Evening star., 1939-04-17
Caution Keynote
Of Most Pilots
On. Battle Eve
All ModestIy Admit
Forces Bruced for
War on Champs
BY JUDSON BAILEY,


NEW YORK, April Tits long
vista that stretches today before the
major league clubs-and If the fans
who so raptly turned their attention
to the openings have predictions as
to the finish, the managers for the
most part haven't.
OF all the 16 pilots who have been
anXiously peering toward the far
harbor. only two ventured today to
forecast that the flags we're theirs.
And both claimed the same pennant!
Leo Hartnett, the loquacious leader
of the Chicago Cubs. and Bill Terry
of the New York Giants spoke right
out in meeting for the National
League bunting.
We've got the reserves and we've
got the regulars, so why shouldn't
pick the Cubs to win again?" De-
manded Gabby.
The answer came from Terry:
I'VE have an infield now and
man who can hit for distance. The
outfleld should be stronger, too, and
we have enough pitching to win.
Yes, I think this will be a Giant
pennant year
Yankee Pilot Cautious.
There was nothing strange about
two managers accepting the same
pennant before the season started.
In the past any manager who didn't
predict pennant for his club was a
sissy, or maybe the pilot of the
Phillies.
The real surprise was the caution
of Marse Joe Mccarthy of the New
York Yankees. whose blight readily
accounted for the reticence of his
fellow managers in the junior cir
cult.
After much prodding Mccarthy
admitted he had a chance:
I'm not going to say the Yankees
are going to win the American
League pennant again because
have not seen the Red Sox. Tigers.
Indians and other clubs But think
my team has good chance to re-
peat. The outcome will depend
mostly on the pitching ana I'm
satisfied with my staff
Other managers were about as
cautious as the weather man was in
predictions on the possibility of
morrow, as scheduled.
Big Getaway Due Tomorrow.
Two games were listed today to
give the leagues ceremonial
launching of baseballs centennial
year. with all hands swinging into
action tomorrow. At Washington
the Yankees and Nationals had
date to face presidential pitching,
and at Cincinnati, birthplace of
professional baseball, the Reds and
Pirates were trying to get in debut
before the rising waters of the Ohio
River took over the field.
Tomorrow the teams will line up
this way:
National League-Cincinnati at
Chicago, st. Louis at Pittsburgh.
New York at Brooklyn, Philadelphia
at Boston.
American League-Boston at New
York. Washington at Philadelphia,
Chicago at Detroit, Cleveland at st.
Louis.
Expressing some hope, but more
"ifs,' here's how the various other
pilots looked forward to the season:
Del Baker. Detroit Tigers: "On
paper it looks perfectly simple for
the Yankees to win again. The
Tigers will be in there doing their
best to finish in the first division. I
think our team is stronger. OF course
the pitching staff is the big if"
Mats Given Climbing Chance.
Joe Cronin, Boston Red Sox: "If
we had better pitching last season
we would have stopped the Yankees.
Now it looks as if we were going to
get it. I think we have all the bat
ting power we need"
Oscar Witt, Cleveland Indians: II
never make predictions. and all
can say is that if the Indians hustle
they will be up with the first division
contenders. If Johnny Aliens arm
works all right after his operation
and if Mel Harder RECEIVERS from his
lameness, we should have pitching
to keep us in the thick of the fight
all the way"
Bucky Harris, Washington Ma
tionals: "We'll have better pitching
this year. If our outfeld comes
through we will be tough. I believe
we have good chance for the first
division"
Jimmy Dykes, Chicago White Sox:
We'll go to the post a better team
than last year. We will be tough to
beat all the way, with our infleld
p A A Z 7 I.~.- : O \