Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-21
BARNARD Sees
HOT CONTESTS
IN AMERICAN
All Teams in Circuit
Strengthened Dur
ing Closed Season,
President Asserts

CHICAGO, Jan. 2l7P-There is a
logical foundation for the feeling,
said President Z. S. Barnard Of the
American league today, that the
championship race of 1928 will be
the most holly contested the league
has experienced in many years.
The potential strength of the
Yankees, he said, has not weakened
the morale of the other seven clubs
and there has been more trading
OF experienced ball players and
strengthening of clubs this winter
than ever before in the history of
the league.
Reviewing the 1928 prospects, club
by club. President Barnard said:
Beginning at the bottom of the
1927 percentage table, we find that
the Boston Red Sex will be better
than last year, both because of ma
terial added and because of the in
creased experience of several bril-
liant youngsters with whom Man
ager Carrigan put in so much o n
scientious work last summer.
Browns Club New
The St. Louis Browns will be al
most an entirely new club in 1928,
as a result of the most drastic
changes which ever have been made
in any American league club between
two sol The Browns have sent
several good players to other clubs
but Manager Howley also has secured
some good men in these exchanges.
Players like Blue, Manush and Nc
Nelly would help almost n major
league club. II the pitching staff
measures up, the Browns will be q
much better club than last season.
The marked improvement in the Red
Sox and the Browns is in itself a
sufficient guarantee Of an improved
race when it is recalled that the big
lead the Yankees enjoyed last season
was secured and held at the expense
of these two clubs. The world cham
pions won is of % games with the
Red Sox and q out Of p games with
the Browns in 1927.
"Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit. Wash
ington and Philadelphia all have
added strength to their 1927 organ
izations. The Indians suffered last
year because Uhle and Levsen
failed to do what was expected of
them. Both Uhle and Levsen will
be back in form this year and in ad-
dition the Indians have more reserve
pitching strength than a year ago.
The Psychology of the new owner
ship will also have a beneficial ef-
feet upon the work Of this club.
Sox Stronger
"With the addition of Young
Cissell, the return Of Johnny Mostil
to nte field, the prospects of Moe
Berg starting the season as a regular
catcher, and the presence Of several
promising young pitchers and put
fielders, the White Sox should be
able to avoid the slump that has
taken that club out OF the race dur
ing the past two seasons after bril-
liant starts both years. !.
"The Detroit club has strengthened
its defense without sacrificing speed
or punch and, if Manager Moriarty
can get his Tigers away to a better
start than has characterized the
early season work of that club In re-
cent years, Detroit ought to cause the
Yankees some sleepless nights next
summer.
president Griffith and Manager
Harris have been carrying on an IN
tensive campaign for a new pitch
ing Staf1 Tor the past TWO years anu
their efforts have been crowned with
such success that the Washington
club will enter the 1928 race with as
good, If not the best, staff Of hurlers
in the American league.
by getting rid of a number OF vet
Grams, the return OF Hauser to form
end the addition of several fast
youngsters, the Athletics have been
speeded up without the loss Of any
defensive strength.
"The American league is fortunate
in having the most aggressive owner
ship Of its eight clubs in its entire
history. II Col. Rupert and Miller
Higgins can keep the Yankees up to
their standard of the past two sea
sons, the American league is destined
to give its patrons some great base
bali, as the other clubs in the organi-
cation are determined to build up TO
the Yankees. The 1928 race will
prove that considerable progress has
been made in this direction, and
there will be no such gap between
the Yankees and the field as was the
case last