After Thirty

Not since Lefty Grove led Connie Mack's last great Philadelphia team to the 1931 pennant has an American League pitcher won 30 games in a season. Last week, with 1946 baseball at the three-quarter mark, the goal of all major-league pitchers was within the reach of not one, but three pitchers.

If hay fever did not get the best of him, big, easy-going Dave ("Boo") Ferriss of the pennant-bound Boston Red Sox had a strong chance in his second year in the majors. Last week Ferriss showed no signs of sniffles as he polished off his 20 and 21st victories.

Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians had already won 21 (to 7 losses). He also had an ambitious eye on Rube Waddell's season strikeout record of 347. At week's end Bobby had struck out 262. If he failed to keep the pace, it would be partly his fault: Bobby, who decides which days he will pitch, tends to overwork himself.

The third contender was another old hand: Detroit's curly-headed Southpaw Hal Newhouser. In his first five major-league seasons (1939-43), he had little control of his curve, less of his temper; he won 34 games, lost 52, threw away more than he likes to remember. Then one day he told Manager Steve O'Neill: "I'm going to win for you next year." He was voted the league's most valuable player in '44 and '45. Last week Hal shut out the Chicago White Sox with four hits for his 21st win (5 defeats).

While American Leaguers edged up on the magic 30 games, the National League --which is traditionally famed for classy pitching--hadn't one pitcher who was a cinch to win 20.

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