Evening star., 1933-09-29

y
Away to a flying start the Giants
played consistent ball and were strong
contenders all the way. About mid
season New York displaced Pittsburgh
as, the leader and in the home stretch
met and repulsed determined challenges
from Boston and Pittsburgh. Now you
know why I call the Giants the sur
prise team of the majors, the miracle
workers of the National League.
Buccaneers Fav0riteS.
EFORE the season my opinion on
X the outcome of the National
~ League race conceded with that
Of most other experts. I liked Pitts
burgh best. One hundred and twelve
of the countryS leading experts named
the Pirates as the league pennant win
ner. Two other clubs felt sure would
beat New York we're Chicago and St
Louis. Probably never in the history
of the game has the choice of the eX-
perts been made to look as bad as the
Giants have made it this year.
New York come through largely
because of excellent pitching.
When the season opened there
was much uncertainty about the
pitching. Hubbell. ace of the
staff, could be figured for 20
games.
One of the games greatest south
paws, it was figured he could be banked
on by the Giants to carry much OF the
burden. He lived up to all the bally-
hoo. In scoring his first 20 wins he
turned in 10 shut -outs. That sort OF
hurting takes you back twenty or more
years, when such pitchers as Chrlsty
Mathewson. Rube Waddell, Walter
Johnson and other stars re1gned su-
preme. and pitchers battles were the
rule rather than the exception.
Rockies Suddenly Develop.
TOR years it has been an accepted
truth that pitching is about 70 per
cent of teams strength. I be-
lieve that more than holds good for the
Giants. When the season opened base
ball knew New York had truly great
pitcher in Southpaw Hubbell and that
the "canny' Fred Fitzsimmons would
be mighty helpful. But two other
twirlers were needed. On the surface
it didn't seem as if the Giants had
them in reserve In Schumacher the
club had an outstanding prospect, but
it was believed he needed one more year
to reach his peak.
For several seasons Pdrmelee
had threatened to become reg
ular. He had the stuff, but rds
cratic. 1t seemed he tUould neUer
acquire control.
Within month the rockies. Schu-
macher and Parmelee, had served notice
on the rest of the league that they had
arrived. OF course, there were lot OF
things that turned the club, generally
regarded as certain to finish in the
second division. into pennalt winner
but to my way of thinking the arrival
of Schumacher and Parmelee as start
ing pitchers put the club into the flag
contender class.
Experts Badly Treated.
4 S scan the lineup of the Giants
~ I am still unimpressed by them
in comparison with certain other
National League clubs. If the race were
again just starting I would still fancy
Pittsburgh, Chicago and possibly St
Louis over the Giants. However, the
Giants have put expert opinion as a
whole to rout The club over the long
distance route has easily outstepped a
very classy field. 1t has shown excel
lent pitching. plenty of courage and the
proper punch in the pinch to prove 1t
was worthy to win the flag and enter
the world series. The experts have had
bad year, the Giants a good one.
OF the outfield, Davis, Peel and
OFT, OFT alone stands out. Davis
and Peel are good outfielders, but
OFT is a great outfielder, who car
ries a lot Of power at the plate
and is a real threat. Outfield re-
serves are Lefty ODOul and Joe
Moore.
The Safield is very good, yet Bill
Terry alone stands out as a brilliant
performer. Blondy Ryan. tower OF
strength for New York, tarried in the
American League three years with the
White Sox, but got little or no chance
to perform. He was always sensation
in the field. but his weakness at the
plate kept him from getting a real
chance to break into the White Sox
lineup He either warmed the bench
or was on option in the minors.
Critz Does a Comeback.
A T second the veteran Hughey Critz
~ a fine player, is having one OF
his best years, doing a great
comeback after an ailing arm seemed
to have put him out of the running.