Athletics v. Cardinals

Theoretically, years of financial depression aid the baseball industry. Men out of work have the time and often the petty cash to attend ball games. More valuable than a depression is close competition for the major league pennants. This year's competition has been far from close. The Philadelphia Athletics started slowly, spurted with two winning streaks in midseason, last week coasted into a mathematical certainty of retaining first place in the American League well ahead of Washington and New York. In the National League the pennant race was exciting until the middle of August, when the St. Louis Cardinals became almost sure of winning. Last week they too became absolutely sure. They could lose their nine remaining games and still finish ahead of the New York Giants, the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs, under the much discussed new management of Rogers Hornsby, have been hampered this year by the obstreperous behavior of Pitcher Perce ("Pat") Malone, who three weeks ago assaulted two Hearst sportswriters who had disparaged his pitching; and by the poor hitting of Rightfielder Lewis Robert ("Hack") Wilson, who recently absented himself from the club's quarters for seven nights, was punished by suspension for the balance of the season.

Winners of three consecutive pennants, the Athletics beat the Cardinals four games to two in last year's World Series, should be favorites again this year. Ninth pennant-winning team of Philadelphia's lean 68-year-old Manager Cornelius McGillicuddy ("Connie Mack"), the Athletics are handicapped by an injury to hardhitting Centre-fielder George William ("Mule") Haas. They still have a powerful offense, headed by Catcher Gordon Stanley ("Mickey") Cochrane, First-baseman James Emory ("Jimmy") Foxx, Outfielder Aloysius ("Al") Simmons, and the best pitching staff in either league. Best right-hander is George Livingston Earnshaw, Swarthmore graduate (1923). Best left-hander is Robert Moses Grove, who last week won his 30th victory of the season, an American League record. Pitcher Grove tied another American League record in mid-season by winning 16 games in a row.

In the International League the Newark Bears got within half a game of the league-leading Rochester Red Wings by winning a double-header against Reading. Manager Al Mamaux of Newark, famed pitcher for Brooklyn in 1923, pitched both games, allowed two hits in the first, five in the second, won them both in 2 hr. 20 min., 2 to 1 & 6 to 0. Five days later Rochester won the pennant. Other minor league pennant winners: the Birmingham Barons (Southern Association); the Houston Buffs (Texas League); the St. Paul Saints (American Association).

In the Pacific Coast League, Hollywood won the first half of a divided season, in the second half of which three teams were bunched for the lead, with San Francisco a game ahead of Los Angeles and Oakland.

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