The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-24
Expects Hurting Staff Will Help
Major Loop Club to Keep
Pace With Leaders
SAYS TEAM IS COURAGEOUS
Believes Indians Will Have Good
Chance at Pennant in
American Circuit
By ROGER P~ECKINPAUGH
manager Cleveland Indians)

It is my opinion that the Cleve-
land Indians of 1881 are q first d.
vision ball club. That was the thought
! expressed prior to the opening OF
the 1880 campaign. The members of
the club certainly justified my predic-
ton, for not once during the sea-
son was the club lower than fourth,
where we finished.
Despite the longest list of major in
JurteS ever suffered by a big league
ball club, the team overcame every
handicap except the accident that be-
fell Luke Sewell, our first string
catcher, and put him out for prac-
tically half Of the season. The young
pitchers missed the poise that Sew
ellis catching gave them and with his
loss, the team that had bravely bat
tied all sorts of tough luck, collapsed.
Going into first place in the mid
die. Of June, as the result of three
victories yer Philadelphia, every
thing seemed rosy. True, we were
probably travelling a bit over our head
but there we we're, or top of the heap,
with the season about one-third over.
Sewell Injured
Then came Sewell's injury and
tough break after tough break. The
team that had been the surprise of
the year, proceeded to do a complete
flop and lost 20 out OF the next o
games, dropping from first to fourth.
However, the club proved its great
spirit by a great comeback, winning
10 out Of the next IS games.
This I consider one Of the most re-
markable achievements of the year.
BY It. Cleveland proved beyond a
doubt that it is one Of the most
courageous teams in the major
leagues. Most clubs would have quit
after taking 20 trimmings out of %
starts, but not the Indians. Winning
10 out of the next 26 games was a
comeback just as remarkable and un-
expected as had been the losing
streak OF the team.
There are q number of reasons why
I believe Cleveland will have a bet
ter ball club in 1881 than last sea-
son, the most important of which Is
pitching. Cleveland is almost Ger
tain to get a better brand of pitching
and as everyone knows. pitching is
about 60 per cent Of the battle.
Terrell Improves
Terrell has proved beyond a doubt
that he is q great pitcher and should
have another big year. He is the
type OF pitcher who always has a
chance to win 20 games or better. In
addition, Hudlin and Miller, two of the
veterans, should be far better than
last season. Hudlin has enough stuff
to win seven or eight more games
than he did last year. For Walter
Miller it was a terrible season. Win
ner of IA. games in 1929, he was of
little use to the Indians in 1890. Mil
Ter may show q complete reversal of
form the coming summer and may
turn in from IL to Is wins for the
Indians, which would help consid-
erably.
Better pitching is one thing that I
feel is certain to make the Cleveland
club a stronger team than in 1880. IN
questionably, Miller and Hudlin be-
tween them should win at least 10
more games than last year. In addi-
ton, Cleveland has the best looking
crop of young pitchers in the ma
jors. Billy Evans tells me that Crag-
head has a great chance to step right
into major league company and de-