The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-01
L ALKING
IT Over
BY JOE WILLIAMS

CT. LOUIS, oct. This world
~ series which starts today, with
The Cardinals trying to knock of
the Athletics, is a most trying affair
Tor National Leaguers. The boys of
bnat circuit are as nervous as felines
working off catnip jag. You see,
many years have passed and lot
OF very rare mud has flowed down
the Mississippi since the venerable
circuit over which John A. Heydler
presides, won a world championship,
as 1t is called.
There are a few old inhabitants who
remember when the noble Cardinals. led
by the sinister Rogers Hornsby. battered
down the Yankees with Alex the Great
tanning TONY Lazzeri for the climactic
feat. That was way back in 1928. long
before the stock market crashed and blue
chips became bread line meal tickets.
In 1927. the Yankees ended the iubila-
ton Of the National League. and It hasn't
had thing to cheer about since The
Yanks buried the Pirates under tour
straight avalanche in 1927. and performed
q Similar stunt against the Cardinals in
1923. In 1929 the Athletics took four out
Of five from the Cubs. and in 1880 the
Mackmen took four out of six from the
Cardinals.
II you are at all handy at arithmetic
you win find that in the last four world
series the National League has grabbed a
grand total of Just three ball games
three out Of nineteen.
So YOU can see why National Leaguers
have that scared and anxious look.
HOWEVER, better things may be
Il 4 just around the corner. Mr..
Heydler Wednesday emitted vehe-
ment rouser to the Cardinals, by
way of the press associations. THE
Cardinals must play aggressive base
ball to win this series" shouted
John, and the Cardinals heard.
What does the honorable president
figure we we're doing in the 1880 world
series" oueried one of the aroused Red
Birds. Il suppose that while we were
taking the third game and evening the
series In the fourth we were Just push
overs"
Those OF the National League company
who aren't counting on the Heydler toe
sin to win the series are making their
obeisances to what is known as the law of
averages
Some years ago. when the rest Of the
American League was demanding that
Colonel Jake Rupert break up the
Yankees. who had won three straight pen
nants and seemed headed for a continuous
reign Of ten wears. the late Miller Hug
gins. who was a pretty crafty little guy
laughed.
This club Of mine may win four pen
nants. but certainly not MORE" Hug ex-
planned. after YOU have won three in
row of anything YOU run afoul Of two
important things-dispostion and the law
Of averages. If one misses YOU. the other
WON'T"
That's why the National League was
hopeful today. Disposition. and the law
of averages.
r HAVE been preaching the gospel
of the law of averages, and let
me not forget disposition-around
here for the last two days, but all
get in reply is "Grove and Earn
haW." I haven't succeeded in mus
tering sery strong or numerous sup
port for my theory that the AS are
about due to fall.
However. I went down singing with the
National League last october. and I'm go
ing to try Just once more.
Still / am not so crazy about the
Cardinals that I can't see certain posi-
bilities In the Athletics After all. Grove
and Earnshaw are pretty fair pitchers. and
Cochrane is the best catcher in the bust
ness. barring Risko.
And let me not forget Mr.. Connie Mack
Here's man who is wrapped up in base
ball and in his club. The game is his
very life. At the age Of sixty-eight-at
stage of life when most men would
be content to sit back and talk ebouS
glories and victories and the good old days
Mac is out there trying to do what nobody
vet has succeeded in putting over-try-
ing to win a third straight world cham
pionship on top Of nine remnants.
Mack owns a substantial share of the
PHILADELPHIA club. He is we'll fixed. He
could pass the club over to Eddie Collins
and 20 travelling. He could visit the
countries about which he has dreamed
Take the ease which from time to time, in
the stress Of a season. he undoubtedly
covets.
But there he is lean. gaunt appealing
figure, with the moral support of Ameri-
can fandom. And vet he. too. may be
knocked over by that great duor-disposi-
ton and the lew of averages.
II
r AM told that the Cardinals are
i going to change their method of
operating against the Mackmen.
Last year, Burleigh Grimes did
nearly all the riding. This time, the
boys say, Grimes is to have a lot
of assistance, for the Red Birds
were tipped off recently by Jack
Quinn, who was with the AS in the
1880 classic.
Those Athletics can be ridden, and rid
den hard. Quinn is said to have divulged,
This opens an intriguing vista Of aggres-
siveness for the Cards. and gives them a
chance to make good, at least verbally. on
the grand appeal to play aggressive base
ball issued by Prexy Heydler.
Except for the efforts of Grimes. the
1880 world series was linguistic flop. In
the 1929 classic. the Cubs and the AS
went at each other so Justify that Judge
Lands had to step in and warn the boys
about the ladies being present.
AS indicated by Gabbv Streets astound-
ing decision to start with Derringer the
Cardinals are ready to shoot the works
They realize that they will have to taks
big chances-that 1t is to their advantage
to take all the gambles-that the Athletics
have everything to lose and the Red Bird:
have everything to gain.
SO 1t may be that the Cards will give
disposition and the law Of averages g
little help. and take those National
Ieaguers out of their misery.