WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES PREVIEW PART TWO
October 2, 1944
The Keystones have spent most of the second half comfortably in front and the keys to the series will be twofold: whether the "Wheez Kids" from Cincinnati can carry their impressive combat skills from the Continental pennant race into the World's Championship Series and whether the starting pitching for the Keystones can hold up with their foursome of 23-game winner Red Ross, George Brooks, Pepper Tuttle, and Jim Whiteley.
Manager John Heydon is in his first year as Keystones skipper enters his first WCS and while that might be a disadvantage to Cannons head-man Ad Doria, but the 66-year-old Heydon has won league titles at three minor league levels (Union League, Eastern Association, and Great Western League).
Heydon has kept his rotation order close to the vest, as well as whether the rotation will be a 3-man loop or a 4-man loop. The smart money is on Ross to make the Game 1 start and options for the Game 2 start are either Brooks or Tuttle. Whiteley and his middling performance for long stretches this year (5.66 ERA in August, 5.96 ERA in September before a good tune-up on the last day of the season) might be the odd-man out if Heydon elects to have a 3-man rotation.
Of course, what can be said about the great Bobby Barrell that has not already been said. A lot of ink has been spilled about his historic season. It has been a year of milestones (350th home run, 2,500th hit, 1,500th RBI) and a ninth All-Star appearance, with a regular season culminating in the first Triple Crown since former teammate and Keystones legend Rankin Kellogg won it the last time the Keystones made the Series. Could it be an omen? Those Keystones in 1933 won it in seven games where a guy named Ross won Game 7. In that Series, Barrell won the MVP.
Maybe nostalgia has gotten the better of me. Maybe the boys fighting in Europe and in the Pacific has gotten me all misty. But, this sportswriter has our boys winning the Series in seven games where a guy named Ross will pitch them to victory and Barrell will win himself a second MVP. History will repeat itself."
The series is a Tough one to pick so I have to go with my gut and that says Philly in 7. This might be where the Cannons end up missing Deuce and Carroll. The Cannons had a magical second half, but Bobby's been magical all season and I think the Keystones - albeit barely - prevail in this one.