Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-26
BY ALAN GOULD,
Associated Press Sports Editor.

n YEW YORK, March 26.-That
IN dull, booming sound heard
/ y this Spring all the way
from Clearwater, Fla, TO
Catalina Island, Calf, may have
sounded like the Coast Artillery at
practice, but it merely is the blast
ing operations of base balls heavy
duty boys, tuning up for one Of
the hottest pernant races the old
National League ever has had In
prospect.
The task OF selecting a probable win
ner in the forthcoming battle Is just
as much guesswork as 1t was in try
ing to detect the eventual winner last
August, before the st. Louis Cardinals
hraced and rushed to the front.
The first four clubs we're separated
1890 pennant race. These four-St.
Louis, Chicago, New York and Brook
lyn-an will toss reinforced line-ups
into the thick of this years action. AL
rank distinctly as potential winners.
Five In Race This Time.
The total list of contenders includes
at 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.
The Braves, even II they have only
an outside prospect of lettering their
sixth place finish of 1880, at least plan
to harass the opposition nightly. Gin
cinnati and Philadelphia, unless the
benef1ciaries Of a miracle or two, seem
destined TO wage private fight to keep
out of last place.
The renewal of this family quarrel
wiz keep the chief participants pretty
Wen occupied al season, but there
isn't national Lacquer anywhere who
isn't longing for chance to see the
American Leagues entry thrown for q
loss in the world series climax.
For four straight years the National
League has waged the bitterest sort
of pennant scraps only to see its nag
bearer take it on the chin. twice from
the Yankees and twice from the Ath-
letics.
Eager 10 Regain Prestige.
All told the American Leaguers have
won 16 of the last 10 series engage
ments. Consequently, the National
League partisans do not seem to care
who wins the pennant so long e. the
4 WuluEE EHll 90 SO1uGLk1lIlk 10 IGBt0IG The
prestige of the older circuit.
The ST. Louis Cardinals, to q man,
yearn for another opportunity. They
put up great fight before yielding to
| the AS last Fall. This Spring they
| wallopec the Machmen In three out
Of four exhibition engagements. There
Is no payo6 on this, but the Red Birds
regard it as g sample of what they
can do when fully aroused.
Thu R0hfirn cV1iVff anH kI,n aAA -
ganization Of the Cardinals under
Gabby Street, plus the addition Of two
sensational young pitchers in Dean and
Derringer to an already capable twirl-
ing troupe, will make the champions
difficult to dislodge. They have speed,
punch and brains.
Street Sees Trouble.
No one appreciates better than
Street, however, that he faces the
strongest kind of opposition. tGabbys
belief that the Chicago Cubs viii be
his keenest rivals Is aired by q ntAmber
of close observers The Cubs, too, have
strengthened their pitching staff, all
ready powerful with veterans like Ma
lone, Root and Bush. Their big 'If'
centers around Manager Rogers Horns
by and his ability to make comeback
that would find his big bat as potent
as his aggressive leadership.
Brooklyn, with an array Of baudgccnS
ers reinforced by Lefty ODoul N the
out1eid and Fresco Thompson ak SEC
ond base, Is formidable In every respect,
capable Of battering its way 10 the top
by the sheer application Of brute force.
John McGraw, shutting his forces
for several years in quest Of another
winner, may have found the right COM
bination with an impressive newcomer,
Johnny Vergez, on third base and
Freddy IindStrom moved to the out
field. The Giants, however, do not
seem as well fortified In the box as
their three principal rivals.
Pirates Are Dangerous.
Pittsburgh, providing it can shake
the injury jinx this year, has a sensa-
tional outfield and sufficient all-around
strength to slash its way through to
the front.
Boston has added three terrific hit
tiers in Worthington, Schulmerich and
Shelly, but, like the Phillies and Reds,
must get improved pitching to repre-
sent more than stumbling block to
the favoriteS.