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;ague Season ‘ Year SeenBy JACK HAND New York UVt—The Major League bn sub*.II reason opens today iu Washington to the vast relief of all concerned, giving the nohlc athletes a chance to elbow Larry, Lippy and Happy into the background.from now on the emphasis will be on conduct beneficial to baseball and the most Important story each (lay until October will be the league standings, After today's solitary presidential preview between the New York Yankees and Washington, all 18 clubs will awing into action tomorrow.What promises to be the most Interesting campaign in many seasons lias teen overshadowed in recent days by the rumpus between President Larry MaoPhail of the Yanks, and Manager Leo (Lippy) Durocher of Brooklyn. Flatbush is still reeling from the stunning effect of Leo's season-long suspension by Commissioner A. B. (Happy) Chandler.Although President Branch Hickey hasn’t recovered sufficiently to name Leo's successor the season definitely will open in Brooklyn and in every other big league town. Chances arc the average fan will be tickled to read more about ball players and less about front office ieuds.first Negro Player.Two months of. spring training have produced the usual quota of surprises but none created such a Stir as the promotion of Jackie .Robinson from Montreal to Brooklyn. Robinson, the Jlrst Negro in modern Major League hall, will open the season with the Dodgers possibly as th’e starling first baseman. Nobody expects him to approximate hie sensational .349 year with Montreal, but many astute baseball men think' he cau make the grade. .Another precedent was shattered when the player pension plan became effective April 1. After five years of big league ploy, an athlete draws $50 monthly upon retirement with a higher scale for added a [years of service. Other benefits, „ i such as $'15 weekly spring training QI expense money, have been granted0 i to the players.„ ; Exhibition games have revealed nothing to shake the general belief that the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Bed Sox are heading toward another world series date.New Pitching.Joe Cronin has come up with some new pitching help from 2 rookies Iel Parnell and Fritz 0! Do risk to augment a sound staff.01 Power remains the basis of the 0 Boston club and, with Ted Wil-Q liams apparently headed for jgreat season, there is nothing to131fear in that direction, h j Detroit and New York arc 10 [generally expected to be the con-9...... ■ ........tenders although neither ilgures to have enough unless the Red Sox stumble badly. The Tigers have not been able to replace Hank Greenberg’s power and the Yanks have been handicapped badly by the absence of Joe DiMaggio.Tiic Cardinals are the class of the National, stronger than they were las I spring but the condition of Terry Mon re lt;;nd Wliitey KuroW-ski has been cause for some concern. Both veterans underwent off-season operations and have been slow rounding into shape. Eddie Dyer looks for definite pitching aid from George Monger.Brooklyn generally was conceded to be the team with a real chance In the National until I’affaire Durocher, Now the Brooks have no manager. It will he a real test for Lco'fl successor because anything worse than second place will be a hitter disappointment. Much has been written about the first base problem, hut the real Dodger difficulty is third base, a headucho all last season.See Profitable Year.If the experts are conceding the flags to Ihc Sox and Cards, barring injuries Lo key men, the fans definitely are not fallowing suit. The hope that springs eternal In the followers of all 16 teams is expected to account fur another profitable year at the box office where las ch.[year's 111.567,485 Lola! stands as ar nr- all-time high.Toe] Seldom inis baseball apprnnchef the | opening day wflh ao many umm-oitjswered question* about alar player* nsli.and contending teams. Just a few that must be decided are;X. Can Jackie Robinson make the grade?2. How will Brooklyn do without Durocher?3. Can National League pitchers slop Hank Greenberg?4. How long before Joe DiMaggio will be able to play regularly?5. Can Ted Williams hit to left?6. How high can Billy South-worth take the Boston Braves?1. Will Mickey Vernon do it again?S. How much did Bob Feller's strikeout record take out of his arm?9. Is Clint Hartung ready?10. Are the Phillies out of the cellar to stay?Five new managers will help provide the answer to some of those questions with the most important —Brooklyn-—atill to be named. Ilnrrls w*th Yanks.Bucky Harris has taken on Joe McCarthy’s old job at tho Yankee Stadium, thus returning to tho big show as R. manager after a few years in the front Office. Harold (Muddy) Ruel Is trying managing (or the first time with the St. Louis Browns after giving up nn excellent position as Chandler's, assistant.Billy Herman Is getting his jhancc to bass at Pittsburg where in Is instilling hustle into a squad if interim players. Johnny Ncun, ’ormcr Yankco farm system roan-igcr who flnisehed the 1916 season t* Yankee skipper, Is making hi* bow as a full-tiro« pilot in Cindn-»sellII-]1lt;PBjout9CCdnj1hitforgeiSu:
Newspaper Details
Troy Record
Troy, New York, US
Mon, Apr 14, 1947
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Sarah K.
NA, 06 May 2024
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