The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-04-27


LOU GEHRIG
ming of organized major league
baseball in 1876. The New York
Giants, headed by John McGraw,
annexed four National league pen
nants in a row from 1921 through
1924.
However, all good things come to
an end sooner or later. The law of
averages can't be repealed, and has
just as much force today as it had
before the Yanks started their
rampage. One more thing-the lus-
ter of Lou Gehrig, one of the great
est first basemen in diamond his
tory, is almost certain to be dimmed
to the vanishing point this year.
Granted that the loss of one man
won't break up the Yankee club.
But it will be a serious psychology
cal loss-almost as great as if Man.
ager Joe Mccarthy decided to re-
tire.
It was back in June, 1928, that
Miller Higgins, then manager of
the Yanks, barked from his seat
on the bench: "Gehrig, get up there
and hit for Wanninger. Right there
Columbia Lou" started one of the
most remarkable sporting feats in
history, a streak of 2,123 consecu-
tive games at the close of the 1888
season. During the past two seasons
he played in 157 games each.
Reticent by nature, his iron man
feat never got for him the publicity
it deserved. Since Babe Ruth start
ed to slide, Gehrig has been the
teams inspiration. His inevitable
loss to the Yanks will be a serious
blow to pennant hopes.
The iron man, though noticeably
slipping, is sure to render valuable
assistance to the club this season.
Occasional rest periods will prolong
his activities.
May Upset Yanks
Who can upset the Yanks? Most
authorities are of the opinion that
it can't be done this season. But
there are few who are willing to
cOncede the Boston Red Sox an out
side chance. And well they might,
for the Sox have a lot of what is
needed to turn over a well-st0cked
apple cart.
The Red Sox have the best spirit
of any team in the league, and
they're going out to win with team
entirely capable of annexing that
coveted banner. The Bosox are
young, hard-fghting outfit. They
have one of the brightest assem-
blages of rockies in either league,
including Ted Williams, the 2O-year-
old American Association batting
king from the Minneapolis Millers,
who will be stationed in right field,
and Jim Tabor, a $3.50 clubber with
the Millers a year ago. Tabor is
being groomed for second base. An
pther-Woodrow Rich-is being tout
ed as a real find. With Little Rock
last year, he won 10 and lost 10 and
yielded only FAT earned runs
game.
Though there is considerable
doubt about Lefty Grove, whose arm
went dead" last season, their pitch
ing staff will be sufficient, even if
the ancient Lefty does fade out.
lYanks Not Hungry
The Yanks, who have cut three
straight world series melons, aren't
as hungry for the honors as the Red
Sox. Three straight titles dulls to
some degree the urge to win, and
that spells dynamite for any club.
Though the pitching and defensive
class of the field appears to belong
to the Yankees, time alone will tell.
They have Lefty Gomez, Red Ruff
ing, Monte Pearson and Yves Fer
rell. Rufing is getting along in
years, it's impossible to tell what
Terrell win do, and Gomez is un-
dependable.
Joe Gordon, second baseman, goes
into his second year. He'll undoubt-
eddy come through with flying col
ors. Shortstop Frank Crosetti isn't
the hardest ball player in the
league. In fact, any number of
things can happen to this club.
And it won't be the biggest sur
prise of the year, alarmists to the
contrary, if the Boston Red Sox wind
up the season about 10 games ahead
of the Yankees.