The midland journal., 1946-05-03

hit 1891 before joining the navy in
1943, and Bobby Doerr, who rung up
a 1925 average prior to his induction
in the army in 1914.
In pitchers Tex Hughson and Big
Boo Ferris, Manager Cronin ap-
pears to have two sure-fire IS to 20
game winners, while Mickey Harris,
Jim Bagby and Jim Wilson are ex-
pected to develop into grade A
moundsmen.
Nosed out of the American league
pennant by single game in 1945,
the Washington Senators will be
back knocking at the door again
this year if their knuckle-balling
pitching staff stands up under the
six-month strain, and the boys can
stir up enough punch to help out
hard-hitting Jeff Heath, Stan Spence,
Buddy Lewis and Cecil Travis.
Head of the Senators knuckle-
ballers is SO : year old Emil
C"Dutch") Leonard, vet Of 13 long
seasons of play who chalked up II
victories in 1945 against Z losses
and possessed an earned run aver
age of 2.13 per game. The other So
called "fiutter-ballers" are Roger
Wolff, who turned in 20 wins last
year, Marino Pieretti, with IA, and
Johnny Niggeling, much stronger
than in 1915, following the removal
of ulcers.
Others Have a Chance.
While Cleveland, st. Louis, Chi
cago and Philadelphia have been
counted out of the American League
pennant race, they may, with lots
of luck, crowd into the first division.
Because of a strong pitching staff
headed by the sensational Bobby
Feller, fresh from the navy, Cleve-
land stands the best chance of
breaking into the select four, while
83-year-old Connie Mack's Philadel-
phia Athletics appear headed for the
cellar despite the presence of Russ
Christopher and Dick ("No Hit')
Fowler on the pitching staff.
Profiting again from their exten-
sive farm club system, the St. Louis
Cardinals are the ruling favorites to
take National league honors away
from the Chicago Cubs. The Brook
lyn Dodgers, New York Giants and
Boston Braves also are highly tout
ed, while the Pittsburgh Pirates may
well develop into the dark-horses Of
the race.
Few new major league managers
have stepped into the gold-mine Ed
die Dyer has in his first year as the
St. Louis Cardinals manager. He
succeeds Billy lSouthworth, who has
taken up the reins of the Boston
Braves.
In his regular outfield, the lucky
Mr.. Dyer intends to start Stan Mu-
sial, who hit .347 before entering the
navy in 1914; Terry Moore, the
fielding genius who hit 1888 prior to
his induction into service in 1942,
and Enos Slaughter, who batted .318
before joining the air force the same
year. i.
Star performers in the infield in
clude the great Marty Marion, wide
ranging shortstop, and Whitley
Kurowski, slugging third baseman,
who hit 1928 and batted in 102 runs
last year.
Mighty Mound staff.
Among Dyer's ranking pitchers
are Red Barrett, who won % games
his last time out; Johnny Beazley,
21; Max Lanier, II, and Harry
Brecheen, Is.
While Charley Grimm has none
of this kind of talent in Chicago, he
does have a hustling ball club to
work behind winning mound staff
headed by big Hank Borowy, who
helped pitch the Cubs into a pen
nant after being secured from the
Yankees last year; Claude Passeau,
who won II games in 1945 despite
an ailing right arm; Hank Wyse,
who turned in % victories in spite
of sore back, and Hi Bithorn, who
chalked up Is wins in 1943 before
entering the navy.