Evening star., 1939-07-09
BY SID FEDER.
Associated Press Sports Writer.


Ing that the straight line between
home plate and the bleachers is
the shortest distance to the scoring
column, has discovered the pitcher S
box for this years all-star game.
On, sure, the junior circuitll have
some pretty fair ball clouters in
there swinging when it tangles with
the National Leaguers in the mid
season extravaganza at Yankee Sta
dium Tuesday before crowd that
may go over 10000. And the Ma
tional boys will have a couple of
better than green hands on the
mound, as usual.
But not since this inter-league
larruping was thought up by a Chi
cago SportSWriter back in 1888 have
the American Leaguers come up to
the annual classic with so wide an
edge in the twirling department as
they'll have Tuesday. In fact, in
every one of the half dozen games
played so far, in which the Ameri-
cans sport Az lead, the Nationals
always have shown a distinct supe-
riority in the elbowing department.
Sports Three Slab Aces.
In Rufus the Red Ruffing of the
Yankees, Tommy Bridges of the
Tigers and Master Bobby Feller and
his zip ball from Cleveland the
Americans can boast three of the
best elbowers of the year in any
league. Against this awesome trio,
who won IS and lost among them
through last Thursdays campaign
Ing, the National League must pin
most of its hopes on Bucky Walters
and Paul Derringer. winners of %
for the Cincinnati Reds so far this
year. and either Long Lon Warneke
from st. Louis or Whitley Wyatt,
the undefeated newcomer from
Brooklyn.
Largely for that reason, along with
the fact that the New York Yam
KEGS have been nominated, virtually
as unit, on the American League
squad, the betting commissioners
have installed the Americans as
top-heavy choices at odds of 9 to 20.
They'll give you neat 8-5 price
II you like the Nationals.
And make no mistake about it
the American Leaguers still are
plenty sore over that Al whipping
last year. AS a result. the Ameri-
cans are sending out a team that
fairly bristles with power to sup
port that grade-A pitching staff
The National League will have fel-
lows like Buck Mccormick, Dolph
Camilli, Johnny Mize, Mel OFT,
Ducky Medwick and Ernie the
Schnozzola Lombardi. But all in
all, the two probable starting line
ups show the American Leaguers
with distinct edge in slugging as well
as twirling.
All Potential Homer Hitters.
Their team, as it probably will
line up, has a potential homer in
every bat from Bill Dickey back
of the plate to Hankus Pankus
Greenberg on first and Joe Di
Maggie and Indian Bob Johnson
patroling the outer pastures. The
eight probable regulars afield have
clouted total of 96 homers so
far this season.
Right from the top the American
League team is predominantly a
Yankee cast, for Marse Joe Nc
Carthy, who pulls the strings on
the champions during the regular
season campaigning, will be the
boss Of the all-stars too. On the
other hand, the Nationals have
drawn mostly from Will McKech-
MES highly regarded Cincinnati
Reds. AS result, there are some
who expect they'll be seeing a pre-
view of next Octobers World Series
Tuesday.
The Yanks are sure to have three
IN the starting lineup, and may
have as many as six before the
betting stops. Joe Gordon, who
rapidly is proving that the talk
OF a "second-year jinX" is down.
right lie by showing better form
as a sophomore than he did as a
freshman, must be on second base.
The American Leaguers didn't even
bring another second-sacker along.
For the first time, the strong, silent
man, Detroit's Charley Gehringer,
will be missing from the all-star
together.
Dickey is a lead-pipe cinch to
handle the catching. Di Maggie will
roam the outfield, either right or
center, and don't be surprised if
George Selkirk is out there too. He
and Di Mag, between them, have
walloped % homers this year and
have sent 88 runs across. And,
adding the "a homers whacked by
Gordon and Dickey, both well over
the 300 batting mark, you get some
idea of why the Yankees are the
Yankees.
Ruffing Still Keen at 35.
Ruffing is another of the world
champions who will be in there.
At 35, the big red-head just keeps
rolling along like Old Man River.
He should make the 20-Wln column
for the fourth straight season. The
chances are Mccarthy may decide
to let him open for the Americans
and have Bridges toss the second
three innings, thereby saving Fel-
ler's speed for the stretch, when the
batters are tired. He also has two
other Yanks, Johnny Murphy and
Lefty Gomez, as well as Buck New
som, Lefty Groveand Ted Lyons if
the going gets too rough.
Two other members of the Yankee
infield, frankie Crosetti and Red
Rolfe, are on the squad, but they
appear to be along more or less for
just the ride.
With Detroit's big man from the
Bronx, Hank Greenberg, who hit is
homers through Thursday and
knocked 81 runs home, almost is sure
to handle first base. Jimmy Foxx
may wind up on third again. The
double-X man, a jack of all work,
can't be left on the bench, simply
because of his batting power alone.
Joe Cronin looms as the choice over
Crosetti or Luke Appling for short
Stnp