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Show W J (CMVL4AZ i VER 35 years ago Jack Chesbro stepped out and blew himself to 40 Yankee victories. A few years later Ed Walsh moved into the 40-game 40-game set, a record which doesn't include in-clude 10 or 12 other games he happened hap-pened to save. Walsh that year worked in 66 ball games. Under changed conditions it may be that Bob Feller will never reach the 40-game mark I " on tne winning side, I J s but with any luck at f j the age of 21 he will 1 -j sit in the 30 win s' J ning-game divis;on It, ' this next fall with I -i W such all-time per-I per-I ? mifmx formers as Christy t ' Matnewson, Grover I M Alexander' Walter I , f "yt Johnson, Smoky Joe lblaJ Wood and Lefty Grove. Matty and ' Grantland Rice Alexander reached this mark on three consecutive occasions. But Feller Is headed for the same fertile country at the age of 21. There is no telling what heights he might reach If the draft or war doesn't interfere. The Cleveland star is without any question the i greatest young pitcher in baseball. I Matty was just getting under headway at 21 and Alexander was 24 when he came to Philadelphia and hung up 28 wins. But at 21 Feller is all ready to join the pick of the flock. If the world ever settles down to something like its old normality there is no telling how many ball games Blasting Bobby might put away before he checks out. Right From the Start Feller was an amazing kid from the start He came to Cleveland in 1936 at the age of 17 a big, raw-boned raw-boned kid with a great pair of hands and a great pair of wrists. You can imagine the feelings almost al-most any 17-year-old player would carry into action, facing his first start under the Big Tent. Not Fel- BOB FELLER ler. He lacked control, but from the jump he was as cool as a slice of cucumber on ice. After whiffing 17 of the enemy in one of his first games, the Van Meter phenom was a trifle too keen on the strikeout path for some time. This wrecked his control. He was also a bit lopsided at holding runners on base. But he has long since cured both faults. He has added a good curve ball to his speed. Feller has the poise and balance of a much older man. He has shown no sign so far of an enlarged head, no sign of kid freshness with older men. A fellow like Feller will mean a healthy package to Cleveland when the stretch running begins a few weeks later on. And a fellow like Feller can turn a world series upside up-side down, if he gets the chance. The Reds Sad Story When I sat on the bench a short while back with Bill McKechnie his Reds had a nine-game lead and they looked to be breezing. It was the first time I had ever seen Uncle Will breathing normally with his pulses in order. You could see that with this lead, plus Derringer, Walters and Thompson, his worries were just about over. But they are not over now. It has been suggested that Willard Hershberger's death had a depressing depress-ing effect. But the sliding had started start-ed before the young Red catche: ended his life. The shock began when the Giants beat Bucky Walters in the game that Walters had tied up in a true lover's knot in the ninth inning with two out. The Reds have never quite recovered re-covered from that shock. Later on the suicide episode didn't help. They were due for a slump, but no one looked for any such August dip. They still have the call with the pitching they have, but the old easy-going gallop is over. As some philosopher has said, "There is also gameness in front running." In fact, there is plenty. What About Foxx? The Mel Ott day was a knockout. No ball player had more wild laurel blossoms coming his way. Except possibly one James Emory Foxx of the Red Sox. Here is a great ball olayer and a great guy. |