CATCHER
Mickey Cochrane has been here before, and experience in this situation is important. Cochrane had a horrible second half. However, Harlem backstop Bill
Dickey (.313, 83 rbi) has blossomed into a star, hitting and throwing are the tops at his position, and he handles this staff with excellence.
ADVANTAGE: Harlem
1ST BASE
Don Hurst had an excellent season, batting .304 and scored 94 times, and was on one of the Knights' best clutch hitter. Alexander is a decent
first baseman for the Burns, platooning most of the season with Ripper Collins, but their shortcomings can go a long way.
ADVANTAGE: Harlem
2nd BASE
Buddy Myer was hurt for a few weeks down the stretch, and although he played well, he is far from the best at his position. He is not
a great lead-off hitter, batting .257 for the second year. The venerable Rogers Hornsby played like a rookie, batting .322 with more than 20 home runs and 87 runs batted
in.
ADVANTAGE: Montgomery
3RD BASE
Joe Stripp finally got his chance at third base for Harlem, and Pie Traynor is still one of the best, despite having a somewhat off year.
This one is a toss-up.
ADVANTAGE: Even
SHORTSTOP
Joe Cronin showed some power this season, hitting 20 home runs while fielding well and being a great leader for the Knights. Woody English (.261)
played admirably, but often did not hit when the team needed him most.
ADVANTAGE: Harlem
OUTFIELD
Heinie Manush (.289) and Paul Waner (.299) both hovered around .300 for most of the year for the Burns, while Paul's brother Lloyd had trouble
at the plate most of the season. Taylor Douthit and Smead Jolley were fairly decent off the bench, but this Burns' outfield was not as strong
as years past.
Harlem's outfield was once again lead by 4-time all-star Chuck Klein, enjoying 30 home runs while hitting .296.
Babe Ruth (.290, 25 hr, 76 rbi) quietly put together a fine season, and Lefty O'Doul (.339) and Carl Reynold's (.258) platoon in left was successful for a second
straight season.
ADVANTAGE: Harlem
STARTING PITCHING
Harlem's pitching corps: Fitzsimmons (18 wins), French (16 wins), Walker (16 wins), Grove (15 wins). The latter three are southpaws, which
have been troublesome on the Burns. Montgomery still has Pat Malone (16 wins) and Fred Marberry (14 wins), but the mysteriously
poor season by Wes Ferrell is a problem. Willis Hudlin was medicore.
ADVANTAGE: Harlem
BULLPEN
Watty Clark saved a DBS record 19 games this year. Tom Zachary was effective againt Montgomery this year, but mainly the bullpen is
untested due to the starters' reliability.
Fred Heimach, Syl Johnson and Jesse Haines were stoppers-by-committee for Montgomery, but is veteran George Uhle up to task?
ADVANTAGE: Even
INTANGIBLES
Harlem won the season series, 16-6, and also won a team record 97 games. In the past two seasons, they have been out of first
place a total of two days. They admirably held off the Jihad for 3 months before the Jihad collapsed. When the Knights are hot,
they are red hot and un-stoppable.
Montgomery is a good team, only 2 years removed from a season which saw them win 104 games. But the Burns are getting old, and didn't
exactly run away with their division despite the mediocrity of their comrades. Their 81 wins are the lowest of a pennant winner.
ADVANTAGE: Harlem
PREDICTION
Harlem in 5
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