The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-10-11
II Athletics Win Today He
Doubts That Nationals Can
Win Four Straight
FIRST GAME DISASTROUS
Former umnirA and Critic Save
Former Umpire and Critic Says
the Losers Are Stronger
Than Fans Think
BY BILLY A
Tribune Special Seryicel

Philadelphia. Pa. Oct. 1l.-With
two games OH tho debit side Of the
ledger. the Chicago Cubs have their
work cut out for them If they are to
remain In the running for the worlds
championship.
The third game is certain to prove
a critical test of the courage Of the
Cubs. A win means renewed hope,
while defeat will just about spell dis
aster since 1t mean the Chicago club
must win four straight to overthrow
the domination of the American
League that has held sway since 1926.
/ have witnessed the last Is series
between the two leagues. either in
the roll Of scribe OF umpire. and am
frank to say that ! cannot recall a
game that is dotted with the many
freak happenings Of the first two
games. Possibly I am wrong. but 1t is
my firm opinion that the victory
scored by Pitcher Howard Ehmke in
the opening game will prove to be the
determining factor in the final result.
His unexpected start against the
Cubs and the decisive win that fol-
lowed. due to his complete mastery
of the Chicago sluggers, was q bit of
psychology on the part Of Connie
Mack that welded q most Oppressive
influence over the spirit Of the Cubs.
Now that the first game iAa mat
ter Of history. / must frankly admit
that / could scarcely believe my eyes
when ] saw Elmke starting to warm
up. I felt sure it was some sort Of
a hoax. I looked over the field to see
If somewhere / could spy Grove Of
Earnshaw taking a secret warmup.
Even then. failing to see anyone but
Ehmke preparing for the opener. the
thought came to me that possibly
Mack had someone getting ready UNI
der the stand.
Never OverIooks bet
The wise Mr.. Mack never overlookS
q bet. Several times I have seen him
warm up q right handler in order to
get the opposition to start q lot Of
left handlers in the lineup, only to
withdraw the right handler the mo-
ment he had pitched to one batter.
Sending In a southpaw. he rendered
useless for the rest Of the day the
southpaw battcrs, provided the man.
ager Of the team at bat desired to
remove them from the lineup In order
to get his right handed strength
against the left handed pitcher. Back
In 1924 against the New York Giants,
Manager Stanley Harris, Of Washing
ton. did such q thing. starting Ogden
and then replacing him with q left
4landc.' after he had pitched to one
man. I looked for Mack to do this.
In several games that Ehmke has
started against our Cleveland club this
year, he had trouble getting by the
first inning. BY no stretch Of my
Imagination could I picture Mack as
using Ehmke as his starting hurler.
Certainly there must be a catch some:
where. But there wasnt-except
from the Cub angle.
Selecting Ehmke as the startine
pitcher was m audacious move on the
part Of Mack. ! an sure Joe McCar-
thy welcomed Il and no doubt said to
himself. "He won't last more than .
couple Of innings" As inning after
inning went BY and Ehmlse was sttll
out there o. the rubber striking out
practically every other Cub to face
him, Joe Mccarthy's face wore .
worried look.
II the Athletics win the series and
at this time, the Mackmen seem we'll
on the way TO such . result. I win
always feel that Ehmke's unexpected