The Washington times., 1931-10-01
HIS PRESENCE
MAKES AS
FAVOR|TES
BY BABE RUTH

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 1.-The chief
difference between the AS and
the Cardinals in the series start
ting today Is a tall, lean left
handler by the name of Robert
Moses Grove. And because Grove
will be doing considerable pitch
ing during this series, I look for
the Athletics to win baseball'S
highest honors. If Grove were
pitching for the Cardinals,
would pick them to finish in front.
The Cardinals have been weak
against southpaws all season,
am told. They were beaten five
straight times by Bill Walker, Of
the Giants, and they did not beat
him once. Twice he pitched two
hit games against them. Any
team which is weak against south.
paws is likely to be particularly
weak against Grove.
Made 'Em Look Bad
He has made every team in
his own league look bad this sea-
son, whether the particular team
liked southpaws or right-handerS.
He is the greatest pitcher Of
many years, perhaps the greatest
left-hander in the history of the
game.
Add to the presence of this
great pitcher on the side of the
AS the fact that the schedule
couldn't better for the American
LeaguerS if Connie Mack had
drawn it up himself.
Grove can start three times
while getting three complete DAYS
Of rest between his starts. He
will be able to do relief work if
needed, and he is the best pitcher
IN the game today to protect q
one-run lead or hold another team
runless until his own team can
score.
It would not surprise me If the
series goes seven games, as be-
neVe the Cardinals are a better
team than the 1880 Cardinals,
who were downed in six games.
I rate Earnshaw as better than
any of the Cardinal pitchers, but
I do not expect George will hold
the National Leaguers as helpless
as he did a year ago. To repeat
such success is almost too much
to expect.
Grimes, Hallahan, Derringer or
johnson are all good enough
pitchers to deefat the AS so I
do not look to see the st. Louis
pitching staff roughly handled.
Manager Street has a well-baI-
anced team that Is a worthy rep
resentative of it's league in the
series, as the Mackmen are
worthy representatives Of their
league.
Grove May Pitch Thrice
But every line Of reasoning
seems to bring us back to the
fact that Lefty Grove will be
pitching two games, or possibly
three, and don't believe the Car.
dinalS are going to damage MS
delivery very much.
The National League cham
piOns have been unsuccessful In
the past four world series. NOT
since the 1924 series has the
National League team started
with q victory n the first game.
Il would seem as If both spells
are due to change, but with
Grove pitching the first game
and coming back for one or
two more it doesn't look good.
Here is a pitcher who was
beaten only three times during
the season and he rang UP 80
victories. He lost a game in
April, 2-1, was charged with his
second defeat in June, Us.
while serving as a relief pitcher
in an extra inning game, and he
lost his third game in August,
10. In the three games which
went against him only five runs
were scored against Grove. What
a pitcher.
In stressing Grove I. am not
forgetting that the big bats Of
Simmons, Cochrane and Foxx and
a tight defense will also be on
the job, or the fact that the
Cards are real champions. It
looks like a great series, and I
hope Il is.
Copyright, 1881, by the Christy