Askov American., 1938-03-17

any weakness in the
Yankees personnel.
Players are not too old; reserve
strength is abundant; man for man
they have been tested long enough
so that it is easy to forecast just about
how. good each will be next season.
There is nothing in to date to indi-
cate the Yankees won't sweep the
league again.
But prosperity is hard to handle
Take a fair team that is hustling
on every play and great team that
is taking things for granted, figuring
it can win when it has to and need
not work too hard today That diff
ference in attitude can make the
two teams fairly even.
After all Detroit and Chicago each
beat the Yankees nine times last
season. If they had won two more
games out of % they would have
had an even break for the season.
That illustrates how little actual diff
ference exists between a team known
as a great team and a team known
as an also ran.
The minute great team relaxes
it ceases to be great. Joe McCarthy'S
hardest task next summer will be to
convince the Yankees that hustle and
keen desire to win were the fac
tors that made them great. Without
those factors working for them some
pretty good team that is trying hard
may move out in front and stay there
Boys are Great.
What strikes spectators at the an
nual state high school basketball
tournament is the high sporting atti-
tude of the boys who participate. They
have skill and they make thrilling
games. The competitive spectacle is
great: but above skill and excitement
and stubborn competition the most
thrilling feature of the tournament
is the poise, character, sporting in
stinct of the kids who are in the
heat of it.
They are all swell kids. Victory
means great deal to them. In fact
it means everything. No persons
ever wanted anything more than these
kids want to win their tournament
games. Yet they remain perfect
sportsmen and treat their opponents
with courtesy and respect which
should shame many rabid spectators
who do not care how their favorite
team wins so long as it wins
The next American generation is
going to be smart, clean, sporting
generation and these high school bas-
ketball players confirm that promise
in every move they make.
They are at 1t.
major league baseball teams are now
in the full stride of spring training.
Minneapolis in Florida, st. Paul in
Texas are pointing toward the inter-
city games which are always the
high spot of the baseball season.
ST. Paul has it team about ready.
1t wants another pitcher and would
use another outfielder if one was Of
fered but, failing to get outstanding
men, it is ready to stand on what
it has with an ancient but smart
pitching staff and middle-aged line
up in other departments.
Minneapolis has virtually no part
of its team yet. 1t is depending heav-
lily upon the Boston Red Sox who
have promised to round out the Mil
ler's lineup. The Millers need a
catcher, maybe two catchers, at least
three pitchers-and good ones, and
one outfielder who can hit In short
they need lot but Mike Kelley wears
a broad smile. Evidently he knows
help is coming and knows it will be
good.
AS matters stand today, however,
ST. Paul looks like the stronger team
but neither team looks like pennant
winner. Toledo and Kansas City and,
possibly Milwaukee, are the teams to
watch.