Evening star., 1926-09-30

game ahead or the BrOWnS, dropping
Despite this slump the Yanks, with
q fine staff OF pitchers. were made
big favorites over the Giants four
wears ago. But the big battefs of the
New York teams, especially Ruth, who
hit dismal .1lS. fell down, and the
Yanks went down in four straight
games The best they got out of 1t
was a ten.inning tie. Will history re-
peat itself, or has the New York club
emerged from itS batting lethargy!
While the big Babe slumped with
the other Yanks in Detroit, Cleveland
and Chicago, recently, he again found
his range in St. Louis and wound up
the season with a flock of home runs.
Lou Gehrig. the big. husky Yankee
first haseman, also has hit lot OF
home runs In St. Louis this year.
Slugging Series Is Expected.
With the extra field boxes and
stands which will be erected in St.
Louis. believe 1t will be a series of
long hits, with the New York club
especially starring in that line. The
Yanks are at their best in fields
where the territory of the outtielders
Is restricted They will give that right
field screen at Sportsman Park
heavy bombardment.
tIugginS' club is not a particularly
brainy array. 1t may surprise some
Of my readers when | say that the
clubbing Ruth and the leisurely Bob
Neusel easily lead the club in base
ball intelligence. II is rarely that
either of these outtielders throws TO
the wrong base or makes poor move
on the bases But the Yanks essen
TALLY are hitting club. and one
which relies on brute strength rather
i'm 81 a
1T is a club which doesn't really
play my kind of base ball" HuEGins
once told me. 1--WE had to make the
STYLE Of attack fit the club.
Yanks Strong i'm Outfield.
The club is we'll fixed in the out
field with Ruth, CoombS and Meusel.
and Paschal in reserve. The Yankee
outfield, in my opinion, has big
edge over that of the Cardinals. In
the infield the New York team has
n weak link in Shortstop Koenig.
player with considerable promise, but
who lacks steadiness. Yet where
Peckinpaugh, American League short
stop of last year, and supposedly
model of steadiness. fell down repeat
edly in the pinches last year, this
boy may hold.
Since discussing the catchers, Ben
nv BengouEh the best of HugGlnS
catching trio, has been put out of COM
mission for the year. when he was
cracked in the arm by Pitcher Chle.
That leaves HugEins weak behind the
bat and few clubs with weak catchcrs
ever have gotten very far in world
series.
Pat Collins did good work behind
the bat for Huggins early in the sea
son, but his throwing in recent weeks
has been atroCious, and Hank SeVe-
reid former Brownie veteran, will
catch the greater part of the series
for New York. SEVERED, aged 50.
has lost the spark of youth, and his
arm also lacks its former snap. tie
IL not the inspirational type of
catcher.
Pitching Good at Finish.
Even though the Yankees slumped
badly in their last Western trip. their
pitching held up real well, and Waite
Eoyt actually pitched his best ball
since he injured his sarm III June.
Herb Pennock, who. when right. is
the best lefthander in the country.
suffered from a loss of effectiveness
during the past month. However.
the slender chap brought in 90 games
for Higgins and the gap between
the clinch Of the pennant and the
first game of the world series should
give Pennock we'll needed rest. he
game and COOL and since Matty l
never saw n pitcher who has his poise
and confidence when danger threat
ems.
also figure ShoCker and Dutch
Ruether TO bother the Cardinals. Both
have pitched against them frequently
IN the past. Shocker in st. Louis City
series and Ruether when he was IN
the National League They are heady
pitchers and know how to work bat
Iers.
Shawkey has done especially well
as a relief pitcher. though he has not
been a particularly lucky world Sc
ries pitcher in the past AS the re-
suit Of the open dates, | expect to see
Huggins get along with Pennock,
Shocker Ruether. Hoyt and Shawkey.
and doubt whether Jones or the