Sport: Triple Feature

The American League’s thriller-diller went on & on. Hollywood could not have done better. The lead changed hands four times in a fortnight, as three teams and thousands of World Series dollars literally hung on every other pitch.

The New York Yankees, who had zoomed into the lead on Labor Day, muffed their final chance on home territory, dropping three straight to the Philadelphia A’s. The heat was on. But the unhappy Yanks, moving into the hostile West for the tenterhook last 13 days, hoped Rookie Pitcher Mel Queen (5-1) and Veteran Hank Borowy (17-9) might turn the tide right back again in this week’s series with the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit’s two aces were ready, too. Although worry warts said Dizzy Trout’s’ strong right arm was overworked, the record (24-10) had a pennant-winning look about it. And Lefty Hal Newhouser had just become the major leagues’ first 25-game winner in five years. In Sunday’s double-header two lesser lights had pitched the Tigers into a clear-cut lead for the first time this year.

The St. Louis Browns, who also moved ahead of the Yankees last weekend, had come out of their long slump. Verne Stephens was still leading the runs-batted-in parade and Brownie pitching had perked up notably.

The Red Sox were still off the pace, but close enough to throw a scare into the leaders.

Whoever won the pennant would be razor-sharp for the big show with the Cardinals, who had been making news of their own. They had lost 14 out of 19 games, and their once overwhelming 20-game lead had been cut almost in half.