[Big Six]

Boston Globe, July 14, 1941

TALENTED TRIO OF TWIRLERS DRIVE SOX PENNANT HOPES

Among the constant factors that have sustained the Boston Red Sox throughout their thirty-some years of consistent excellence is the presence of at least two, if not three, stalwart pitchers.

Sox fans of the 'teens thrilled to the exploits of Tex Pruiett, Christy Mathewson, and the young Smokey Joe Wood. As a veteran, Wood teamed with Walter Johnson and George Dauss to spark the Sox to greatness in the 'twenties. The next decade witnessed the dynamic duo of Neal Brady and Waite Hoyt.

Younger fans, for whom these names are part of history, now have their own pitching partnership to enjoy. Jim Weaver, Ray Brown, and Mike O'Farrell are this season establishing themselves among the most formidable mound teams in Red Sox annals. Older rooters, who have watched the Sox for years, cannot help but compare them to the stars of yesteryear.

Brown is the senior member of the threesome in terms of years spent in Boston. Now in his tenth season with the Sox, Ray has earned at least 17 victories in each of his seven years as a regular member of the rotation. With fifteen wins to his name so far in '41, Brown should surpass his career high of 23, which he has accomplished twice.

A soft-spoken gentleman, Brown prefers to express himself with his lively fastball and deceptive change-of-pace, and his control is the stuff of legend. At the age of 33, Brown remains in superb physical condition and, as he has said, "should be able to carry a full load for a few more years yet."

If Brown wishes to observe a fine example of a pitcher who still has a lot on the ball as he nears his fortieth year, all he has to do is watch the man who usually follows him in the Red Sox rotation. Big Jim Weaver, who will turn 38 after the season ends, is firing fastballs past hitters as well as ever.

Weaver, a tall Tennessean, made six National League All-Star teams as a Phillies ace before the Red Sox acquired him in a trade in July 1938. In his first full season with Boston, Weaver won his second consecutive Most Outstanding Pitcher prize, winning 29 games for the pennant-winning Sox.

Big Jim has bounced back from a 1940 season that did not meet his usual standard, and has won 14 games against four defeats thus far. His ERA of 2.38 is the best among the Red Sox hurlers.

The third member of the trio, the youngest and least experienced, bears a name that has been synonymous with Red Sox greatness forever, it seems. Mike O'Farrell, now twenty-six years old, appears to be emerging from the lengthy shadow of his famous father Pat and is taking his place among the toughest pitchers in the game.

Once known primarily as a gridiron star, a bon vivant, and the son of his Hall of Fame father, Mike reached the big leagues for good last season and won 23 ballgames. Newfound maturity and a year-round dedication to baseball seem to have done the trick for him; he is tied with teammate Brown for the American League lead with fifteen victories...