The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-26
Five Clubs Rank
AS Contenders in
Forthcoming Race
st. Louis, Chicago, New York,
Brooklyn, and Pittsburgh
Expected to Lead

New York, March 26.-tH]-Inat
dull, booming sound heard this spring
all the way from Clearwater, Florida,
TO Catalina Island, California, may
have sounded like the coast artillery
al practice but it merely is the blast
ing operations of baseballS heavy
duty boys, tuning up for one of the
hottest pennant races the old Nation
al League ever has had in prospect.
The task of selecting a probable
winner in the forthcoming battle Is
Just as much guesswork as it was in
trying to detect the eventual winner
last August, before the st. Louis
Cardinals braced and rushed to the
front.
The first four clubs were separated
by only six games at the finish OF
the 1880 pennant race. These four
St. Louis, Chicago, New York and
Brooklyn-all will toss reinforced
lineupS into the thick of this years
action. All rank distinctly as poten-
tial winners.
The total list of contenders in
cludes ct least five teams, with the
Pittsburgh Pirates back in good
health again, and possibly embraces
six, if the much-strengthened Boston
Braves are taken into consideration,
as they insist they must be.
Braves Improved
The Braves. even if they have only
an outside prospect Of lettering their
sixth place finish of 1880, at least
plan to harass the opposition might
ily. Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
unless the be~neficiaries of a miracle
CT two, seem destined to wage a pri-
vate fight to keep out of last place.
The renewal of this family quarrel
will keep the chief participants pref
ty well occupied all season but there
isn't a National Lacquer anywhere
who isn't longing for a chance to see
the American Leagues entry thrown
for a loss in the worlds series climax.
For four straight years, the Nation
al League has waged the bitterest
sort of pennant scraps, only to see its
flag bearer take it on the chin, twice
from the Yankees and twice from the
Athletics.
All told the American Leaguers
have won 16 Of the last 10 series en-
gagements. Consequently, the Ma
tional League partisans do not seem
to care who wins the pennant so long
Us the winner ear do something to re-
store the prestige of the older cir
cult.
Cards Eager To Start
-1--t "a I'D. C4w5jro1c IN q mon
yearn for another opportunity. They
put up a great fight before yielding
to the AS last fall. This spring they
walloped the Mackmen in three out
of four exhibition engagements. There
IS no payoff on this but the Red Birds
regard it as a sample OF what they
IAN do when fully aroused.
The fighting spirit and the fine Or
s~anization of the Cardinals under
Gabby Street, plus the addition Of
two sensational young. pitchers in
Dean and Derringer to an already cap
able twirling troupe, will make the
champions difficult to dislodge. They
have speed, punch and brains.
No one appreciates better than
Street, however, that he faces the
strongest kind of opposition. Gabby's
belief that the Chicago Cubs will be
his keenest rival is shared by q num-
Der Of close observers. The Cubs, too,
have strengthened their pitching
staff, already powerful with veterans
like Malone. Root and Bush. Their
big "if' centers around Manager
Rogers Hornsby and his ability to
make q comeback that would find
his big bat as potent as his agrees
Give leadership.
Have Heavy Hitters
Brooklyn, with an array Of bludg-
eoners reinforced by Lefty O'poul In
the outfield and Fresco Thompson at
second base, is formidable in every
respect, capable Of battering its way
to the top by the sheer application Of
brute force.
John McGraw, shuffling his forces
for several years In quest Of another
winner, may have found the right
combination with an impressive new
conner, Johnny Vergez, on third base
and Freddy Lindstrom moved to the
outfield. The Giants, however, do
not seem as well fortified In the box
as their three principal rivals.
Pittsburgh, providing it can shake
the injury ji4x this year, has q SEN
sational outfield and sufficient ALL
around strength to slash its way
through to the front.
Doston has added three terrific
hitters In Worthington. Schulmerich
and Sheely, but like the Phillies and
Reds, must get improved pitching to
represent more than. q stumbling
block to the fav0rites.