The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-16
McGillicuddy May Not Get In.
to the World Series But
They Must Be Given Credit
for Succeeding in Accom-
plishing the Almost Impos-
sihle
By HENRY L. FARRELL .
NEA C4~,.soo C~orte We:<nrN


Old man Mack and hi Philadel-
phia Athletics may not get into the
world series, but they must be given
credit for one thing. He and his
strange assortment Of old men and
young men have succeeded in accom-
plishing the almost impossible They
have made something close to real
pennant race in the American
League.
When the hampton New York
Yankees sped around the July
Fourth bend they seemed to be
coasting into another remnant by Is
or 20 games. The Athletics were
the only club with a ghost of a
chance to offer resistance, and the
Yankees had shellacked them so
thoroughly in all the series between
the two clubs that they looked like
set-ups.
Wouldn't Take Count
But Old Man Mack wouldn't take
the count. In his wise old baseball
head he must have seen in all those
July double headers facing the
champions the chance of a none too
strong pitching staff going to pieces.
And he must have known also that
no team can avoid one serious slump
and he rated his team along waiting
for the break.
He not only kept trying, but he
kept fighting with a personal prob
lem. He had practically two teams
to jockey viii a pennant at stake.
One was team built around num-
Der of experienced but slow vet
Grams. The other was a team with
three or four youngsters in vital
positions.
Mack placed his big hope in the
old team figuring that he would use
them until they failed and then stick
in the youngsters and ask them to
put on squirt down the stretch. But
the problem was when to make the
switch. One mistake either way
could cost i'm any chance he had
for the pennant.
Shift Made Logically
The selection Of the proper mo-
rnent for the shift was made itself
however The Yankees gave un-
m,stakable Sims of cracking and at
the same time Mack's old boys went
clear bad and he made the move.
Speaker had been out of the game
for some time He jerked Cobb anc
put Young eas in the outfield. He
benched Hal and replaced him al
third base With the Juvenile Jimmy
Foxx. He pulled Joe Hauser of
first base again and stuck Ossie Or.
vol. one of the pitchers, in thai
tough spot. And his strategy clicked
from the start.
While the Yankees were going Il
pieces and kicking away a lead o.
about Is games, the Athletics SCI
sail and nabbed 10 out Of 81 game.
and put themselves right on thu
heels of the faltering champions.
Yanks Had Luck
Bad luck did not cause the col
lapse Of the Yankees and good lucl
did not aid the Athletics in thei
climb, so it looks as if the revise,
Athletics are due to give the cham
pions hot fight for the pennant.
Figuring the paper strength 0
the two clubs, the ball players thinl
that the Athletics have a chance be
cause Of a more reliable pitchir!
staff. But at the same tina til
players say that paper strengt
doesn't count when the Athletics az
under consideration.
They say among themselves ;ha
the Athletics haven't q heart an
they refer to the records for tn
season showing that the Yankees &C
cumulated the biggest part Of thai
once formidable lead bv beating tn
Athletics in "croocial SERIES" Il
the opinion Of some Of the smal
players that the Yankees will sna
out Of their trance in time to knoc
off the Athletics in their next serie.
starting Sept. 8, and that may .,ecid
the pennant.
The players also point out tha
the Yankees are . club Of grcs
money players and that Mack ma
! have to 20 back to Cobb. Hale an
Hauser when he gets to . tigl
place.
But regardless Of wha. may hal
pen before the close Of the seasol
| Old Connie didn't lose any hear: ar
it WAS his disposition to Keen tryin