of the National
League. Last winter these two clubs
put over the biggest deal of the Off
season. On the showing Of the
players in that swap will determine
The placing of the clubs.
/ am inclined to the opinion that
Chicago got the better Of the deal.
While realizing that Owner Dreyfuss
had his reasons for breaking up his
great infield by including First Base
man Grimm and Second Baseman
Meanwhile in the deal, l am positive
these two players will help Chicago
far more than any men the Pirates
secured in return. The injury to
Maranville will, however, be felt
during the early part Of the chase
1t looks to me as if the deal Just
about made the Chicago club con-
tender, providing Maranville returns
okay, and will keep that team from
being dangerous as pennant chaser
Reds an Uncertain Outfit
Cincinnati is an uncertainty. The
club was picked to run one-two-
three last year ana proved a bust
This year it gets, a second division
! rating from the experts. Manager
Hendricks doesn't think so. He
wants to finish fourth. His great
, pitching staff gives him such a
chance.
The st. Louis Cardinals, featuring
the great Rogers Hornsby, don't look
like pennant possibility to me from
any angle. The top of the second
division is about all Manager Rickey
] can hope for. and then his dream
may not come through.
1t looks like battle to the very
end between Philadelphia and Bos.
ton to escape the ignominy of finish.
ing in last place. The teams appea,
so evenly matched for that position
that l refuse to venture an opinion
on the outcome.