Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-02
YANKS WEAKENED
! BY LOSS OF STARS
Hugmen RiddIed by Injuries,
While st. Louis Players
Are in Fine Condition.
BY HERBERT w. BARKER.
Associated Press Sports Writer.

ASSOCldteu HI6SS sports writer.
n YEW YORK, October Aft they'd
only play this world series in
VI a hospital ward the Yankees
A would win without struggle
AS it is the bettors think the
St Louis Cardinals are going to repeat
their world championship victory OF
1926. And being gentlemen of firm con-
victions they're ready to put $40 down
on the line against 81 to back their
judgment.
While Bill McKechnie spends his
spare time gloating over the fact that
his Cardinals came through the siren
uous National League pennant battle
without so much as a bruise, Miller
Higgins turns his wiStful eye to the
Yankee ranks and sees nothing but the
lame, halt and the blind. Bandages
are as much part of standard Yankee
equipment as are gloves. The pungent
Aroma of arnica and iodine discloSes
the presence of other caSuals who on
the surface appear almost hale and
hearty.
But strangely enough. Higgins, the
gloomy Gil Dobie of base ball. is not
ready to bury his hopes of another
world title to add to those he won in
1923 against the New York Giants. and
last year when his clouting circus made
the ferocious Pirates of Pittsburgh seem
quite innocuous by comparison.
Some of his cripples day by day are
getting better and better. and besides,
Higgins has lot Of confidence" in his
team.
HYgmen Badly Handicapped.
But there's no gair-saying that the
Yanks are going to enter the first game
CT the series on Thursday badly handi-
capped. Pennock, as good world series
pitcher as base ball history can name,
will not be in there myStifying rival
botsmen with his lcit-handed slants.
Nor will Wiley Moore. who also won
che of the games against the Pirates
lest Fail. Waite Hoyt George Pipgras
End Tom Zachary will have to bear the
burden this time.
Most of the infield would appear to
better advantage in hospital bed than
on the ball field. Tony LazZeri, who
can throw overland only at the price
o. excruciating pain in his shoulder, will
Re at second base; Mark koenig. suf-
fering from a sore foot will limp about
shortStop territory; Leu Gehrig. struck
in the face by h2ttcd ball in the last
game of the regular SEASON, will do his
first-basing with pr of swollen lips,
but otherwise in round health; Joe
Dugans accustomed mace at third base
probably will be taken c1re Of almost
exclusively by Gene Robertson, who is
untried as yet in series fire.
Bob Meuscl and thu one and only
Babe Ruth viii b. in the outf1eld, al
though the latter IS troubled by a trick
knee. Center field duty probably Will
be divided between Cedric burst and
Ben Paschal, although there's a posi-
bility that Earle Combs injured wrist
may mend fast enough to let the Ken
lucky colonel into the lineup before
the series ends.
In sharp contrast to these misfor-
sGnes that have struck the American
League champions, the Cardinals are
quite ready for the series. McKech-
MES club Is in first-rate shape and
with wee Willie Sherdel Jess Haines,
Grover Alexander. Clarence Mitchell
and Flint Rhem ready 10 do the pitch
ing, Bill, who went through ali this
with the Pirates in 1925, is not worry
Ing over much.
Trio Will Bother Yankees.
Sherdel, Alex and Mitchell, on paper
at least, figure to give the Yankees
some bad moments. The American
League title holders thrive on speed
and generally have trouble with the
slow-ball pitchers with control. Alex
ander and Sherdel both gave the Yankl
ell kinds of trouble in 1925 it may be
remembered. although Sherdel was I'M
lucky enough to lose two games. largely
because he was matched with Pennock.
Indications are that Sherdel and
Haines will pitch the first two games
here and that Alexander will be sent
% the mound in the third game at st.
Louis on Sunday. For reasons easily
understood, Higgins is extremely I'M
certain as to how he will work his
pitchers, but 1t is generally agreed that
he can start no one but the well known
mortician, Hoyt. Pipgras possibly will
shoulder the burden in fridays game
and Zachary. who already has seen a
world series with Washington, may get
the call on Sunday
All the reserved seats for the open-
Ing game at the Yankee Stadium have
been sold, but 100000 unreserved tickets
gill go on sale the day of the first game
Prospects are for an opening day crowd
OF close to 10000.