Evening star., 1930-10-02

world series, ChoSe 1aVorlng Cle
National League bunch, as well as
the followers of the American
League representatives in base
balls classic of the year, were
wondering how the st. Louis club
could hope to get very far after
having its best pitching bet de-
feated in the opener of the set.
When Burleigh Grimes fell before
the AS in the 5-to-2 game here
yesterday it seemed the Cardinals
greatest hope for success IN the
series was blasted.
Not that the National League con-
testant hasn't other clever pitchers.
The veteran, Jesse Haines, and Flint
Rhem, who has been in big time serV-
ice long, despite his not so many years,
may make the going difficult for the
American League outfit. But neither
Haines nor Rhem Is a Grimes. The big
spitballer all along had been regarded
the one "sure thing" in the Cardinals
bag. With Grimes beaten right on the
reel, it Is felt the st. Louis club Will
poise even though it still may have
mound strength In the arms OF Haines
and Rhem.
Cards Show Fight.
However, in taking their licking yes
terday the Cardinals as a club did not
look a weak lot They appeared to be
much better than were the Cubs, who
were easily turned back by the Ath-
letics in the world series last year.
They displayed deal of fight, fine
spirit and plenty base ball ability. The
st. Louis club is a club that should
do much to regain some OF the prestige
hckings in the world series, but 1t Is
doubtful that 1t is good enough to cop
the laurels.
The Cardinals had . great chance
Yesterday to get away to q fine start
in the series, for they faced Bob
Grove who wasn't nearly so good as he
had been most of the time In the
American League campaign. They
found the 1eft-hander not so hard to
hit and twice during the game he ap-
peared on the verge of taking sound
humping. But the Cardinals not only
failed to reveal a telling punch when
they had splendid opportunity to dam
age the Athletics cause, but also failed
to upset the opposition at all.
No matter what the Cardinals did
the Athletics went them a bit better.
Outhitl nine safeties to five, the Ath-
letics nevertheless made every one OF
their safeties count, while the Cardinals
made good use of only. three OF their
safeties and at that needed q bit Of
luck to profit from them. Only because
Grove fell as he started after Grimes
intended sacrifice bunt and turned the
tap into base-stealing single in the
third inning did the Cardinals manage
to score as many as two runs. But for
Groves fall not more than one marker
would have been registered by the Ma
tiona1 League representatives in their
lone scoring round.
There were some National League
supporters who contended the Athletics
got all the breaks of the game. If good
fielding means getting all the breaks
the AS did, for they supported Grove
wonderfully. It would seem, though,
that the great break of play favored
the Cardinals in that third inning,
when Grove fell as Grimes bunted.
That break put the Cardinals in front
for the only time in the spectacular
contest.
The AS certainly showed the value
of the extra-base hit in the series
opener. Each of their. five hits had
plenty distance and each meant a run.
Probably the biggest hit springing from
Philadelphia bat was AL Simmons
homer in the fourth frame. That drive
over the fence back of right-center
put the Athletics on even terms with
the Cardinals, and undoubtedly did
much toward steadying club that had
threatened to give way to great ex-
tent during the Cardinals third-inning
bombardment Of Grove.
Macks Pull Squeeze.
Once in the game again the AS
seemed to grip themselves and light
with renewed vigor. They made good
use Of every opportunity thereafter.
Even though Grimes struck out three
batters In the sixth inning the AS man
aged to take advantage Of the pass to
pass pass was followed by Jimmy Dykes
double to shove over tie-breaking run.
And in the seventh the AS staged a
spectacular squeeze play to better their
position. With Mule Haas on third by
virtue of a triple, Joe Bolsy put down
perfect bunt along the first-base line.
With such confidence was the play
staged that Haas was at the plate al
most as soon as Boley tapped the ball.
1t was in the seventh, before the AS
scored with their squeeze play, that the
Cardinals made their final bid for VIC
tory, and only remarkable support kept
Grove out Of serious difhculty. With
Grimes on f1rst and one out, Boley did
q bit Of fielding that may have been
eQualed but never has been surpassed
in q world series to save the day, per-
haps, for his pitcher and his club.
The hit-and-run evidently was on,
for Grimes broke for second with the
pitch to Taylor Douthit. AS Grimes
started Boley turned toward the middle
sack that he might be in position for
a throw from Mickey Cochrane. But
toward the spot Boley had just left.
The Athletics shortstop checked his
progress toward second, but to get in
front of the ball had to dive to his right.
Throwing himself headlong, Boley
knocked down the hard drive and while
sitting on the ground heaved the ball
to Max Bishop at second for a forced
play that retired Grimes less than a
stride from the sack. After that Sparky
Frisch clouted q liner that seemed on
the way to at least q two-base hit-a
hit long enough to shove over two runs
| for the Cardinals. But Bishop leaped
and with one hand pulled down the
| fast-hying sphere. 1t was a great catch,
this by Bishop, but Boley's stop and
| throw earlier in the inning without
question was the outstanding fielding
feat Of the fray.
Just for good measure Cochrane got
| the Athletics another run after two
were out in the eighth by betting the
ball over the right field wall, as he had
done so often during the American
League season. Even this second homer
of Grimes did not make the spit
baller's game poor one. But that the
AS were able to trim the best in the
Cardinals pitching ranks, supposedly,
while Grove managed to get away with
| his game on q day when he wasn't so
good made the Cardinals chance Of
coping In this series seem poor.
st. Louis may fprtng surprise by