Evening star., 1939-04-09
Red Sox, Cubs Rated
Second Finishers {
In Flag Chases
Mats, Placed Sixth, Seen
Troublesome; Giants
Are Uncertain Lot
BY DILLON GRAHAM,
Associated Press Feature Service Sports

BY DILLON GRAHAM,
Associated Press Feature Service Sports
Writer
NEW YORK. April 7.-After a
tour Of baseballs spring training
Palmetto belt, during which I gath
cred a handful of sandspurs. SUM-
burned face and an occasional curt
nod from the managers. I'm sold on
the Yankees and the Reds.
I'm convinced the National League
race will be closer than a miser's S
fist. And that the American League
teams will be punched. too-bunched
together behind the Yanks.
That, by the way, is good place
to be. If you were in front of the
Yanks you'd probably get your ears
knocked off.
Yanks Like Money in Bank.
AS a precautionary note. before
you rush out and wager the family
dime on my forecasts, remember I
gave you Fighting Fox in last year S
Derby.
(My latest report from Churchill
Downs, if you're still interested. is
that Fighting Fox just passed the
three-quarter pole)
The Yankees are not sure things.
Neither is money in the bank. Lou
Gehrig. the old Iron Hoss, has
slowed down to a trot Gomez and
Ruffing are year older. But Pitch
ers Oral Hildebrand and Yves Fer
rell and Outfielders Charles Keller
and Joe Gallagher should take up
any slack. The Yanks still are tops
with me.
The others may wind up like this:
Boston.
Detroit.
Cleveland.
Chicago.
Washington.
st. Louis.
Philadelphia.
Bosox Long Shots to Lead.
The Red Sox, paced by Battling
Champion Jimmy FoXX, are a good
long-shot bet to stop the Yanks
Boston definitely has the pennant
bug Pitching has handcuffed the
Red Sox and, taking gamblers S
chance. Joe Cronin traded two stars,
Outfelder Ben Chapman and Third
Baseman Pinky Higgins. to get
twirling aid-Dennis Galehouse
Eden Auker and Jake Wade. They're
strictly no fireballs, but may be
mighty helpful.
Outfelder Ted Williams and In
fielder Jim Tabor are likely to be
rookie sensations, but they'll hardly
knock in as many runs as Chapman
and Higgins, -.
Detroit will be dangerous if
Freddy Hutchinson and Schoolboy
Rove both have great seasons.
Freddy is the years high-priced
recruit, but his slants didn't puzzle
anyone down South. Outfield punch
and catching finesse is lacking.
Rookie Frank Croucher looks good
at shortstop and Home Run Hitter
Hank Greenberg and Rudy York
should knock in pile of runs.
Mats May Offer Headaches.
Even an anticipated great year
for Bob Feller won't keep Cleveland
from the skids if Johnny Aliens
arm TelIldulS tlOuUlcSOlIlC. l lac
others shouldn't cause much worry,
although Washington may offer an
occasional headache if Bucky Har-
ris finds a winner among his Cuban
colony.
Here's the National League out
look:
Cincinnati.
Chicago.
New York.
Pittsburgh.
st. Louis.
Boston.
Brooklyn.
Philadelphia.
The Reds may win by the margin
of redbug's snout. So far as can
determine they're the only contend
ers who've strengthened themselves.
They've got hitting, fine fielding and
probably the best tossing.
An able bodied Lee Grissom and
an improved Whitley Moore should
bolster a crack corps that includes
Paul Derringer, Johnny Wander
Nicer and Bucky Walters. The in
field looks better with Bill Werber
at third