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Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
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Pete Fritchie analyzes the American League pennant race, focusing on whether the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians can overtake the New York Yankees. He discusses recent White Sox victories, strong pitching staffs, and Mickey Mantle's injury-prone brilliance compared to Joe DiMaggio.
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BASEBALL
By PETE FRITCHIE
WASHINGTON - The big question in the American League this year is whether the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox can catch up with the New York Yankees.
The Boston Red Sox so far, haven't been able to beat the Yanks enough to look like pennant winners.
In winning the American League pennant in recent years, the trick has almost always been to whip the Yankees. The team that does that usually wins the flag - according to records, anyhow.
Until a few weeks ago the White Sox looked like they would not get into contention, mainly because they couldn't come out on the long end of the score when they played the Yankees. But the Sox chopped the champs down four times in a couple of weeks before the All-Star game and this gave the entire American League pennant race a new look.
Cleveland has great pitching and with this kind of staff, the Indians are sure to win a certain hunk of their games with the champions. Last year they won most of them.
If the White Sox are set to do the same thing, the Yanks might find the going a bit tougher in the second half of the season than they have found it so far.
Mickey Mantle, is, of course, in the modern style, a constantly-ailing hero. It reminds us of Joe DiMaggio - the repeated injuries and publicity Mantle gets as he pulls muscles, injures a foot etc. Joe was one of the greatest but he could have lasted longer had he been less subject to ailments.
Mantle - the greatest hitter in the game today, in all probability - is also a fragile package. Running ahead of the Babe's home run record as of now, he could break it without much doubt if he could play every day.
The White Sox, in contrast, have no hitter to match Mantle. But they have some sizzling pitchers - perhaps the best staff in the league, and certainly an underrated staff. There is Billy Pierce, the finest in the trade. Then there is Donovan, Harshman, Wilson, Consuegra, Keegan, etc. On performance, this staff ranks at the top of the American League this year.
If the Sox win the flag, don't be flabbergasted. They could do it. So could the Indians, but somehow we wonder about the Indians.
The Red Sox haven't
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Commentary on the American League pennant race, questioning if Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox can catch the New York Yankees. Notes Boston Red Sox struggles against Yankees. Highlights White Sox recent wins over Yankees, Cleveland's pitching strength, compares Mickey Mantle to Joe DiMaggio, praises White Sox pitchers, suggests White Sox or Indians could win the pennant.