Evening star., 1932-09-27
Wobb Yans Haze Followers Worried ax$ Closing Smash Stops Wa
On the
SiideLines
II With the SPORTS Editor.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
vEW YORK, September 27.
\ We have a we'll de-
Y fined hunch this world
corioc thing which OatS

| -WC 1ldNS q "SAA w
Y fined hunch this world
series thing which gets
under way here tomorrow will
produce an aggravated case OF
jitters for the folk who have
made the Yankees 3-to-l IA
vorites.
The ease with which Nc
Carthy'S men OutdiStanced the
field in the American League,
being practically assured of the
title before the race was half
run, has lulled their followers
into a false sense of security.
Steam rollering a squad of
rivals over the stretch of a
campaign lasting for several
months, and conquering
game, determined foe in a Sc
rieS limited to seven games, are
entirely different propositions,
as the Athletics discovered to
their chagrin last year.
A LONG with a majority of
IA the other followers of base
ball we considered the Mack
men of 1881 so far superior to
the Cardinals that it was diff
ficult to figure how they could
lose, but lose they did, and
largely through the individual
efforts of a previously little
known Pepper Martin.
This young man, through his
hard and timely hitting, and
sensational base running prob
ably did as much as any indi-
vidual other than a pitcher to-
ward achieving victory in an
Autumnal classic, although he
had been only a fair perform
er during the regular season.
AS a consequence he was eX-
pected to burn up the National
League this year, but what hap
pened? His world series bat
ting average of 500 faded dur
Ing the recently ended cam
palgn to a mere .233 and where
he pilfered five sacks in seven
games against the AS, he was
able to steal a total of only
eight In 88 games for the
Cardinals this year.
a TTEMPTs annually are
4 4 made to prove a lot of
things by comparing the con-
tenders position by position,
but in the light of what hap
pened in the case of the proud
and powerful Cubs of 1906
through the batting activities
OF George Robe, one of the
weakest of the White Sox band
that earned the title of hit
less wonders" it is surprising
the custom wasn't scrapped
then for all time.
The Yankees have so much
the heavier artillery for the
SklrmlShes now impending it
does seem they should batter
their way to top honors in
short order. but punch alone
won't suffice. Defense is
equally important. especially
considering that pitching is
the most prominent part Of it
and the Cubs loom as having
a big edge in this respect.
JUST a few weeks ago we
} would have been willing to
60 right out on a limb in
predicting an impressive tri-
umph for the American
Leaguers. Then, in addition tn
their unquestionable SUPERIOR
lty In attack, they had pitching
OF a brand that compared most
favorably with that of their
rivals and they suffered in
comparison only from a field
Ing standpoint.
But the situation is different
now. Gomez, their biggest
winner of the year, complied
goodly share of his two dozen
victories only through terrific
cannonading by his mates
Recently he has displayed such
unInpreSSive form it is doubt
ful If he will be started in the
series, while both Rufing and
Allen, the left-hander's most
accomplished mound mates
also appear to have tailed off
of late.
The Yankees may crash
through on the strength of
brute ball busting, but it
should occasion no surprise if
the Cubs extend them to the
limit, regardless of how highly
they are favored in the betting
odds.