The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-07-10
Pennant Winners
Tough To Pick

AT the start Of the 1859 baseball season, this
columnist stepped forward with the opinion that the
World Series would be the same old battle-NeW YORK
Yankees VS.. the Milwaukee Braves.
Il doesn't take a very keen observer to note, that
as the baseball season reached the halfway mark, the
decision is still very much in doubt.
In fact, the biggest surprise OF the year is fne car
and doc FIGHT which has been going or in the AmerI-
can League. Even more surprising is the fact that TOR
the first half of The season, the Yankees haven treaIly
been in this fussle.
Main adversaries for the AL lead have been
Cleveland and Chicago. Baltimore also has been In the
thick of the fight and Detroit is a latecomer TO the
scrape.
Only during last month have the Yankees gotten
embroiled in this mighty struggle but each time they
crashed into the first division, somebody told them 10
mind their own business and kicked them back INTO
the lower half of the league.
Back in Nav. when the Yankees were keeping
cool in the league basement, We said here that Man
ager Casey Stengel had no intentions of surrenderlng.
Current standings show that the Yankees nave snap
ped out of the doldrums.
Although still behind, New York has taken big
strides towards the top and is now only a few games
behind the leader. Will they make 1t?
This writer thinks SO. The Yankees nave learned
that "resfinq on ones laurels" is q bad practice.
THEY'VE learned that no one is going TO play dead"
for them. They've learned that they'll have TO fight
for that crown. And fight is what they've been dong.
If the Yankees don't win the title, VINO VIII! mat
Is a real tough one to answer.
Most would saw Cleveland because the Indians
AlOo 8OdbA % 1870
have proved TO be a dynamic team. Also, they've been
setting the pace. But Detroit leads Cleveland IN Datlng
and fielding. Their pitching is about equal. However,
Detroit has gained a winning habit winch mas Vauiteo
the Tigers from seventh into contention.
Then there's still Chicago to consider. The White
Sox seems to be a sleeper" in the picture. But so has
Baltimore.
To avoid getting e~ntangled in a confusing dis
cussion, well say if the Yankees don't take IT, Cleve-
land will.
The same question exists In the National League.
Who's going to win? That circuit is embroiled in It's
usual battle with three teams swapping at each others
heels.
Milwaukee has paced the league but the Braves
definitely are in trouble. Warren SPAIN has been los
ina almost as often as he has been winning. Second
base without Red Schoendiensf, is q great big head
ache.
Yet. the Braves trail only St. Louis in club batting
and lead in club fielding. They still have an impressive
pitching staff,
Scraping hard for the pennant however, are Los
Angeles and San Francisco. Both teams are proving
to be tough cOntenders.
However, San FranciSo has an Achilles heel-ltS
fielding is worst in the league. The Giants are only
sixth in hitting. Their strong point is pitching but you
need good fielding and hitting to go along with good
pitching. f,
only behind Milwaukee in fielding and practically tied
with the Braves in hitting.
Clouding the picture even more is Pittsburgh.
The Pirates we're supposed to be eontsnders but got
off TO q rotten start. They rallied enough TO get into
the first division but still aren't q solid threat.
No one would give the Chicago Cubs serious at
tention, yet they aren't very far behind the leaders.
Unless the Dodgers or Giants show a little i'm
provement, the Braves look like the winners. If the
Dodgers can get a little more pitching, the pennant
will be theirs. Until this happens, Milwaukee is the
winner.
Taking a fast look at the International League,
1t seems a safe bet TO say that the Buffalo Bisons will
win. They hold a relatively healthy lead and have a
solid team.
How about the Jets7 Are they going TO finish last
or in their favorife position-seventh? Or are they 60
ing TO reverse themselves and start a climb upward7
It's a cinch they can't get any worse than they
we're during June, when they crashed from first to
last like firemen sliding down a pole. A losing habit Is
a depressing one. If the Jets get some wins under their
belts, they should move up.-LVF1