The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-20

1T OVER
WITH JOE WILLIAMS

g.m~~n~~~o~upoun~~xm@AM >~@e
NEW YORK, Feb. 2o.-The race
~ in the National League is like
" to be close again this year. Two
years ago the Pirates did not clinch
the flag until the last day OF the
season, and last year the CARDS
we're crowded clear up TO the hnlsn.
So closely punched were the teams
during the greater part OF the cam
paign that it was possible Tor ciuo
10 be in sixth place at the start OF
the DAVIS schedule and on top after
the final returns had been counted.
This was in direct contrast With the
race In the American League. From
April until mid-August the Yankees
made farce out of the competition.
II wasn't until their pitching col
lapsed and the Athletics Launched
sustained S~'-r that the race took on
the aspect of a genuine fight.
It was the only touch OF drama
the younger league has known IN
two years, for the year before the
Yankee domination was not only
lust as decisive, but consistent and
sustained. Higgins hired hands
took complete charge of the situa-
tion early In the race and saw to 1t
that there was no change in the
essential details until the world
series swag was divided.
. n
THERE Is A CHANCE THAT MATTERS
MAY BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. SOME
OF HIGGINS HIRED HANDS HAVE
STARTED TO SLIP AND THERE ARE
ENOUGH UNCERTAIN QUANTITIES
PRESENT IN THE MAKE UP OF THE
TEAM TO CAST A BL1GHTING DOUBT
OVER THE 1929 PROSPECTS.
y y
TIME Athletics with their star
L batterymen and the eloquent bat
of AL Simmons will supply a mild
sort of fight at least. The Washing
ton club doesn't look exactly weak
either. It would be something of a
novelty to see a close race from the
start in the American League.
The experts are saying the race
in the National League will develop
into a three cornered fight from the
beginning, with the Cubs, Pirates
and Giants swinging from their
respective hips. Because of the adj
dition of Rogers Hornsby the Cubs
are conceded to have picked up
enough power to warrant their be-
ing established as fav0rites.
THE GIANTS ALWAYS HAVE A
PRETTY GOOD TEAM, AND THERE IS
NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT THE
PRESENT CLUB IS AN EXCEPTION. IT
HAS PITCHING, BATTING AND FIELD
ING STRENGTH IN SUFFICIENT GUAM
TITLES TO OFFSET THE IMPERFEC
TONS THAT EXIST IN CERTAIN SPOTS.
u ~
The Giants also have John Joseph
McGraw, a little older, little
grayer and little rounder, but still
McGraw. OF late his health has
been failing. Last year and the
year before he was forced off the
bench at critical periods because of
disabilities. The Giants future de-
ponds in no small measure upon the
amount of time the veteran man
ager is able to devote to his club.
TINE Pirates, under Owen Bush,
Il figure to be stout contender
all the way. Eush has had a hard
time of it in Pittsburgh, and in
spite of the fact that he won
championship two years ago the
breaks have gone consistently
against him. During his champion
ship year he suffered repeated set
backs because his pitching staff
wabbled and faded. 1t required
genius of a sort to hold the staff
together long enough to stagger
into the series.
Last year Bush figured his club
at least rs per cent stronger. He
had made pitching trade and had
sent the rebellious CuyIer to the
Cubs for Sparky Adams. He had
strengthened his one weak spot on
the infieId and had bolstered his
pitching staff.
THEN WHEN THE 1928 SEASON OPENED
MISERY BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE. NO
ONE BELIEVED A CLUB COULD GET
THE SAME RUN OF BAD LUCK TWO
YEARS IN SUCCESSION, BUT THE PR
ATES NOT ONLY HAD ANOTHER RUN
OF BAD LUCK BUT 1T WAS MORE DIS
TURBING THAN WHAT HAD GONE BE-
FORE.
THE pitching staff that was sup
4 posedly stronger and more
formidable collapsed again and with
louder and more devastating ex-
plosion. Kremer, whom Bush the
year before had called the best
pitcher In the country" had an off
year. Only with great exertion did
he manage to pitch 500 baseball.
Meadows, one of the top ranking
pitchers in the league, worked in
only four games, and Miljus who
had given rare promise the year
before was of such little value that
he was waived out of the league
IT is HARDLY IN THE CARDS FOR A
TEAM TO HAVE THREE STRAIGHT
YEARS OF BAD LUCK. THE PERCENT
AGE is ALL AGAINST IT. THIS MAY
BE THE PIRATES YEAR
nITnIIEnN nEANII NAAAn