Evening star., 1946-07-09
Underdog n. |. Hopes
To Catch lis Rivals
Hur|ers Off Form
By Bob Covoenoro
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Associated Press Sports Editor
BOSTON, July 9.-An underdog
but hopeful National League team
took the field today against a highly
favored American League aggrega-
ton in the first postwar all-stal
baseball game between hand-pickeo
players of the rival major leagues
Upward of $4,000 fans paid rec
ord of $105, ,000-the previous high
was $98,692 in 1935-for reserved
seats in FenWay Park, home of the
powerful Boston Red Sox, for the
18th interleague classic which found
the Americans 3 to l betting choices
and made this Massachusetts
metropolis the diamond game capi-
tai at least for the day. The teams
were scheduled to square off at 1913
pm. eastern standard time) with
the Nationals first to bat
Bobby Feller, the Cleveland
Indians sizzling strikeout pitcher
and the Chicago Cubs veteran
right-hander, Claude Passeau were
slated to pitch the first three
innings.
Manager Steve O'Neill of the
world champion Detroit Tigers ano
leader of the American Leaguers
planned to use next his tWirline
star, Hal Newhouser, and ther
Spurgeon (Spud) Chandler of the
New York Yankees for the finaI
three innings. ONeills reserve
mound staff included Mickey Harris
and Dave Ferriss of the Red Soy
and Jack Kramer of the ST. Louis
Browns.
Grimm WithhOlds Slab Plans.
Manager Charley Grimm of the
Chicago Cubs and the National
Leaguers, kept the Americans in
the dark about who would follow
Passeau, but the consensus was that
Rip SeWell of Pittsburgh and Howie
Pollet of st. Louis would get the
calls. Also he had Brooklyn s
Kirby Higbe, Boston's Mort Cooper
Cincinnati'S Ewell Blackwell and
Chicago's Johnny Schmitz in the
bullpen for emergency summonses
The Nationals pegged their hopes
on the fact that Feller, Newhouser
and Chandler might be off form
They pitched Sunday and had only
one day of rest. Passeau, on the
other hand, idle since last Friday,
was in Al condition for the test.
The Americans were fully conf
dent that Feller would have the
heat turned on when Second Base
man Red Schoendienst of the ST.
Louis Cardinals, the first National
hitter, planted his feet in the
batter's box. In three games since
the inter-league series started in
1888, Bob struck out nine and tied
the mark established by Vernon
Lefty Gomez, formerly of the New
York Yankees. Thus, the Indians
flreball artist. who has 95 strike
out average in 20 league games this
season, needed only one strikeout
TO make record for himself in
this dream game" competition.
Four of Red Sox Starting.
Boston Red Sox players domi-
mated the starting lineups. Four
Center Fielder Dom Di Magic.
Shortstop Johnny Pesky. Left Field
er Ted Williams and Second Base
man Bobby Doerr-Were named from
among Owner Tom Yawkey's gang
which has set the pace in the Amer
lean League from the start of the
1916 season. Doerr, bothered by
a split finger, was slightly doubt
full starter. 'Di Maggie, Pesky and
Williams batted in that order.
They were followed by the Yankees
home run star, Charley Keller in
the cleanup spot and then Doerr.
This array of powerful sluggers
calculated to enable the American
League to increase its domina-
ton Of the series. which stands at
eight victories for the Americans
TO four for the Nationals. The
National Leaguers won the last
game, to /, played in 1914
But, in a golden game such as
this, anything can and usually does
happen. Many a ball game has
been won with one hit, such as
Max Vests three-run homer in
the first inning of the 40 game
contributing to the Nationals 40
victory, and Williams four base,
three-run smash off Passeau in
the ninth with two out to give the
Americans 7-to-5 victory in Al.
Sluggers on n, l.. Club.
The National League wasn't with
out its sluggers and clutch hitters.
1t boasted a powerful long distance
hitter in the New York Giants
first sacker, Johnny Mize, and its
leading batter, Dodger Dixie Walker.
whose timely hitting has been a big
factor keeping the Brooks ahead
of the Cardinals.
Some of the stars chosen for the
classic won't see action due to in
jurles. The Dodgers shortstop,
Peewee Reese, turned up with a
Clipped vertebra in the neck from
spill he took Sunday Also. the
Dodgers Pete Reiser. with sprained
right shoulder. and Eddie Miller
of Cincinnati with an injured right
hand mero anopC tho MISSING