Evening star., 1943-04-15
Edge for Buns
Seen in InfieId, (,
Power al Bat
st. Louis Team Held
Weaker Thon in ~;
Hot Race Likely
by ,JUDsON BAILEY,
A aanase - DrAza Qv.Arka wvttAr


have one of those plain, unadorned
calendars which simply shows that
today is Thursday. April Is, but we
have one on our desk which shows
that this Is the time to predict the
pennaut winners In the major
leagues.
Like planting potatoes in your Vic
tory garden during the right phase
Of the moon, picking pennant win
ners is . delicate undertaking that
always should be done as early as
possible in the spring. The object is
to allow plenty Of time to forget the
selections before the season ends.
Our opinion and $l875 will get
you small War bond, but for what
1t, Is worth we give you the Brooklyn
Dodgers as the probable 1943 cham
pions Of the National League.
Most of the major league experts
are backing the world champion St.
Louis Cardinals and in difference to
the observations of our brothers in
the Baseball Writer'S Association we
will concede that this year will see
another close race.
Cards Not Same ~ Last Year.
The CardinalS have a good ball
club, but 1t is not the same outfit
that beat the New York Yankees
four straight in the last World
Series. Gone are Terry Moore, the
great fielder; Enos Country
Slaughter. the great hitter, and John
Beazley, the rookie pitcher who won
II games in the regular season and
two in the World Series.
For the first few weeks of the
season the Redbirds also will be
without Shortstop Martin (Slats)
Marion, because Of an appendecto-
my, and Second Baseman Jimmy
Brown. Howie Pollet and Harry
Walker are likely to be called in the
draft at an early date.
The Cards have good rockies, but
right now the club does not look as
promising as last year, when it man.
aged to win on the last day of the
season.
The Dodgers wounds by the war
have been less vital. Outfielder
Pete Reiser and Shortstop Peewee
Reese have entered the service, alone
with several others, but Branch
Hickey has obtained experienced re-
placements. The team consists OF
veterans who are rs nearly draft
proof As any bali players can be
The exception is Pitcher Kirby
Higbe, married but childless.
Early Going Favors Dodgers.
The Dodgers have experience, more
power and an edge In the infield rs
long as the Cards are without Marion
and Brown. st. Louis has youth,
speed and the possibility of better
pitching
The schedule gives the Dodgers a
running start against the weak
Eastern clubs while the Cards are
battling the tough Cincinnati Reds
and Chicago Cubs in the first month
OF the season. It keeps the Dodgers
mostly in their own park till the
last week in May.
OuI SuCoS Ul lIlG OOcT Oh Tie
finish is Brooklyn, st. Louis, Cincin-
natl, Chicago. Pittsburgh, New York,
Boston and Philadelphia.
Cincinnati again has the pitching
to make it nag contender and has
improved its infield by adding Eddie
Miller, the best shortstop In the
league. But it still lacks power.
The Cubs have both pitching and
power. but lack polish and tinesse
Last year they were sixth. This
year they loom as certainties for the
first division and as dark horses who
might slip through to 4 champion
ship
No Hopes for Others.
The rest of the league strictly is
second division. The Pirates were
nth last year and have the same
ball club. The Giants zoomed into
third last year by adding First Base
man Johnny Mize. Now he Is gone
along with Catcher Harry Danning
and no real requirements have been
obtained.
Boston has pitching and no re.
serves. while the Phillies have little
more than franchise for an eighth.
place ball club and a lot of enere,
engcndered by q new owner and 4
new manager, Bucky Harris.