The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-20
Babe Ruth
Says

CT. LOUIS, June 20.-I have re-
- ceived a number of letters re-
Gently concerning my pennant pre-
dictions of a month ago. You may
remember that I picked the Brook
lyn Robins to win in the National
League and the Yankees to finish In
front in the American.
have not given up on either OF
these teams. 1 must admit that
neither has done as well up to this
time as I had hoped for, but there
are still about three and one-half
months TO go and much can happen
in that time. Either Of these clubs
will have a tough time because the
Cardinals and the Mackmen have
Jumped away to such a good start.
But these early successes are no
guarantee of such high class play
ell through the season.
Just think what happened a year
ago. The Cardinals spent most OF
the month of June down in fourth
place, while Brooklyn was out in
front, with Chicago second and New
York third. Few people then would
have picked Streets team to finish
ahead Of the three clubs then out in
front, but when world series time
arrived those same Cardinals were
representing the National League.
In our league, the AS were never
very far out of the lead last year,
though Washington and Cleveland
managed to GUST them for few
days. On the returns to date, there
is no disputing that the AS and
Cardinals have outplayed all the
other teams in their leagues, but
YOU know hitterS have slumps,
pitchers lose their effectiveness and
teams sometimes go bad. And then
these hot days and double-headers
may prove the downfall OF some
teams lacking in endurance.
TT is going to be a very tough fight
Il in the National League. The
reason is that the teams are nearer
an equal in playing strength.
In our league, the AS lose very
few games to the western clubs.
Whether they are making trip
through the west or playing these
clubs on their home field, the Mack
men seem to have little difficulty.
Last year they won siXty-two
games and lost only twenty-siX to
the combined four western teams
and this year they are having even
greater success against these clubs.
The AS recently made tour out
that way and did not lose a game
Whatever trouble they run into is
found in their games with eastern
rivals.
In the National League the Car
dinals have no group of clubs which
they can beat so regularly. When
they come east they find trouble in
New York and Brooklyn and now
they also have the Braves to bother
them. In the west, there is strength
in Chicago and also in Pittsburgh.
One club in each group does not
come up to the normal but Ma
tional League club has no real
breathing spell whether playing
against either the east or the west.
I look for the Pirates to get going
soon and show something closer to
their form of a year ago.
Pitching is the answer to the pres
ent positions of the 1880 champions
of the two leagues. Both the AS
and the Cardinals have been batting
quite few points under their
figures of a year ago but good pitch
ing has more than made up for the
difference in stickwork. Grove,
Walberg and EarnShaw have done
so we'll on the mound that the AS
did not require any great hitting
and scoring to win their games.
Grimes, Haines and Hallahan have
been featuring for the Cardinals,
and Derringer, newcomer to the
league, also has been quite helpful.