Evening star., 1939-01-08
Meets Of 1899 Serve
As Prelimindries
To World Games
Decline Of Yonks Seen;
'Trojons, Volunteers
Strong on Grid
BY DILLON GRAHAM,

Associated Press Feature Service writer.
NEW YORK, Jan. 6.-It's safe
TO predict that 1899 will furnish
the usual thrills and spills in sports,
q full batch of records, astounding
upsets and a lot of red faces among
the experts-but that's all it's safe
to venture.
However, it is not foolhardy to
glance over the sports lineups and
size up the picture. AS is custom
ary, a pre-Olympic year finds un-
usual interest attached to SWIM
ming, rowing, boxing and track
performances, for this years meets
will serve as preliminary trials for
the personnel of Uncle Sans
Olympic representatives in 1910.
Let's look down the sports trail
and get general outline of what
the future may offer:
Hot A. L. Race Likely.
Baseball-The American League
race may be as interesting and
closely fought as the National Gus
tomarily is. With Lou Gehrig and
Bill Dickey, Red Ruffing and Lefty
Gomez a year older, the Yankees
hardly will be as strong as last
year. The Boston Red SoX, Detroit
Tigers and Cleveland Indians all
have bolstered their attacks, ready
to bounce ahead if the Yankees
should falter.
The Chicago Cubs should have a
more difficult time repeating than
the Yankees. With Lee Grissom
and Johnny Wander Nicer avail
able for the full season, the Gin
cinnati Reds will be hard to stop.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Bees
and perhaps the st. Louis Cardinals
will be serious contenders. And
Bill Terry, gambling on the arms
of Carl Hubbell and Hal Schu-
macher, on Hank Bonura at first
and Burgess Whitehead at second
base, will have the Giants in the
thick of the fight if things break
well for him.
Football - Southern California,
Rose Bowl victor, appears good bet
dCA11C SOcoo o6oAAA' ASAAAASS
sees powerful team, which retains
virtually all of its aces, should be
strong again.
Alabama will be on the road back.
Carnegie, Texas Christian, Oklaho-
ma and Duke lose many valuable
cogs. Pitt, as usual, will be strong.
Some Classy Trackmen.
Track-With the Olympic games
only a year away, 1899 will see an
upswing in track activities and per-
haps in performances. Glenn Cum
ningham probably will remain the
fastest miller, with serious challenges
from Archie San Romani, Charles
Fenske and Louis Zamperini.
Fred Wolcott is in class by him.
self as hurdler. Ben johnson and
Perrin Walker probably will divide
sprinting honors. Long John Wood
ruff still appears the best half-miler,
with Roy Malott and Wilbur Greer
topping the 440-yard racers.
Boxing-Joe Louis, heavyweight,
and Henry Armstrong, lightweight
and welterweight, should retain their
crowns. Fred Apostoli likely will
become middleweight champion Me-
lilo Bettina is favored to win the
light-heavyweight title. Pete Seal
70 and Leo Kodak, along with joey
Archibald, the New York State
champion, probably will get the
featherweight muddle Strengthened
out. Sixto Escobar may have trou-
BILE hanging on to his bantamweight
honors. The proximity of the Olym-
pic year should increase interest in
amateur boxing.
Tennis Somewhat Uncertain.
Tennis-Bobby Riggs appears as
though he will be sure nominee
for the No. singles berth in Davis
Cup competition. Gene Mako, who
went to the finals of the national
singles championship, may get the
other spot. However, using him In
singles might weaken the country's
chances in the doubles.
Other singles possibilities are Bitsy
Grant, frankie Parker, Joe Hunt,
Elwood Cooke ard Frank Kovacs.
Australia again probably will face
the United States for the inter-
national trophy and will be at least
a $3.50 shot to win.
Swimming Major swimming
meets this year will serve as Olym-
pic preliminaries. Kitty Rawls
Thompson again should be the
No. swimmer. Marjorie Gestring
and Helen Crlenkovich should de-
eide the women's diving crown in
q personal duel AL Patnik seems
the outstanding male diver. Ralph
Flanagan probably will set another
bumper crop of records.
Snead Golfer to Stop.
Golf-Professional golfers will find
1t difficult to keep Sammy Snead
from winning the National Open,
although top-ranking stars look for
Ralph Guldahl to win for a third
year. Patty Berg is outstanding
among women golfers. The anna
teur championship and the P. G. A.
tournament are such toss-ups that
Willie Turnesa and Paul Runyan
would be the longest of long shots
to win again.
Rowing-The East finally took
control of intercollegiate racing last
year, but the West will be back
strong at Poughkeepsie. Navy again
viii be hard pressed by Washington
and California.