The Washington times., 1932-05-14
MACKS, CARDS
IN SECOND
DIVISION
BY BABE RUTH

month of the playing season has
gone by and l think it has been
the most unusual start that the
big leagues have had in many
years. The National League has
been more of puzzle than the
American in having so much
early dope turned upside down.
The World Champion Cardinals
were still under the 500 mark
after a month of battling, and
so were the Giants, Dodgers and
Pirates, while the Braves, Phillies
and Reds were up in the first
division
In the American League the
big surprise was the failure of
the Athletics to get into winning
form. They spent the entire first
month down there in the second
division while the Tigers. who
had been picked to occupy a low
position almost from the start,
were riding high and at one time
in front.
These were only few of the
surprises. Take the Cubs, who
went to the front and gradually
increased their lead despite a
flock of injuries which kept sew.
eral regulars out of the game.
Didn't Miss Hack
We all thought that the Cubs
would begin to miss Hack Wilson
almost from opening day but
they stepped right out as if they
never had heard Of the man who
was the biggest factor in their
successes not so long ago.
Another surprise was the hit
ting Of Hughey Critz, who be-
gan to pound the ball opening
day and showed little let-up
through the month. Not that
wasn't glad to see Hughey get
away so well, for he surely has
had his share of hard luck, and
more than his share. But we
have known him as a great field
er, rather than as &. 400 hitter,
so his heavy hitting wa de-
lightful surprise. It just shows
again that you can't take any
thing for granted in baseball. Two
weeks before the season started
he was figured as a doubtful
starter because of his ailing arm,
which he had not let out in the
practice games during the train
ing season. Then he stepped in
to y every day and pounded
the ball as he never pounded it
before.
Other unexpected performances,
though none the less merited on
that account, were the pitching
successes of Lon Warneke Of the
Cubs, Huck Belts Of the Braves
and Whitlow Wyatt Of the Tigers. |
Warneke and Wyatt won four in |
q row and Belts won three, two
Of Belts victories being from
the Giants.
Better Record
Who would ever guess. for in
stance, that one month after the
season oened Belts would have
a better record than Ed Brandt,
the star left handler of the Ma
tional League last year?
TIL deal by which the Tigers
got Davis from the minor leagues
and put back Dale Alexander TO
the ranks Of substitutes, was an
other surprising happening dur
ing April. This occurred a day
before the start Of the season. I |
surely got quite a shock when I
heard that Aleck was out as q
into the league.
our pitchers ever since he came |
int othe league.
OF course, those three Setbacks |
which Lefty Grove encountered in
April also rate among the big sur
prises Of the month, but already
discussed these in one of my
previous articles. If odds were
placed on the average baseball
happenings a fellow could almost
write his OWL ticket on the idea |
that Grove would be stopped
three times before May l..
Terrell Steps Out
OF course, everything didn't go
topSy turvy in baseball. Yves Fer
rell stepped out and won himself a
flock of games right off the reel,
j. " Foxx batted his way TO
the top Of all major league bats
men, and the early dash of the
Washington club could hardly be
claSsed as an upset. I must say,
howe; :. that I did not look to
see the Senators gallop away in
the wild fashion that they showed |
fl that first month of play.
It just emphasizes how little
can be t.ken for granted in base
ball.
That's what makes the game so
attractive, I guess. The most GER
tain thing about baseball is it's un-
certainty.
WELSH WITH SEATTLE