Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-11
Given Poor
Break as Show
Is Conducted
Parade of AII-Sturs
Wanted, Not Mere
Exhibition Tilt
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Staff Correspondent.

NEW YORK, July 1l.-Fashioned
as exquisite entertainment for the
Nations baseball fans, the All-Star
game here today promised to slither
10 new low in that capacity. Like
an lnebriated archer, the engage
ment seemed to have missed its
target even before the teams trotted
onto Yankee Stadiums lush carpet.
Much OF the lure of the tiff was
loSt with the announcement of the
lneupS. What it simmered down
to, refrigerating interest en- route
was peek at a pre-vieW of the
World Series. With six Yankees in
the American Leagues starting line
up and five Reds in the National
Leagues outfit, Nation wide en-
thusiasm suffered an acute case of
indifference.
Automatically eliminated from a
roofing franchise in the 1899 fracas
were followers of the Nationals.
White SoX, Athletics and Browns
OF the American League and the
Bees and Phillies of the National
League.
Eight Starters From Two Teams.
The cherished hopes those fans
nursed of viewing their pet home
team player perform were reduced
to filckers of resentment with the
official decision to play what nearly
is tantamount to a Yankee-Reds
| exhibition game.
OF the nine American League
players who were to launch festiv-
tiles, eight were culled from the
Yankees and Red Sox. Hank Green
berg, Detroit'S towering and power
full first baseman, wedged his way
into the lineup to prevent a clean
sweep by New York and Boston
1t generally is accepted that Man
ager Joe Mccarthy placed the
cream of the American League crop
on the field, which is his job, but
there are lingering doubts in the
minds of many if fans scattered
around the Nation give a boot in
HadeS about that. Without weak
enlng his entry to any appreciate
degree, Mccarthy might have given
more cities representation on his
club.
There is no argument against the
fact the Yankees are the cum laude
club of baseball unless the Red Sox
choose to debate. That situation
has existed for some seasons, but
under the present system of selec-
ton it isn't adding anything to the
All-Star attraction to have a pre-
dominately Yankee team represent
the American League.
Game Has Lost Much Charm.
At best the All-Star game proves
| little. American League moguls
point with pride to the edge their
athletes have compiled over the
senior circuit, but it's rather hol-
low distinction. The eagerress to
win is stripping the so-called classic
Of much of its charm.
1t might be we'll to insist that three
players from each club be named to
the team. They may or may not be
as polished as those slated to start
today, but Washington's George
Case, Dutch Leonard and Buddy
Lewis II named, for instance, at least
would have created a spark of in
terest in the District.
The Browns don't have much fun
during the season. Fans at St. Louis
might relish the prospect of seeing
their George McQuinn. Myril Hoag
and Harland Cliff break into action.
Maybe our slant is sour, but we
thought the original idea was to COL
lect stars from each club and play
them. We've seen the Yankees play
as a team. What we would prefer
is an outf1eld with not more than
one Yankee in it. Stick another
Yankee in the infield and let another
one pitch, perhaps, but there are
other stars in the league and they
aren't getting square shake.
South Atlantic Iearue