Evening star., 1953-08-17
Dodgers Could Lose,
0Nei|I Claims, but
They'll Have 10 Hurry
By the Assoeiuteci Press


Stubborn Steve O'Neill, who
has been in baseball, man and
boy. for A years, still thinks the
Dodgers can blow the National
League pennant.
The 63-year-old manager Of
the third-place Phillies believes
either Milwaukee or his own club
has an outside chance of CATCH
ing the Dodgers during the final
six weeks of the season.
II realize our chances look
mighty SLIM" O'Neill said before
yesterdays double-header with
the Giants. Thirteen games cit
was Is after the Phils dropped
two) is lot to make up in so
short a time. But I've been
around long time. I've seen a
lot of things happen that every
body said couldn't happen.
Cites Pirates Collapse.
II remember way back, in 1921
I believe. when Pittsburgh swag-
gered into New York we'll into
September boasting a fat seven
game lead over the Giants. They
proceeded to drop seven straight
to the Giants and they went back
home with their tails between
their legs-thoroughly licked.
"You young fellows need go
back no further than 1851 when
the Dodgers blew a 13la-game
lead with about as many games
to 60 as they have now. I look
for them to hit losing streak
soon."
O'Neifl admitted the Dodgers
were real good team" with
lots of power, good defense and
improved pitching.
Charlie Dressen's club is
loaded with great players" he
said. "but what made his club
this year is pitching"
Leaders Records Identical.
Both the Dodgers and Yankees
have eight-game leads with 40
games to play. Both have 77-37
records. And both have a sig
nificant edge on the losing side
Of the standings. The Braves
have lost 10 more games than
the Dodgers and the White Sox
are nine back on the loss side.
The Yanks enjoyed a profit
able Sunday, picking up a game
and a half on Chicago and two
full games on Cleveland by
knocking off Philadelphia, 80
and 7-3. Chicago bowed to De-
troit's Ralph Branca, 80, and
Cleveland dropped pair to the
Browns, TO and 7-5. Washing
ton and Boston split.
Brooklyn ran its winning
streak to nine by knocking of
their old Pittsburgh sparmates
twice, 81 and 9-5. but Milwau-
kee kept step by sweeping two
from Chicago, Az and 6-2.
Giants Shell Roberts.
The Giants ruined Robin Rob-
erts' bid for his 21st victory by
knocking him out in the eighth
inning of an 81 game and also
whipped the Phillies in the sec
ond game, 4-3. Cincinnati edged
st. Louis, 80, but the Cards
grabbed the second behind Stu
Miller, 6-2. The split and Phila-
delphia's twin defeat left st.
Louis tied with the Phils for
third place, Is games back.
Vic Raschi came up with a
f1ve-hit shutout of the AS to
win his 10th with the help of
Phil Rizzuto's batting. Little
Phil hit a homer with two on
and drove in two more with a
double to down Alex Kellner.
the fellow who shut out the
YanKS the nrSt two times ne
faced them.
Allie Reynolds, a surprise
starter, lasted only one inning
of the second game and the
YankS needed a f1ve-hit relief
chore by Johnny Sain to whip
Charley Bishop. RizZuto drove
in the tying run and scored the
tie-breaker in the sixth. The
Yanks wrapped it up with three
in the eighth off Morris Martin.
Branca had to stave off a
ninth-inning rally by the White
Sox to win for Detroit. The ty-
ing run was on third when Bob
(See BASEBALL, Page A-15D
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