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1929
Detroit won their first pennant last season after 28 years of baseball. The city and its fans are still overjoyed with the Tigers shocking World Series victory over the highly favored Braves. The team is optimistic about its chances this season, but they do not enter April as the favorite. Instead, they are again playing second fiddle to the Athletics, who still look strong and who played well late last year. Behind these two teams is a host of would-be contenders. Any one of the Red Sox, White Sox, Yankees, Browns or Senators could sneak up on the A's and Tigers and become a pennant contender.
The National League is primarily a story of the have's versus the have not's. The top two teams - Philadelphia and Boston - are light years ahead of most other teams in the league. The Braves proved last season how mighty they could be, but once again the Phillies feel like they have something to prove, and that is never good news for the rest of the NL. The closest potential contenders are the Cubs, Cardinals and Giants. While one of them could post a solid record, they will be hard pressed to finish in 2nd place behind one of these Goliaths. Then you have the dregs of the NL - the Robins, Reds and Pirates. Pittsburgh should be better than last season, but none of these teams will provide serious competition for a number of years.
After 17 years at the helm, long-time Brooklyn manager Ben Lafayette stepped down from his post amid rumors that he could not provide the leadership that this team needed. Despite those rumors, he was quickly asked to take over the managing duties in Cleveland, where he will be asked to help get their rebuiling process on track and provide results on the field. Finding themselves third in the New York marketplace behind the Giants and Yankees, the Robins wanted to make a splash with Lafayette's replacement. They did that by coaxing the great Carl Sweeney out of his two-year semi-retirement. The news sent shockwaves across the Big Apple, where Sweeney is known and loved by many fans. He skippered the Yankees during their heyday. Over 23 seasons, he led them to three World Series championships, six pennants and three second place finishes. Needless to say, the buzz around Ebbets Field has been fantastic this spring. And, oh yeah, the Robins have some hot young prospects on their roster, and several more developing in the minors.
Ancestors Added:
Damon "Lefty" Bowden, SP, Cleveland Indians
Damon, the brother of Red Sox shortstop "Tiny" Bowden, joins an Indians franchise in search of a way to reclaim its storied history. Bowden looks like a star in the making, and he should soon join another young phenomenon, Otto Kahle, in the Indians rotation. Currently, Bowden will begin the season at AA, but it is only a matter of time before he debuts in Cleveland.
Ping "The Outlander" Hung, CF, New York Yankees
Hung, a native of Taiwan, agreed to move to America in hopes of pursuing his love of baseball. The Yankees obliged and signed "The Outlander" and transplanted him in the Big Apple. Hung has shown a great eye at the plate, which will help him in getting on base both via walks and base hits. He could one day find himself leading the batting race. He has plenty of speed and an inate ability to steal bases. He is a very sure fielder, but he does not have much range. The Yankees have several other young outfielders both in the majors and minors, and Ping will have to battle for playing time. However, once he hones his skills, getting into the starting lineup should not be a problem. He will start the season in AAA, but could debut in the majors at any time.