Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-01
- WIN, LOSE OR
N0RAw /, FRANCE. SIAN.
More Than One Freak

AT HIS 68th BIRTHDAY party Casey Stengel made
brief reference to the San Francisco Giants "A freak
team Casey said explaining that it impossible to
build downtrodden outfit into pennant winner in one
year.
Well San Franciscos chances have lessened in the
last few days, but If the Giants win it won't be the first
time second division club jumped to the top Casey's
words notwithstanding Matter of fact when they
representing New York. the Giants hoped from sixth to
first in 1928 So did the Phes back 194-5 and some
American League clubs
Last season. the National League race was one of the
an-time closest For than half the campaign
five teams were separated by only couple Of games But
the Giants, along with the Pirates and Cubs were not
included New York finally wound up SIXTH 26 games
back of Milwaukee
What the Giants have been doing proves it is not i'm
possible. It's not usual, but not impossible.
IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE the Red sox finished
doorous seventh in 1945 Only the Athletics then in
Philadelphia beaten Yet 46 the Red Sox won the
pennant. Under the same manager, too, meaning Joe
Cronin Instead of II games won in as they won l04
Those were World War II years. of course, and any
thing likely to happen. Even the old St. Louis
Browns who finished sixth in AZ their first only
pennant in IA
With many of the real pros the service the lucky
clubs were those with the gifted 4-Fs washed-up
veterans and sempros The late Clark Griffith was
among the fortunate clubowners. His rag-tag
Senators were seventh in 1912 but second in 1913.
Washington slipped to the cellar in 1914, but then
came back and almost won the pennant in as which
was one Of the oldest of all seasons.
THE DETROIT TIGERS who had lost the "A flag
on the last day of the campaign 1t the final day
In AS If memory serves AS the year that Griffith
with no idea OF skipping from the cellar to challenge for
the pennan agreed to end the baseball at home
a week early in order to give way to the Redskins.
Whether it affected the pennant rushing to finish
early remained moot question At any rate the Tigers
needed split of double-header with the Browns in
St. Louis to clinch the title The best Washington could
get tie.
The Tigers cinches because the Browns them
selves finishing third that Optimiscally,
Griffith and Manager ossie Bluege waited for the Detroit
ST. Louis result.
The first game was an hour late in starting due to
rain. Going into the ninth inning the Browns lead
ing 3d. If they could have hung on there's no telling
what might have happened the Tigers in the second
game-and in play-off with the Senators.
STEVE ONEILL WAS MANAGING what sportswriters
calling "the nine old men-Roy Cullenbne Skeeter
Webb, Eddie Mayo Roger Cramer Rudy York. Jimmy
Outlaw Chuck Hostetler Paul Richards George Caster
Hank Greenberg ct al 1t Greenbergs coattails
that Detroit hung. With the bases filled in the ninth
inning at ST. Louis he homered to nail down the pennant
Greenberg didn't even pretend to be in shape He
had Just finished four years in the Army July but
he still for the Tigers by hitting 3l coutng IL hon.
and batting in so in the rs games he played
Those however, years and Stengel probably
wasn't counting them when he called the Giants
"a freak team" But, there in 1929 when
the Giants improved from sixth to frst-and the
World Series too Except for Mel OFT and himself Manager
Bill Terry had mediocre hitting club but blessed with
pitchers such as Carl Hubbel Hal Schumacher Freddy
Fitzsimmons, Roy Parmelee and Adofo Luque.
True a little of the rabbit had been taken out Of the
ball that season and that undoubtedly helped Terry's
pitchers But normal enough era 1t is supposed
provided you had use for money