Show IT TT WAS easy enough to understand A why Ewell Bla Blackwell was baseballs baseball's baseballs baseball's base base- balls ball's best pitcher in 1947 and why he be might easily be baseballs baseball's best pitcher in 1948 After meeting Blackwell again out here in Los Angeles I began to study his physical r make Six feet five and a fraction traction S for a starter he looks slimmer than thana than thana p S a quill thinner than thana a drink of water S Your first guess would be that the 5 S Reds Red's able sniper sniperS S td would weigh in at Ii or pounds z r I do better than I t h hat a t V Blackwell I said Make It I pounds and you'll be right Which means there Is a lot of fiber and muscle on those long bones This coming National league race should be the best In baseball history the Red bean pole said The American league race will be bo bea boa a tw two club luh scramble Red Sox Sex and Yankees In the National league they already are talking about the Dodgers Braves Cardinals and Giants These will all be tough But the Reds wont won't be any push Well be stronger than we were last season Well We'll get much better pitching Well We'll score more runs Well We'll bother more teams Johnny Neon is planning a drive at that first division and we wont won't be far away Just how do you figure the therace therace therace race I asked the human sky sky- S scraper era perA per j A very tough race Blackwell said too tough for me to pick But ButI I can promise you this Boston is going to make a big effort to have havea a Boston world series It could happen hap hap- pen With the new stars brou brought ht in Stephens and Kramer and other help the Red Sox have the edge edgein in the American league Not a big edge but a margin to work on It would be a killing margin i if we knew that Hughson Harris and Ferriss Ferriss Ferriss Fer- Fer riss would be O O. K Pick Braves to Beat to handie handle handle han han- The Braves will be tough dle die in the National They have two star pitchers in Spahn and Sam Sain They have a star manager and a I flock of ot good ballplayers The Dodgers should be just as good and the Cardinals will be better than a year ago But the Braves still have havea a good chance in a very tough scramble After winning 22 games last season season season sea sea- son I was sorry that I was halted by an nn Injured knee and a bad back Blackwell said I was no good the thelast thelast thelast last three weeks Id I'd d like to slip by that 25 mark this year Johnny Lindell another 6 foot toot 4 or inch 5 athlete came by a few minute later Lindell Is one ono of the most underrated underrated under under- rated ballplayers in the game Johnny Johnny John John- ny fly was an around all-around star In California Cali Call fornia Cornia baseball football tennis track and field and golf This covers quite a span In baseball he can pitch play the outfield first base and hit lilt Lindell refuses to concede the Red Sox any pennant I know how much those Browns will help he said but Im I'm not sure they'll cover the game 12 margin we wc piled up last fall tall Heres Here's another angle what wins pennants Pitching of ot course Well We'll have another strong stat staff again backed up by Joe Page Pace But who knows how good Tex Hughson Hugh- Hugh son Mickey Harris and Boo Ferriss Ferriss Ferriss Fer- Fer riss will be All had bad arms In 1947 None of the three was any too effective An operation could help Hughson But it also could help Spud Chandler one of f the best Ive I've ever seen Tiger H Hurling Best I What about Frank Shea one of the best young pitchers I ever saw His arm was O. O K again at atthe atthe atthe the end of the season and this should mean at least a game 22 winner Well We'll have a 0 better pitching staff than the Red Sox and that will make a bi big difference I I know its it's tough to beat out a aI club that has Ted Williams Vern I Stephens Johnny Pesky Dom DI- DI DiMaggio I Maggio and so many other good ones but we had a pretty fair ball club too We ran up 19 In a row with our two best pitchers on the bench or in the hospital We also have a few fellows who can hit bit when you need hits The Thu Tigers may have the best pitching In either league Their Infield In- In Held field doesn't look any too hot and their outfield is a guess Cleveland will bo be a much tougher team to beat Bob Feller will have or should have o a much better belter year after a much longer rest But nut the race should be between the Yankees and the Red Sox S S S The Pennant Races You cant can't blame the west coast coastIn In takIng a 8 deep Interest In hi the two big league pennant races The west coast gave the two DI Dl- Joe and Dom to the Yankees and the Red Sox The west vest coast sent Joe Gordon and Johnny Pesky to the Indians and the Red Sox and Jack Robinson to the ers This Is only a beginning Ted Williams Wil Vil- Vil llama liams left San DIego to Join the Red Sox Sex and lie he still tili stands as 85 the best around all batter In baseball |