| Show FOR TOR the last six years if you feelL feel L strong enough to turn back the calendar to 1941 the Cardinals and the be Dodgers have taken over most of Dr the pennant interest in hi the National National National Na Na- league By some odd turn the Cubs slipped safely into port in 1945 but even then the Cardinals were breathing not fire on their necks It must be admitted that in most of the Cardinal Dodger pursuit r races ace s the Red RedBirds RedBirds Redi i B Birds I r d s from St. St K Ji Louis have shown I more wing power in hi the stretch They I had bad the extra flutter flutter flut flut- I ter needed A year year I ago around this s 1 f time the Dodgers Jf 1 i were seven seven and t hall half games in front I of their Cardinal t pursuers but this lead wasn't enough I G Grantland ran tl an d RI RIas Rice ce as ns they n. n finished inU in ina a U dead heat with the Cardinals winI winning win win- ping ning the play I Whatever happens in hi the foggy future and all futures are arc foggy I the Dodgers have stolen the National National Na Na- I league show up to this spot Just before the season opened I their manager Leo Durocher was ordered to Elba or St. St Helena elena the I Napoleonic hide out hide out by Happy appy Chandler who right or wrong also was wrapped up in a fog This forced Branch Rickey to reach out and drag in Burt Hurt Shotton the most underrated manager in baseball who knew nothing about his team Shotton stepped into the middle ota of ot ofa afa a strange squad He soon lost hi his star Pete Reiser who still believes believe his head is harder than a hydrant or a concrete wall Then Shotton began looking around for a pitcher who could travel four innings innings al al almost most anyone who could locate the general direction of the plate A 4 Mild Old Tinier Shotton a mild country looking timer old-timer the exact opposite ol of Durocher like ile Ole Man River just kept rolling along The Dodgers Dodger were shot The day of the Bums Bum was over The Brooklyn attendance would take a dizzy dip But what happens The Dodgers move out in is front and the attendance fills the ball park despite a wet cold spring and a wetter colder June The Dodgers so far under Shotton Shotton Shot Shot- ton have outplayed the Bums And they have even keener fan support For Brooklyn knows Its baseball and Brooklyn understands and appreciates appreciates ap ap- predates the handicaps Shotton has faced with Chuck Dressen and Red Corriden over in the Yankee camp An timer old-timer by the name of Burt Shotton deserves much more credit than he has received He lIe has turned In one of the big jobs of the year yr The Cardinals locking looking back to March and April appeared to have class The Giants have had power The Braves have had balance pitching and hitting But the Dodgers ers remain the major threat the team to beat A few days ago I ran across my old friend Arky Vaughan one of the best around all-around ballplayers you'll youl see in many a year Arky can play either the infield or the outfield outfield- and he is one of the best natural hitters bitters baseball has known What holds the Dodgers up I asked around all ball club A good Vaughan answered Theres always always al al- al ways somebody around to handle the job when we get in trouble This means pitchers outfielders or In- In fielders Weve We've had more hard luck with Reiser Edwards and others than any other team But we keep hustling Well We'll the Cardi Cardi- Cardinals Cardinals nals too We have a bunch of young pitchers who will be stars next year After all Branca is only 21 Watch Hatten and Barney Robinson Robin son has turned in a swell job Show me a stronger second short base stop combination than Reese and They are arc winning ballplay ballplay- ers The Dodgers are made up of winning ballplayers The Yen to Win Every team and very ballplayer ballplayer ballplayer ball ball- player likes to win But the Dodgers like the winning side better than anyone else I cant can't understand why so many people are surprised at the Dodgers' Dodgers showing We might easily with better luck have been much farther in fri front It might be mentioned here that Vaughan has been one of the stars in this Dodger drive Vaughans Vaughan's hitting hitting hit hit- ting and his around all play has filled a wide open gap And Vaughan is no longer a kid But now the Cardinals are coming coming cornIng com corn ing along and along and the Cardinals have always been the team to beat They were 3 to shots last April They were the sure things of an ensure unsure unsure un un- sure game They still look to have havethe havethe the class the experience the pitchIng pitching pitch pitch- ing lug and their share of power But it is still a question as to whether they can outrun the Dodgers and the Braves Anyone who leaves or heaves out the Braves Is a trifle goofy The Yankees already have wrecked wrecked wreck wreck- ed the American league race This means a bigger world series pay pay- off otT This also means a keener financial finan finan- nan cial ial interest for any National league winner so S |
