Show e 0 ATLAND R CE OME time back we were discussing discussing discussing discuss discuss- S SOME ing the affairs of ot baseballs baseball state with Connie Mack The part that luck plays came up for some chatter In my opinion luck plays a small part a very small part Mack said with games to play There is oI only Y one spot that luck can figure rather ily This could be bein bein in some injury or illness striking at a akey akey v key player one who cant can't be re re- re- re placed This is 4 y about the worst luck you can get he said MACK MACKSo So the Braves can ean be charged with the worst luck of ot the season in m losing Eddie for tor practically practically practically the rest of the season For despite what Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher thought about it has been the most valuable the most useful second baseman In m the National league His nis absence from Brooklyn has accounted In large part for formost formost formost most of the Dodgers' Dodgers doldrums e earlier In the race It has accounted accounted accounted ac ac- ac- ac counted for a loss of ot In attendance due to so many games lost that presence presence presence pres pres- ence could have won I When the blow fell Billy Southworth had just lust organized organized organized organ organ- his cast into the most forI formidable for for- I team in the league It had good catching and certainly one of ot the soundest pitching staffs in Johnny Sam Sain Warren Spahn Bill and Vernon Bickford Braves lad Had Hitters The Braves had a good hitting outfield on hand hand- But above all In and Alvin Dark the Braves Draves had the strongest second- second base combination in the circuit And it might be added that was largely responsible for young I Darks Dark's fine play and his marked Improvement On the thc day was hurt both he and Dark were hitting Both were among the first five among the Ule leagues league's best hitters As a defensive combination combination combination combi combi- nation they had no superior pair to face Just how substitute will work out has yet to be shown over a long stretch This could easily be the wrecking wrecking wrecking wreck wreck- ing bad luck that Mack was talking talking talking talk talk- ing about The Braves may win the pennant without With the pepper box around they were the best team in their league the team one had to pick as the probable probable probable able pennant winner You know what would happen to the Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Card Card- if ii they lost Stan or where the Indians would be without without without with with- out Lou Boudreau Athletics Have Pitchers The fact tact that a majority of ot the experts prophets and soothsayers still are waiting for the Athletics to crack hasn't annoyed Mack too greatly Still he hasn't liked it too I much The records show that he has the soundest and most consistent consistent consistent con con- pitching staff in the league And the facts show Mack tells you that we have just about as good a ball club as the Yankees Indians or Red Sox in other departments It isn't as fast fast Cas Casas as it might be but it can canhit canhit canhit hit and field and I certainly know of no other club that has more spirit spirit- No club that has been up around the front for three playing months can be considered any morning glory If Phil 1 were in his 1917 shape wed we'd have a nice lead already set aside with better better better bet bet- ter prospects on ahead Whatever happens 1948 can be beset beset beset I set down as one of ot Macks Mack's bigger years The veteran won his first American league pennant 46 years ago in 1902 He won again In m 1905 1910 1911 1913 1914 1929 1930 and 1931 So it has been a matter of at 17 years since the tall thin old- old timer has won a flag and he feels that he could make good use of ot his pennant before r retiring tiring from tram the busy scene He lIe had no idea this spring that I he could do as well as he has to date I feel pretty sure that back in early April Mack gladly would have settled for tor a spot at the bottom bottom bottom bot bot- tom of the first division Favorites Fade Out Dut II At that time about all aU you could hear were the Yankees and the Red Sox The Tigers and the Indians Indians Indians In In- drew the next rounds of ot ap ap- ap- ap What everyone overlooked was the value of ot six or seven good consistent pitchers in a season where good pitching was extremely extreme extreme- ly scarce When su such h ball players as Eddie Joost and Hank Majeskie began acting like stars the Athletics Athletics Athletics Ath Ath- began showing dust to both Yankees and R Red d Sox They gave pretty fair proof of their Intentions by opening the season In Boston and walloping walloping walloping wal wal- loping tho the astonished Red Sox three times running Shortly after alter this they moved up with the Cleveland Indians and began began be be- gan feeding Athletic dust to the rest of the league |