Evening star., 1938-04-05
GR|FFMEN TAGGED
FOR SIXTH NOTCH
FiIial Piety Should Win for
Redbirds, Declares Seer,
During a Trance,
BY JOHN LARDNER.


world series this year. 1t probably will
rain On the third day of the series.
That's just a guess. The rest is off,
cial.
The Cardinals don't look very strong
as we go to press, but they'll win be-
cause they are good to their mothers
and because anything can happen in
, the National League. For my hunch
on the Yankees, have no explanation
most experts would pick them to
fniSh in the cellar, but I have a
sneaking feeling that Jake Ruppert's
mlsf1tS (also known as the hitless Won-
ders) will pull themselves together
and 60 places this season. It's Just a
shot in the dark. A pick like that takes
nerve, and don't forget it.
Picking the Final Standings.
Here are your final standings:
American League.
New York Boston
Chicago Washington
Cleveland st. Louis
Detroit Philadelphia
ANdtUlldl LEAGUE.
st. Louis Cincinnati
Pittsburgh Brooklyn
New York Boston
Chicago Philadelphia
: These predictions are jointly copy
righted by your correspondent and
Seminole Indian named Bruised
Grapefruit, the most psychic Semi
mole ever have run across. He has
not been sober since we bought
Florida from Spain, but baseball men
all over the country respect his judy
ment and esteem his character. Here
are some of his testimonials:
"A very wacky Indian. Frank
Frisch
Il don't like him. Casey Stengel.
Go away. I'm busy."-7Joe Nc
Carthy.
When last seen, Bruised Grapefruit
was just going into his annual April
trance. which is protected by high
walls on three sides and barbed wire
on the other. But the cops will get
him out of there if they have to dyna-
mite.
To be frank about it, the Yankees
snould win their pennant by 10 games
or more. You've probably noticed
that their Florida record up to date
is mediocre. They aren't hitting and
some OF their pitchers, especially
Marcellus Pearson, are late in round
ing into shape. Frank Crosetti and
Joe Di Maggie have seen no action.
j. v. Mccarthy is mumbling to him
self.
A Foolproof Ball Club.
But this is foolproof ball club
and in some ways it's a better ball
club than it was last year. Joe Cor
don, Lazzeri's replacement is a. big
league second baseman, no doubt
ABOUT that. Tom Heinrich, now the
regular right fielder, is Just bursting
into bloom. And Di Maggie, Gehrie,
Dickey and Selkirk will slug the bail
as hard as ever when the season starts.
AS for pitching, the Yankees have
half dozen sugar bushers who would
be starters anywhere else.
They are the cold, clean class of
their league, all right. Behind them
come flve clubs, 50 closely punched
That no one but a congenital odds
oucKer would pick and choose among
them. like the White Sox best. in
splte OF the fracture in Luke Applinp's
ies' because they are young, strong.
eager and possessed of the best man
ager in the league. Besides. thev have
balance
It's scramble with Detroit. Cleve-
land and Boston Even WASHINGTON
mas a chance for the first division
'Ihe Tigers will suffer with Mike
Cochrane managing from the bench
ana Schoolboy Rowe counting his
symptoms on the fingers and toes of
ooth hands and feet and Vernon Ken
neoy brooding about life. There is
100 much dead weight here. The same
Is true of Cleveland and Boston
though all three clubs have power
ana sparkling names to spare.
The National League, as usual is
the hunch-player's rosary. Pitts |
ourgh is the best team on paper.
ihat's funny brand of paper they
make IN that league, because it al
ways shows Pittsburgh the best But
with John Rizzo clouting alongside
the Waners in the outfield. and Russ
bauers coming into his own, they have
everything everything but a wirner.
They never win.
Cards Appear Best.
OF the other clubs, the Cardinals
seem potentially the best. They have
more power and more hustle than the
1iants and Cubs. They also have q
flaws Catching, pitching, in
neld) which I am trying to forget
bout, and so is Francis Frisch, The
GIANTS are just as likely as not to
steal the duke again. You cannot
laugh on Terrys two southpaw pitch
ers and his brilliant defense. Not
IN the National League, you can't.
Elsewhere it's different. The Yankees
are still laughing.
With the Cubs the need is des-
perate for few reliable outfielders
a reliable first baseman, an extra
pitcher and one unanimous man
ager. But they can win. Even the
ioWly Reds of Cincinnati can win.
And Brooklyn, somewhat improved.
may make fight for the first division.
AS every mother should instruct |
ner young ones from the cradle up.
DON'T bet on the National League.
ana II you do, don't bet on the IA
vorite
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