The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-11-09
Tigers Rated Team to Beat m I947 Race
By MILTON HICKMAN United Press Sports Writer

New York Nov. 9.-UP)-Genia Steve O'Neill was one of the most stunned persons in the entire state of Pennsylvania today upon learn ing that a group of American league magnates designated his Detroit Tigers as the team to beat in 1947
 President Larry MacPhail of the New York Yankees. President Bill Veeck of the Cleveland Indians and owner Tom Yawkey of the Boston Red Sox all believe that ONeill of Minooka. Pa, will field one of the circuits strongest clubs next Summer.
 After a noticeable lag during the middle of last season. the Tigers rallied in the home stretch to fin- ish second. five games in front of the third-place Yankees. How ard the end of the season, O'Neill's charges were playing better base ball than any club in either of the two major leagues
 Great Finish
 Starting the last week in August, Detroit won 28 out of 38 games for .373 percentage Had the Tigers played the same brand of ball throughout the season they would have won in a romp.
 Veeck particularly is sold on the Tigers chances. The Cleveland proxy recently turned down an op- portunity to trade one of his in- fielders to Detroit because he claimed the player in question would strengthen the Bengals when they're already the strong club in the league"
 MacPhail feels the same way as Veeck. He would rather talk trade with the lowly Philadelphia Athle- tics or St. Louis Browns because of the conviction that any Yan..ee player would help Detroit capture the pennant 10 months from now Yawkey, of course, is eager to keep his Red Sox stronger than any other club in the circuit and he realizes that O'Neill presents the strangest threat to Boston's de- fense of the junior loop cham pionship.
 All of which serves to put the likeable Detroit pilot in a fairly ticklish position. Generally, the op- position points" for the pennant- winner of the previous year, but this time they're leveling their arr tillery at a team which finished l2 games to the rear of the pacemak- CTS.
 Actually, it appears that the Messrs. MacPhail, Veeck and Yawkey are concerning themselves with good cause. A nasty perusal of the Tiger roster for l947 re- veals ( formidable array which conceivably could swipe the crown from the heads of the Red Sox.
 Detroit ranks dugout -deep in pitching talent. The mainstays, Of course, will be southpaw Hal New houser. Paul (Dizzy) Trout. Freddie Hutchinson. wo came along swiftly toward the close of last season, Vir- gil (Fire) Trucks and broad-shoul- dered Al Benton.
 Right behind the front-liners will be Prank (Stubby) Overmire, Johnny Corsica and young Art Houtteman, a speedy right-hander whom O'Neill considers a potential 20-game winner. Rockies You Kretlow and Ted Gray May supply additional help on the mound.
 The outfield, with Dick Wake field, Walter (HooD Evers, Roy Cul- lenbine, Pat Mullin and Doc Cra- mer to choose from, may be as strong as any in baseball, New conner Anse Moore showed well in the few games he played, also,
 Problem
 ONeill's chief concern is the infield. First baseman Hank Green berg and third baseman George Kell are set but the keystone could stand bolstering, Jim Bloodworth, Eddie Mayo. Jimmy (Skeeter) Webb and Eddie Lake are the midway candidates.
 The catctcing chores are tended by George (Birdie) Tebbets, Bob Swift and veteran Paul Richards, who may be near the end of his active career.
 It's a safe bet, however. that Dteroit will get neither pity nor playing material from other clubs. The Tigers are io47's marked out flt."