OCR Text |
Show v -SPORTLIGHT i ;Vho'll Make Diamond Headlines? s By GRANTLAND RICE ; 1 LJDDLING with a group of vet-seran vet-seran ballplayers and managers J finally steered the argument the general direction of head- makers for 1950. Jho would they be? From the t;rican league you start right ' with Ted Williams, Joe Di-igio, Di-igio, Tommy Henrich and such Ditchers as Mel V " 1 Parnell, Ellis Kinder, Kin-der, Joe Page and possibly Rae Scarborough, Scar-borough, Bob Lemon Lem-on and Ed Garcia. In the national league you- had Jackie Robinson, Stan Musial, Ralph Kiner, Enos Slaughter and such entry cut in. That led to another 10-dollar bet. "And I'd like to bet that Stan Musial gets more M.V.P. votes than Jackie Robinson," some outsider out-sider said. "Robinson is good but he isn't any Stan Musial." There are not many Stan Musials lying around loose. After all, Musial is only 29 and he has known only eight big-league seasons. That's little more than a warm-up. Or at least it should be. Other small bets made: Kiner Kin-er to beat the 50-home-run mark again; Williams to hit over .350; Robinson not to lead the N.L. at bat; Newcombe to win 25 games. Two bets on Joe DiMaggio to play in 120 games. Dyer and the Cardinals Eddie Dyer, the crack blocking back from Rice some years ago, feels that his Cardinals are about due again. Eddie won the pennant his first year out in 1946. He finished fin-ished second to the Dodgers in 1947. He ran second in 1948 and last year he was beaten on the final day by a lone game. "We'll have at least four .300 bitters next season," Eddie said. "Who are they? Musial, Slaughter, Jones and Schoen-dienst. Schoen-dienst. It's true that Jones and Schoendienst hit only .299 and .297 respectively last year but they'll pick up those extra points sure. They are really .310 hitters. As a matter of fact we have another good kid who should hit better than .300. His name is Ed Kazak, our third baseman. Ed nit .304 in 92 games last year before he was hurt. This would give us three infielders and two outfielders out-fielders in the .300 or better class." "What's the doubtful side of your outfit?". I asked. "The answer is nearly always the same," he said. "Pitching. Last season we landed Lanier and Martin well into the season." For Double Platoon "A year ago I was dead against the double platoon," Wes Fesler of Ohio State said. "Since then I have changed completely. I'm all for it I believe those coaches who dislike it haven't given it a fair trial. I know I hadn't when I was against it. Since then I've discovered most of the players want it That's a big reason for liking it. I know it produces faster, better football. I also know it gives many more students stu-dents a chance to play football." ntland Rice pitchers as Don Newcombe, Preach- Roe, Ken Heintzleman, Howie i'et and one or two others. i"There won't be much change ;z'nong the top bunch," Frank 4sch said. "Ted Williams t-ill has a few big seasons xjft. DiMaggio has one or two Her 18 years in baseball. In r.e National league, Jackie 'Jjbinson will be hard to head Z"J again. Be has shown Mus-xd Mus-xd and Slaughter, who are not fitting any younger (who is?), ".at both will have to have en bigger years to beat him. I.bme of the fellows out front sst season may not repeat, finder at 35 or 36 is no kid. !ither is DiMaggio. For that Matter Robinson will be 31 in nuary." fhe younger fellow with the best soce is Pon Newcombe," an-;jr an-;jr manager cut in. "This big ,mw has had less than a year in league baseball and yet they W all talking about him. If we j going to have any 30-game er in 1950 it will be Newcombe. -;1 be the best pitcher in either !ue." hat about Mel Parnell? Par-g Par-g is only 27 years old. He is f the best run-making club in st league. Ij"ril bet you 10 dollars Par-.jjll Par-.jjll finishes above New-'f New-'f mbe," an American leaguer ,;t in. "I mean that he'll win (ore ball games." The two U;ook bands. W flow can you tell?" another said. ru,U has a lifetime big-league av-Bl"e av-Bl"e of .297. Ted Williams has one f.nd .354. Yet Kell outhit WU-rw's WU-rw's last year. Utile won't come within 25 points istfilliams this year," a Red Sox |