New Britain herald., 1930-03-13
CARDINALS SEEK TENANT AGAIN
Winners in 1926 and 1928 Ap-
 pear to Have a Great Club

Bradenton, Fla, March 13 tP)- On their record as pennant winners in 1926 and 1928, the St. Louis Cardinals have had sufficient in- terval to furnish impetus for another pennant drive.
 Their new manager, Charles (Gab- by) Street, has tackled his job with a spirit Of enthusiasm, manifesting no concern for the shortshrift ex- perienced by his immediate crop of predecessors.
 Some people may not think we have a great club but I think we have a real chance to win," remark ed Street. His employer, and club president, Sam Breadon, was even less conservative.
 This is the best club we have had in recent years" Breadon said.
 Unfortunately, it will take more than this optimism. more than the excellent record of past perform. ances to put the Cardinals in any thing approaching a contending posi- ton this year. The clubs extensive farm system" has failed to produce all the replacements needed to check the decline to the two-time cham pionship machine.
 With only a few changes, some of which have not been for the bet ter, the Red Birds are the same flock that Rogers Hornsby piloted to the pennant in 1926 and Bill Mo- Kechnie led to the top in 1928. The veteran pitching staff, featuring Willie Sherdel, Jess Haines and Clar- ence Mitchell, has gone somewhat rapidly downhill with no immediate reenforcements in sight to measure up to their old standards.
 If anything is to be accomplished this year by the Cards: in fact if they are to stick in the first division. they must uncover at least two or three new pitchers capable of carry ing on where the veterans weaken or leave of. Gabby Street, who handled Walter Johnson's fast ones in the days of the Coffeyville Cyclones prime, knows his pitchers, but he has a man-sized job on his hands to de- velop an effective corps out of the material on hand. Of the principal veterans, Mitchell is 39, Haines S6 and Sherdel 30. All possess a lot of the old stuff and their experience counts considerably but, as Street admits, they need lot of rest be- tween starts"
 Sylvester Johnson, a. courageous right handler. is only 20 and should be a mainstay. Jim Lindsey, who had a fine. record with Houston, one of the Cardinal farms, may be the best of the newcomers. He is q big right handler with lots of stuff. Street has the task of finding two or three other steady workers from among Herman Bell, Bill Hallahan. an er- ratio southpaw; Fred Farmhouse. Carmen Hill, the bespectacled for mer Pirate finger; and Al Gra- bowski. Bell has come back after term with Rochester and Grabow- ski was with Danville, H., most of last season. Charles Flint Rhem, If he fufllls a promise to reform his training habits. may contribute some right handed effectiveness. Hal Haid is the chief relief man.
 Behind the bat the veteran Earl Smith and Jimmy Wilson again will do most of the work, with Gus Man cuso ready to step in.
 When the Cards obtained Earl (Sparky) Adams from the Pirates. the assumption was he would play second and Frankie Frisch would move to third. Street however, ve- toed this plan. He will keep Frisch at second base, because of his dou- ble play skill; work Andy High, great spring performer, at third and hold Adams in reserve. Charley Gel bert is expected to improve at short and Jim Bottomley still is among the hardest hitting first seekers. Joel Hunt, former Texas A. and NJ. quarterback, has shown ability at third and may land a utility post.
 Chick Hafey, his eye-sight inn proved, and Taylor Douthit have no serious rivals for their regular jobs in left and center. With the speedy movie actor, Ernest Orsatti in right, there is $50 punch or better in every outfield post. enough to satisfy the most cNacting. Homer Peel, ob- tained from the Phillies, has hit hard enough in training to insure himself at least relief job.