The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-28
SECOND SACK
EXPERT AIDS
TEAM ACTION
Team Used to Go as Ruth Did,
But Fans Are Beginning to
Wake Up
INJURED SHOUL d E r
Team Positions Were Shifted
When He Left; Fielders
Were Moved
INJURED SHOUL DE r
BY HENRY l.. FARRELL
(NEA Service Sports Writer

During the years since they be-
came something in American League
affairs, it has become legendary OF
the New York Yankees that as the
Babe went so went the ball club.
There were spells when the Babe
was not himself for reasons that are
not pertinent to this piece and dur
ing those bad spells the whole ball
club seemed to go bad.
There were other and more num-
erous spurts when the Babe was him
self and when he was hitting the
whole ball club battered its way with
abandon through the best pitching in
the league.
It did seem as if the pace Of the
ball club was governed entirely by
the whims and the moods of the
Babe. And as the Babe settled
down to become the despair Of the
managers Of rival clubs he became
at the same time their hope for the
future.
"When the Babe goes that whole
ball club will bust right open," the
rival managers reasoned and they
consoled themselves with the thought
that Mr.. Ruth could hot 60 on for
ever.
But the legend Of the dominating
Ruth influence on the club, if not
actually blasted this season, was, to
say the least, placed in a position
where it could be doubted seriously.
Babe Was Responsible
The Babe, during a season that
turned into q surprising fight for
their lives as champions, had one Of
his best seasons. There wasn't any
period up to the time this is written
that he could have been declared
definitely to have been in slump.
He kept consistently ahead of his
1927 pace in an inspiring attempt to
make another home run record. He
tinkered with his stance and swing
to produce hits into left field that
would win ball games. And he won
several Of them by crossing the
standard Ruth style of defense
against him.
He fielded his position brilliantly
and restra ed his remarkable en-
thusiasm only on the stric.est orders
from the bench that he was to taxe
no unnecessary chances on his arm
or legs.
But in spite Of the Babes tremen-
dous inspiration the Yankees went
suddenly and without warning into
state Of almost complete demorali-
cation. It is true that the pitching
staff faltered under the burden of
double-headers and that old minor
mishaps reduced the efficiency Of the
club. But it is significant, at least,
that the fall of the Yankees from a
commanding lead started almost on
the very day that "Poosh- Emf Up"
Tony Lazzeri went out Of the game
with an injured shoulder.
Lazzeri's Loss Felt
After Lazzeri was injured the
Yankees lost every series they
played on the road and their position
was so threatened by the charging
Philadelphia athletics that the Off
Gals Of the club had to send the S
0 S to the minors for reinforce
ments.
Since he came up to the Yankees,
Lazzeri has been regarded as any
thing but an ordinary player. Those
who know their baseball marked
him as the best second baseman in
the league-and perhaps in the ma
jors. Miller Higgins knew his
great value from the time he won
the post as the regular second base
man and he confided earlier in the
season to the manager Of another
club that his greatest fear was that
something might happen to his Tony.
When Lazzeris had to 60 to the
hospital, Mark Koenig went COM
pletely to pieces. Koerig is a tenn
peramental ball player. He knew
how to work with Lazzeri but when
he had to w~rk through q stranger"
on second he began to falter. Geh-
rigs work on first base also suffered
when the always reliable and eff
cient Tony was not 1t his right. :
Lineups Was Changed
The Babe had to change his sta
ton in right field when Lazzeri
wasn't on second and Earl Combs in
centerfield had to cut down his ter
ritory. The players couldn't COM
plain particularly about the subSti-
tutes IN Tony's place but it was 50
much different when he was not
there.
It was bad luck for the Yankees
perhaps it may turn out to have
been fatal-when Lazzeri had to
take to the bench. But, from q sell
fish standpoint, it may prove to be
= good break for "Poosh- EN- Up"
He wasn't hurt badly and his
game should not be affected in the
future and by leaving the game he
has shown that perhaps the Yanks
60 as Tony goes instead Of following
the pace Of the Babe.