The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-22
ATHLETICS
IMPRESSIVE,
SAYS EVANS
Cobb, Wheat, Collins and b.
ley Transform Mackmen
Into Il Great Club
(By Billy Eyans)

IT. Myers, Fla, March 22.-{ NEA
-Connle Mack thinks this is goin,
to be an Athletic year | am strongl,
inclined to agree with him.
For two years Connie has had tn
same feeling. Each year at som
crucial spot in the race, howeve,
the club has faltered and spoiled hi
pennant dreams.
Connie Mack is not giyen t,
boasting. On the contrary, he pre-
fers action to words. Therefore, i
occasioned much surprise in til,
spring OF 1925 and 1926 when h,
broadcast pcnnant predictions.
This spring Connie isn't doina
much talking. However, il is easy
to see that he is more than satisfied
with his ball club.
1T is as good team as | evei
managed says Connie, land you
will agree that | have been at the
head OF several pretty good ones"
Club Without a Weakness
Of all the ball clubs that | hav,
looked at In the south, the Athletics
at this writing are by far the most
impressive. The club doesn't appear
to have single weakness.
Rival American League teams will
AAhN ehN NaN hHleH nave STRONG de-
tense, good running atttck. a high
~ efficient pitching staff, plenty of
reserve power. and coolies of gray
matter.
Possibly some of the veteran stars
are bit lame and halt, but should
any OF them faltcr. one or more ca
pablo youngsters await the oppor-
tunity to fill the breach.
Four DIayerS th rpp of Ia orr, vot nr 80, =,
stars, have transformed the Athletics
from very good ball club into a
great one. | have in mind Tv Cobb,
Eddie Collins, Zach Wheat and Joe
Boley.
Whatever the club lacked last
season, these four players have sup
piled.
Cobb Will Put Pep Into Club
CobD will put fire into the club,
keep it popped up and whether in
the game or on the bench, looms as
q constant threat
Collins at second will give the in
field stability, smart direction. and
prove invaluable to the Young in
ficlders with wise advice.
Zach Wheat will give it an added
punch at the bat. an asset that will
also be supplied by Cobb and Col
Inns.
Joe Boley should prove a brilliant
performer at sho'rtstop, where CON
sistency IS most necessary to team
success. Boley may never lead the
league at bat, but what lot of runs
he is going to cut off in the field.
Add four players of the known
value of Cobb, Collins, Wheat and
iboIey to very good ball club and
by all the rules of arithmetic, you
get great one as the result.
That is largely the story of the
Athletics. 1t is team
that has been pennant contender
for two years, plus the addition of
Tour stars OF outstanding calibcr.
!. Smartest Man in Baseball
There is no smarter man in base
ball than Connie Mack. For two
years his. players have fallen down on
his predictions but he is not dis
.ouragcd. He frankly tells you that
1e believes this is an Athletic year.
lust modest way of saying his club
will win. the pennant.
You don't need to be q so-callcd
expert to realiez the great strength
possessed by the Mackmen. It is |
making itself manifest.
Considering the club from every |
lngle, it is easily the most impress
i've club that I have looked over in |
pring training. It is fairly con-
ervative to say that the team that
eats the Athletics will come more
han close to winning the American
eague pennant.