Baseball in the Stretch

The closest National League baseball season in years, in which seven clubs have had a chance to win the pennant, narrowed last week into what looked like a crucial series between the league-leading Chicago Cubs and the Brooklyn Dodgers, who had moved from sixth place to second in a month.

First game. Two-base hits by Leftfielder Riggs Stephenson, Catcher Gabby Hartnett, First-baseman Charley Grimm (who last month replaced Rogers Hornsby as manager) and singles by Cuyler and Koenig in Chicago's big inning, the fourth, made the four runs that discouraged Brooklyn Pitcher Van Mungo, after his mates had given him a two-run lead in the first inning. Chicago 7, Brooklyn 4.

Second game. In the fourth inning, with Chicago ahead 3 to 0 and bases full, Brooklyn's Shortstop Slade tried to force a runner at the plate. He threw over Catcher Lopez' head; two runners scored on the play, four more before the inning was over. Yellow-faced Guy Bush, stroking his sideburns, hitching his trousers, hunching his thin shoulders, pitched superbly, allowed Brooklyn seven hits where they counted least. Chicago 9, Brooklyn 3.

Third game. When the Cubs had made three runs in the third inning, Brooklyn's star pitcher, moon-faced Dazzy Vance, who had been kept out of the series by a sore shoulder, ambled out to the pitcher's box, began waving his famed right arm in its famed ragged red undershirt. Cuyler and Grimm singled, Stephenson tripled to center. Moon-faced Dazzy Vance ambled back to the bench. Pitcher Jack Quinn who replaced him did a little better but not well enough to prevent the Cubs from winning the last game of the series, 10 to 4, increasing their lead over Brooklyn to 6 1/2 games.

In years when American League teams have won the World Series in straight games, one explanation has been that close pennant races fatigue the National League winners. The same explanation may be useful this year. In the American League, the Philadelphia Athletics, winners of the last three pennants, have played listlessly, according to form for three-time pennant winners. The New York Yankees were leading their league last week. In a series against the Chicago White Sox, George Herman ("Babe"') Ruth made his 38th & 39th homeruns of the season. First-baseman Jimmy Foxx of the Athletics made his 47th, threatening Ruth's record of 60 homeruns in one season (1927).

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