Evening star., 1928-10-04
RESERVE PLAYERS
; EXPECTED TO STAR
Each Club Has Men Likely to
~ Shade LuminarieS of
I League Seasons.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


n YEw YORK, october At is a
matter of record that in most
world series the players other
i than pitchers who had starred
for their clubs during the
struggles toward league titles failed to
glitter in the gruelling battles of base
balls classic. Most of the heroes of
the poSt-SeaSon scraps other than the
stalwarts of the pitching slab were the
comparatively obscure members of their
clubs during the championship cam
paignS rather than the players who had
put themselves continually to the front
with their sturdy slugging or Spectacu-
lar fielding.
And history is apt to repeat itself in
the twenty-eighth series for the world
base ball championship that was to get
under way in Yankee Stadium today
1t is not to Babe Ruth and Lou Geh-
rig of the Yankees or Jim Bottomley
of the Cardinals that those who have
been following series for years are look
ing for the heavy hitting of this set.
Nor is it to Bob Meusel of the New
York club or frankie FriSch and Rab-
bit Maranville of the st. Louis club that
they are looking for the brilliant plays
afeld.
Yanks Requirements Liked.
Instead, they feel that much of the
spectacular in both departments of play
will be provided by the Yankee replace
InentS, Cedric burst, Ben Paschal, Leo
Durocher and Gene Robertson, and by
George Harper, Andy High and per-
haps Watty Holm of the Cardinals.
Both burst and Paschal are to break
into the New York outfield during the
series. and each has revealed that he
can do pretty good job of outfielding.
Neither was World-beater at bat in
the few opportunities afforded by sub
stitution during the American League
season, but each is dangerous hitter,
and it is player of this type who uSu-
ally shows up we'll in crucial series. He
has no past reputation to hazard, but
everything to gain, and he plays ac-
cordingly
Durocher and Robertson in the Yankee
infield are not to be rated with such
stars as Tony Lazzeri and Joe Dugan,
but they are good ball players and in
crises capable of becoming great ball
players. This Durocher, in fact, is an
unusually cocky chap ready to challenge
the whole world when either his game
ness or playing ability is questioned and
he always is ready and willing to give
his club his ALL He frequently came To
the rescue of the Yankees when injurts
forced LaZzeri to remain out of action.
Some Capable Cards.
Harper never has been regarded high
class outfielder, but the former Giant
since his transfer to st. Louis has helped
the Cards over many a rough spot. So
has High at third base. although never
rated a brilliant infielder. And Holm,
who can play either in the outf1eld or at
the far corner. is no mean performer.
The series will afford these fellows
wonderful opportunity to show their met
tie and they'll be out there trying all
the time. And trying with them is not
apt to mean the same as pressing by
the more highly rated talent with the
st. Louis aggregation.
Keep your eyes on burst, PaSChal. |
Durocher, Robertson, Harper, High and
Holm, say the series old-timers, If you
are looking for thrills.
What Price Managers?
An odd thing concerning the Car
tiinals centers about their last three PEN
nant races. When in 1926 Rogers Horns
by led his men to victory and to world
chamnionshiD he was acclaimed mir
acle man. His leadership was the 1ac-
tor that had done it, we heard every
where. The following year, 1927, Horns
by was with another club.
Along came Bob OFarrell and under
him the same team, perhaps a little
stronger in personnel, pounded down the
stretch neck-and-neck with the Pirates
and only missed victory by thin line.
There could be no complaint against
OFarrell. as his club had finished
strongly despite many misfortunes. Yet
this year found O'Farrell with another
club.
Now it is Bill McKechnie who spurred
the Cardinals down the stretch in an
other game finish. The fans are neap-
ing praise upon McKechnie. But is his
team so very different in personnel from
the one that Hornsby led to victory two
years ago? We think not.
All of which leads to the conclusion
that it is the team and not the manager
that counts. Maybe Bill Dinneen, the
American League umpire, is right in his
iSea of the value of q manager.
"If I owned ball club" says Bill, I'D
bay my scout $4,000 and my manager
$4,000. It's the players who win PEN
nants and it's the scout who gets the
players"