The Washington times., 1937-06-18
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BY FRANK BUCK" oNEML

BY FRANK BUCK" ONEILL
The boys who like to sit around
and talk about baseball have
coined new phrases for public con-
sumption. We've heard that the
irresistible National League pitch
ing is going to cool the American
League bats.
And the other side Of the argu.
ment contends that the irresistible
bats Of the American League
blasters will chill every pitching
arm In the National League.
If the boys who like to sit around
and talk baseball are right, We are
going to have two irresistible
forces meeting head-on, and the.
impact should be terrific.
So let's loob at what the Ma
tional League hurlers, headed by
Carl Hubbell and Dizzy Dean will
have to face here in washington
on July 7.
In the American League outfield
we will have Earl Averill, who hits
$50 with the greatest Of ease. We
will have Joe DiMaggio, Of the
Yankees, who goes right along in
his free-hitting stride. Beau Bell
looms as another outfielder, and
If some Of the managers have their
way, you will see Rocky Stone in
the Washington uniform perform
ing in right field.
Supply of Material
Coming into the infield, Joe
Mccarthy will be embarrassed
over the supply Of great material.
There's battle on for first base.
There's Hank Greenberg, first
baseman of the Tigers, hitting
nearly $40, and there's Iron
Horse" Gehrig, out of his slump
and knocking down fences. Also,
there is Zeke Bonura, not the
greatest Of the great defenSively,
but knockout with that bat-and
high-spirited player.
Gehringer will be the choice for
second base despite the fact that
a torn muscle cramps his style q
little now. Buddy Myer is in the
fight, and there is the ever-reliable
Tony Lazzeri, of the Yankees.
Joe Mccarthy, Of the Yankees,
is author of the statement that
Lazzeri has better hands than
Gehringer. Joe contends that
Tony Is the best man at picking
up ground balls he has ever seen.
Larry Making Bid
We move along to shortstop
where Lyn Larry of the Cleveland
Indians is making a great bid for
the place. Larry is hitting harder
than he ever hit in his life, and
he is playing the brand of ball
we expect from a Larry who is
hitting that way. Luke Applng
is on the climb, and he may collar
Larry before long. Defensively
neither Larry nor Appling ranks
with frankie CroSetti Of the
Yankees, but Crosetti has not yet
started to hit with the other fel-
lows. Joe Cronin will have the
support Of many discriminating
experts. ...,...~
The two best third basemen in
the American League, as see
them, are Red Rolfe of the
Yankees and Buddy Lewis Of the
GriffS. Whether either of them
will be picked is problematical.
Harland Cliff is probable choice
because Of his hitting. Marvin
Owen of the Tigers, ranks well
among the guardians of the turn
for home.
1t would be quite treat to see
Larry at his peak or Crosetti at
his smoothest working with that
master Of infield play, Charley
Gehringer. Double plays should
flow into the record books with
those babies making them. At this
time Travis of Washington leads
the shortStops in hitting, but it
is not likely that he will be Sc
lected. On a certain day Travis
might field with any of the short
stops previously named.
Sewell Logical Choice
The catchers this year narrow
down to Rick Terrell, Luke Sewell
and Bill Dickey. AS I see them,
Sewell is the logical choice to
start the game. He is as smooth
as silk in his receiving, in throw
ing. and he has improved his bat
ting style and stroke to a point
where he now Is a threat to the
bleachers when taking his cuts.
Rollie HemSley. Of the Browns,
will be HornSby's choice as first
string catcher Of the American
League team. In all of his big
league career the veterans re.
ceiver has ranked among the best.
He still ranks with the best and
doubtless will receive considera-
ton.
Incidentally, when Tommy
Bridges goes into the box-and he
will, despite a catch in his right
arm developed here the other
day-the American League team
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