Evening star., 1942-04-13
A. |. Pilots Look
For Hot Scrap
Behind Yanks
N. l. First Division
Must Expand If All
Leaders Are Right
BY AUSTIN BEALMEAR,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

NEW 1OftkA, ApIA 4o.-AA oA WIG
hopes, desires and predictions are
fulfilled this year for managers Of
major league baseball teams, the
first divisions Of both the circuits
are going to be q little crowded.
On the eve of the start Of the
pennant campaigns not q single
manager could be found today who
was willing to admit that his club
wasn't tagged for an upper berth at
the end Of the five-and-one-half
months jaunt.
Half Of them, If the weather
doesn't interfere, are due for . set
back tomorrow when all Is teams
are scheduled to break from the
barrier together In the first wartime
season in "a years.
The lineup sends New York to
Washington, philadelphia to Boston.
st. Louis to Chicago and Cleveland
to Detroit in the American League.
while the National loop will find
Brooklyn at New York, Boston at
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh ut Cincin-
natl and Chicago at st. Louis.
All See Big Year for Game.
The war shared honors with the
pennant prospects as the principal
topics Of conversation in comments
collected by Associated Press from
the pilots Of the various teams.
From 24-year-old Lou Boudreau,
who begins his assignment As man
ager of the Cleveland Indians, to
79-year old. Connie Mack, ready for
his 49th season rs q skipper and
his 42d with the Philadelphia Ath-
letics, the club leaders agree that
baseball is In for big year In spite
Of the war.
Most Of them believe that the
conflict will have some effect on the
play Of the teams, varying as the
season progresses and the draft
makes further inroads on the per-
sonnel. but none expects business at
the gates to decline.
Few dared to pick winner IN
the National League, but American
League managers, with the excep-
ton Of Joe Mccarthy, think the
New York Yankes are the boys to
beat. - -, -, ~,
Connie Mack, who declined to
confirm or deny what they're saying
about his Athletics, picked the New
York Yankees and Boston Red Soy,
to run one-two in the American,
League, but warned that the
Chicago White Sox have bidder.
strength that might put them Oh
top.
There will be plenty Of playing
talent" said Mack, explaining that
he felt the leagues would have no
difnculty surviving the wartime
season.
Yanks viii Be Interesting"
Joe Mccarthy, manager Of the
World Champion New York
Yankees, thinks the season will be
a good one and promises something
interesting" from his club. which
will be after its sixth American
League pennant in seven years.
I'VE have a good club" said Nc
Carthy, "as good as last year In my
opinion. 1t will help lot II we get
started right. I am sure We will be
able to give the fans something
interesting and the way they turned
out to see us this spring, know they
still like baseball"
There was a note of confidence
in the statement of Manager Leo
Durocher Of the National League
Champion Brooklyn Dodgers, who
declared:
Il feel that have . better club
than last year and we won the
pennant with that one. It's hard
to say who will give us our toughest
opposition. Aftef the season opens
they're all tough.
IT hope the Indians finish in the
first division" said Cleveland's Lou
Boudreau. IF the team makes any
better than fourth, I'll be very
happy. But don't forget, the pen
nant Is our goal"
Boudreau's biggest problem is his
pitching stafI. II think the loss Of
Bob Feller was just about the most
serious blow q club could possibly
suffer-" he said. No one is going
to take up all that slack"
Baker, Frisch Hopeful.
Another American League boss
who likes the Yankees is Del Baker
of the Detroit Tigers.
They say well finish fifth or
lower" said Baker, but I'll be
mighty disappointed II we don't
make the first division. We have
sacrificed power formerly supplied by
(See BASEBALL. Page A-12)