Evening star., 1940-04-12
From the
Press Box
Big League Forecasts
Needed in All Homes
BY JOHN LARDNER,

-
NEW YORK, April IL (NA.N.A0.
The time has come for Lardner's
combined bombshell and button
hook, without which no home Is
complete-the results of the pen
nant races of 1910, five months in
advance.
The way things are with us vet
eran dopesters, we do not rush
blindly into an undertaking of this
kind. First, we weigh and we an
alyze and we weigh some more and
then perhaps we slip down to the
corner for a quick one-pineapple
phosphate Is my favorite.
So, before predicting the finishes
IN the two major leagues one-two-
three-four-flve-s ve-six-seven-eight, let
me contemplate the field q minute,
I have to get into the mood, which
Is easier said than done. This Is an
old mood that I picked up at auc-
ton in 80, and it's beginning to
mt a little snugly at the shoulders
and waist.
Cords Privately Owned,
Appraiser Admits
Here is the way I look at the ball
clubs:
National League.
Philadelphia-Very interesting.
Boston-Very, very interesting.
Cincinnati-You can say that
again.
st. Louis-Privately owned.
Pittsburgh-Great town.
Chicago-Population at last CEN
sus, 3,376,438.
New York-Wouldn't live there if
they gave it to me.
Brooklyn-Dangerous.
American League.
Chicago-Dangerous.
Cleveland-Very dangerous.
Detroit-Dangerous only on side
streets after dark.
New York-For sale
Philadelphia-May surprise.
Boston-Last was good.
st. Louis-Needs a tightener.
Washington-What in the heck
am talking about?
Meont Choices in 1899
For Place PorIoy
Having appraised the contenders
shrewdly and thoughtfully, would
like to explain about a slight mis-
take made in picking the winners
last year. My nominees were the
Cardinals and Red Sox. People
wrote in to complain, when the sea-
son was over. They seem to have
formed the wrong impression. I
meant to say, of course, that Boston
and st. Louis was a place parlay,
both to finish second, which they
old. Folks thought I named them
TO win, and have been the object
OF considerable vituperation, as we'll
as sabotage. One mucker hove a
rock through my window. If ne
will send in his name and address.
business or private, printed clearly
on a sheet of white paper, I will
sue him.
So much for the past. This year
the Cardinals and Red Sox are
sufe-fire, hand-embroidered cinch
to win their respective pennants.
I make no bones about it. I come
right out in the open, confound it.
The Yankees look good, but this is
their year to crack-not wide open.
but when the race gets tight, as 1t
will, the Red Sox, the hungry club.
Will have more fire and hustle than
the Yanks, the well-fed club. The
rest are nowhere in the American
League, though Cleveland and
Washington should show improve
ment.
In the National I pick the Cards
because they have the best team
the best balance of power, speed
and pitching-and the best reserve
strength. But the campaign will
be hot and tough and a single i'm
portant break against any one of
six clubs can throw it right out of
the race. That's what it's going
to be-a six-team fight with only
Boston and Philadelphia out of it
and Pittsburgh showing the most
improvement.
Cont Shoot Forecoster
For Brove Effrot
Here we 60: