Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-30

OF. LOUIS, September 3d.
The Cardinals will win this
~ world series in six or seven
games. The Athletics beat
us last year in six starts, but I be-
lieve we will turn the tables on
them this time.
I base my confidence on the
marked improvement Of the Car
dinals since 1880. The. National
League race showed plainly how
we improved, for we had this
years pennant pretty well sewed
up for almost two months. Last
season, coming from behind, we
did not clinch the title until the
last few days.
believe we have one of the best
balanced clubs Of all time. There's
not q weak cog in the machine and
this Cardinal team really Is Q ma
chine. 1t became 20 when Sparky
Adams developed into one Of the
out our inf1eld, and when Pepper Mar
tin met immediate success in Taylor
Douthits old place, center feld.
Cards Count on Speed.
Martin added terrific speed to q
team already gifted with extraordinary
agility. think We have more really
fast men than any other club. There
Is speed In every position. Catchers
are supposed not TO be fast on foot, for
some reason, but Jimmy Wilson, ace OF
the Cards fine catching star. Il one
OF the best base r;lners in the Ma
tional League. Jim was o star soccer
professional once.
Speed enabled US to take advantage
OF the "deadened" National League
ball. Both National and American
League base balls we're produced with
raised seams this year to help the
pitchers, but the National ball had q
thicker cover and, believe me, the
given them. Although the Cardinals
fell on IN batting, as did all the other
clubs, we had so much speed that we
were able in great measure to counter
balance what we lost In hitting.
Just run through our lineup. Hafey
and Watkins fianking Martin in the
outf1eld, with Roettger, Orsatu and
Blades as reserves. Bottomley, Gel
bert, Adams and yours truly in the
infleld; backed up by Collins. flowers
and High. Add Wilson's fast pedals
end you realize why we lead the Ma
tional League In stolen bases and are
among the leaders in total bases on
hits.
Our team, save center field, Is the
same that fought the Athletics last
Fan. Martin IN Douthit's place is the
lone change, except for an alternate in
play this position against rieht.hand
pitching. but Roettger will : be IN
there when q left-handeE faces US.
Roettger came from Cincinnati in
trade for Douthit.
Rates Derringer Greatest Aid.
Ranking even higher than Martin and
ADAMS In adding power to this years
Cardinals Is our giant young right
handler, Paul Derringer. He Is the best
new pitcher in the National League.
Coming up from Rochester, where he
starred several seasons, this big Ken
lucky yearling has made an undying
name as a first-year pitcher. Recently
he pitched 50 consecutive scoreless In
nings.
Derringer, Grimes, Haines, Hallahan,
f3yl johnson and Rhem form the largest
fllas-string pitching stad in base ball.
HaineS has had sore spot In his pitch
ing shoulder This probably win prevent
him from pitching In the series. That
would be O hard blow 70 US, as only a
few weeks ago he was pitching such
light base ball that Manager Street was
considering him for the opening game
Right now ! do not know which
pitcher Street figures 70 open with. Last
year he started Grimes, and maybe