The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-14
OPO r T
kJLANTS
BY ALAN J. GOULD
Associated Press Sports Editor

New York, July l4.--l41-Ncw bat
ting kings probably will be crowned
this year in both major leagues.
The 1926 champions in both cir
cults have slumped so badly that they
now arc virtually out of the race for
hitting honors. Hcinie Manush OF
the Tigers, who led the Americas
League last season, has been having a
struggle staying around the .3Ol
mark while Bubbles Hargravc, the
Cincinnati catcher. who upset the
dope by leading the 1926 National
League list. has dropped off to an
even greater extent. He was around
1856 in the latest unofficial figures.
1t may be too early to pick their
successors but Paul Waner of the
Pirates, in the National League and
either Lou Gehrig of the Yankees or
AL Smmans of the Athletics in the
American League seem to have as
good. prospect as any Of landing
at the top. All three are youngsters.
comparatively, yet seasoned suf-
ficently to have established them
selves among the games most brill
liant all around performers. None
Of this trio has ever been at the
top before, although Waner was close
to it last year.
OF the former American League
champions Babe Ruth is in a threat
ening position but Ty Cobb, Harry
Heilmann and George Sisler seem un-
likely to displace their younger rivals
now at the top.
In the National, Rogers Hornsby
six-time batting champion, started off
sensationally but has been having a
struggle lately in remaining among
the first five. It will take a big
squirt to put the Giants captain back
in the running, with Waner, as we'll
as Joe Harris and Franck Fr!sch
setting the pace they are.
Eddie Roush, another ex-ckampion,
hasn't been hitting anywhere near
his former pace.
The contentious Of two rival
schools Of fistc thought will be at
stake in the Dempsey Sharkey battle
next Thursday.
If Dempsey wins, it will be a
triumph for the mental worry school
whose belief has been that the form
er champion lost to Gene Tunne!
last September chiefly because he
was harrassed by legal matters and
not in the proper frame of mind to
fight at his best.
If Dempsey is defeated it will be
hailed as a victory for the, hollow
she'll theorists who asserted that he
lost his title because The had definite
ly passed the peak of his fighting
form and become "has-been.'
Big Bill Tilden is playing greatel
tennis than ever, in the opinion Of
his recent European touring partner
Frank Hunter, in spite OF the Amer
lean aces setbacks at the hands o.
Rene Lacoste and Henri Cochet.
Both of those defeats" Hunte
said, "are difficult to explain, fol
Tilden hadi @the match hand eacl
time, especially against Cochet
Wimbledon veterans told me the!
had never seen such tennis as Bill
flashed for the first two sets Of hi.
match with Cochet and most Of tn.
third. He slumped suddenly from
this super-tennis to mediocre form
and simply couldn't regain control.
Whatever was the cause Of these
particular defeats. however, the!
can't be laid to old age. Tilden, o.
courses, doesn't think that himself
He made no excuses whatever AM
merely said it was because Coche
and Lacoste were playing better ten
MIS- which they were. ut the time.
!. 'sOrdinarily / would say that ath
letes beyond the 80 year mark ar,
liable to BE- on the decline, but no
| In Tilden's case. He is Of the sinew,
build that doesn't take OH weight
He has always kept himself in con
dition. He gave up smoking al
together this year a. IN added train
! inG measure.
II see % reason Why ridden shout,
| not win the national championsbi
~ 40 * IL Il still i The game = r.