Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-06
NATIONAL LEAGUE
| FIGHT TO Be KEEN
Clubs Seem Well Matched,
Five Looming Unusually
Strong This Year.
BY JOHN q. FOSTER.

N YEW YORK, April 6.-Better
M matched teams have not played
for a championship in the Ma
tional League In 10 years than
those which will compete in the 1881
season, opening next week.
This Is a preseason estimate, based
on closeup views of the teams in train
ing as this observer made his annual
freak around the camps from California
to Florida. Naturally, the close match
ing of the teams Is largely matter OF
paper valuation at this time. 1t could
be upset by injuries to star players later
in the season.
The National League probably will
divide itself into groups between which
there will be intense local rivalry. When
ever there are exciting local antago-
nismS the race of all eight clubs ac-
quires more interest.
Cards, Cubs, Keen Rivals.
The st. Louis Cardinals and the Chi
cago Cubs will be inevitable rivals, with
keen ambition to win from each other
from the start. They will open the
season in Chicago on April IA. Every
expression of opinion on the part of the
players of both clubs has indicated that
they feel the championship lies between
them, as it was in 1880, when the Cards
came from behind to take first place
away from the Cubs.
There Is a drive to defeat Rogers
Hornsby, the new manager Of the Cubs
which Is not confined to st. Louis. It
seems to be more or less in evidence
throughout the league. Hornsby and
the Cubs will be given no quarter any
where.
The next obviously local pairing of
Of rivals is that Of New York and
Brooklyn. The Giants and the Robins
are natural rivals by location. Both
teams think they can win the pennant.
So that makes them keen rivals of the
Cubs and Cardinals. These four teams
first division teams-by fans in general.
Pirates Dangerous.
Pittsburgh Is a rival of all of them
and will be ready to move up into the
place of any one of them that falters.
This punching of strength, with five
teams setting themselves to step out
In front. is something the National
League has not seen in man. yeas.
Boston, stormy petrol In more ways
than one, Is an unknown quantity in
this race. The Braves played better
in 1880 than in 1929, and they are
capable of showing improvement in
1881. Brooklyn begins the season at
Boston, and the Braves may challenge
the Robins with flerceness of attack
that will surprise the Brooklyn fans.
Philadelphia and Cincinnati are
grouped together. The Phillies' chief
characteristic is bury attack, accom-
panied by slowness on the bases. Even
If their pitchers turn out to be no
better than average, their batting power
will make them dangerous team In
many a game this season.
Cincinnati . Factor.
The strength Of the Cincinnati Reds
Is in their defense They have nim-
bic, active infield fair pitchers and an
outfield that can cover a tremendous
amount Of ground. The Reds weak
point is their batting, but they will bat
well enough to be factor in the race.
Last year they didn't come anywhere
near winning a pennant, but they
knocked the Chicago Cubs out Of one.
They may do the same thing this year
if not to Chicago, then to some other
team.