Evening star., 1932-03-26
BY ALAN GOULD.
Associated Press Sports Editor,

26.-The st. Louis Cardinals
~ are world champions of base
ball, but the burden of proof
is placed squarely on them and
their famous chain-Store system
this year.
The big question to be answered
in this seasons National League
race is whether the pennant club
can trade its ace right-hander to
an outstanding rival like the Chi
cago Cubs and still depend Suffi-
GENTLY ON its resources in rookie
talent to fill the gap.
II Burleigh Grimes, who won II
games for the Cardinals last season.
mostly against first division outfits. can
be replaced by the work OF Tex Carls-
ton and Dizzy Dean, combined, the
world champions will be as toughuas
ever 10 beat.
It's a large order for a pair of re-
crult twirlers, especially in a league SO
strongly balanced that not even the
1881 tail-ender. Cincinnati, can any
Must Look to Vet HurIers. Isr.
So far, Dean, the most widely bally-
hooed young pitcher to move up Id a
long time, has not shown as much Stuf
as his former Houston teammate, Carie-
ton. These two, with Ray Starr, from
Rochester, are the chain store "aces.o
but for the time being the full hotlseh
upon which the Cardinals must depend
consists of Bill Hallahan, Paul Der
ringer, Sylvester johnson, Jesse Hatnes
and Flint Rhem.
The Cardinal pitching prospects are
stressed because it has been the ctiikf
factor in their pennant victories in four
of the past six years. The rest Of the
club is unchanged, except as affected
by holdouts. 1t has not looked impress
sive in training, but it still is strong at
the vital spots and its spirit has,
flaming pace-Setter in Pepper Martin
the Oklahoma power house. ta.c
Not even the great distance separat-
ing their training activities can lessen
the fact that the Cardinals two main
rivals, the New York Giants and Chi
cago Cubs, will move into battle from
California, each with pennant- winning
equipment. reT
Three Cornered Fight Likely.
Very likely it will be a three e-cornered
fight, unless Max Carey can find the
right combination with Brooklyn and
inject the colorful Dodger cast into the
pennant fray. OF the second division
clubs, only the Cincinnati Reds and
Phillies have manifest Improvement.
Both are out to make it as harassing
as possible for leaders
Youth must come through for both
the Giants and Cubs to make the
showing their partiSans expect Len
koenecke, the Indianapolis clouter, ,4f1aS
been picked for left field by John Me-
Graw. Young Jim Mooney likewise is
slated to round out a portSide quartet
with Clarence Mitchell, Carl Hubben
and Bill Walker. However, the Giants
cannot be rated an even choice Wikh
the Cardinals, unless Hughie Critz's
arm Is sound and he Is able xS play
second base regularly.
The Cubs, like the Yankees, have
plenty Of the old wallop, plus the forth
tude to rely on such kid infielders as
Billy Herman at second and the seRsa.
tional Stanley Hack on third base
Otherwise the Chicago outfit is heavy
with age, particularly with a pitching
staff consisting of Grimes, Root, Ma
lone. Bob Smith and Guy Bush.
Not "SOft Spot" in League
The slogan inspired by the Cardinal
manager-"Street Fears Cincinnati'-
is actually typical of the National League
outlook. The Reds, even though they
gave up two crack infielders in the
trade with Brooklyn, fortified them
selves with Babe Herman, Ernest Lom-
bardi and Wally Gilbert. There isn't q
soft spot" in the circuit now.
Brooklyn. unless it gets exceptional
pitching from Hoyt. Vance and Clark,
will have trouble keeping in the first
division.
Boston has the pitching, and It's
punch should be heftier with the adof-
tion Of Fred Leach, but the Braves in
field and catching leaves something to
be desired -
The Reds, who could stand plenty Of
it, look vastly improved in every de-
partment. The Phillies have more
speed. reserve power and better pitch
ing to back up their well known waHop.
The Pirates still have their irrepres-
sible Waner boys and Pie Traynor, but
need a lot of help otherwise to be
classified as more than troublesome.