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1920 World Series Preview
RED SOX, CARDINALS TO CLASH IN FALL CLASSIC
The Boston Red Sox, still seeking that elusive first World's title, ran up a very solid 94-60 record in 1920 to repeat as American League titlists. They'll be facing a new foe this year in the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards, reborn under new management, won a dogfight for the NL pennant, unseating perennial champion Chicago by a three-game margin. The Red Sox should be the favorites in the Series - a first for them - as they feature the league's best pitching, headed by the immortal Fred Heimach, who looked like the dominant hurler of old as he won 27 ballgames and now has 334 lifetime victories. If there's an Achilles heel for the Sox, it's the offense which had a ho-hum season finishing in the bottom half of the 16 teams in most offensive categories. The Cardinals are a near polar opposite - great offense, pedestrian pitching. The offense revolves around a pair of superb outfielders (Barry Bonds & Andre Dawson) and the league's top offensive shortstop (Robin Yount). All three had great years and will be tough to stop - a fine challenge for Heimach & co. The Cards did have two 20-game winners in southpaws Dave LaRoche and Jim Abbott, but both posted ERAs north of 3.00 - well above the 2.14 of Heimach and 2.74 of Boston's second-best pitcher Greg Minton. Should be an interesting Series.
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