MRS. CASEY (EDNA) STENGEL
New York Yankees
This is the first time in my 31 years of baseball that I've been asked to pick a winner. Women are making progress. I pick the Yanks. They're the best, and my husband improves with age. Many players are superstitious. I hope this precedent, a woman picking a winner, won't jinx them.
MRS. BIRDIE (MARY) TEBBETTS
Cincinnati Redlegs
Women are not mathematical. We are so enthusiastic that we may be biased. And I am guided by the faith I have in Birdie. He's working his heart out for the team and they are working their hearts out for such a fine gentleman. With the Redlegs it's not "Wait till next year." It's this year.
MRS. FRED (PATRICIA) HUTCHINSON
St. Louis Cardinals
I know nothing about the St. Louis Cardinals other than what I've heard my husband say. But I've known Fred long enough to trust his unerring judgment. When he is as enthusiastic about the prospects of a team as he is the Cardinals, I'm sure we'll be in contention for the pennant the entire season.
MRS. STAN (DOROTHY) HACK
Chicago Cubs
Chicago—my sentimental choice. I've rooted for the Cubs since 1932, since Stan first played at Wrigley Field. I'm sure that in two years or so, I'll be able to make a practical as well as sentimental choice. The Cubs look good for 1956. I'll concede only to Brooklyn and maybe Milwaukee.
MRS. CHARLES (LILLIAN) GRIMM
Milwaukee Braves
The Braves have a good chance to go all the way if injuries do not sideline key players, as they have during the past two years. However, it is a long season and anything can happen in a well-balanced league, such as the National League will be this year, with five teams evenly matched.
MRS. LOU (DELLA) BOUDREAU
Kansas City Athletics
I know the club I wish could win. Need I mention the name? A nice guy named Lou is the manager. From what they tell me—and I include my husband—my wish is vain. Yet wishes are free. So are day dreams. But the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians and White Sox should finish in that order.
MRS. BUCKY (MARIE) HARRIS
Detroit Tigers
Detroit can win in 1956. The club is better balanced and the pitching prospects are brighter. Don't forget, we were in the thick of the race most of last season and lost 28 games by one run. That made a big difference. If we win most of those close games this year—and we can—we'll win the pennant.
MRS. PAUL (MARGIE) RICHARDS
Baltimore Orioles
The N.Y. Yankees are I the players who always I scare me. But I don't I like to see them win. They win the pennant too often. Until the Baltimore Orioles become a pennant contender, and they will some day in the near future, I'll just have to pick the White Sox to finish first. Now they've got the power.
MRS. CHARLEY (RUTH) DRESSEN
Washington Senators
It's going to be close and Cleveland could win from Boston, New York and Detroit. Knowing what wonderful things Charley has done with other clubs and his ability to work with pitchers as well as keeping his club hustling and in good spirits, I'm sure the Senators will finish in the first division.
MRS. AL (EVELYN) LOPEZ
Cleveland Indians
We have as good a chance as any team in our league, perhaps a little better, because we don't have injury problems. The Indians are improved. Remember that we lost the pennant last year by the margin of two sacrifice flys. I'll never forget that. Al wouldn't let me forget it all winter long.
MRS. WILLIAM (PAULA) RIGNEY
New York Giants
A manager's wife gets a liberal baseball education. I'm not an expert, but it doesn't take an expert to see that the Giants are going to win the pennant. They have the players who won it in 1954, now they have my husband, Bill, who will do as fine a job in New York as he did in Minneapolis.
MRS. MAYO (LOUISE) SMITH
Philadelphia Phillies
I believe that the team to beat in the National League is the Philadelphia Phillies. Not only will the other clubs have to beat the Phillies, but they'll have to beat my husband, Mayo. That will be tougher than beating the Phillies. No one knows better than I, from long experience.
MRS. MARTY (MARY) MARION
Chicago White Sox
Although I'm the wife of a manager, I know very little about baseball. But I'm a red-hot White Sox fan. Listening to Marty and knowing how right he usually is, my intuition tells me that this is the year. Marty will be a winner with the White Sox, as he was when baseball called him Mr. Shortstop.
MRS. MICHAEL F. (HAZEN) HIGGINS
Boston Red Sox
Mike says the American League race will be the closest and most exciting in history and I agree. But in our 21 years together, I've never known Mike to be content with anything less than the best. I place my faith in him and his wonderful squad of players. In faith there is fulfillment.
MRS. ROBERT (GWEN) BRAGAN
Pittsburgh Pirates
This season promises closer races, more colorful baseball than in many years. The Dodgers will qualify as top hands, but they'll have to work harder. Where our Pirates finish is open to speculation. Just because we hail from the coal country doesn't mean we're doomed to live in the cellar.
MRS. WALTER (LELA) ALSTON
Brooklyn Dodgers
At our house, we don't talk too much about baseball. The manager's edict to his wife, "You do the cooking; I'll manage the team" never had to be told to me. But Walter has been happy all spring. So I guess things are okay. It's not going to be as easy as last year, but I think we'll win again.
SEVENTEEN PHOTOS
NEXT WEEK:
If the winners of the last 10 Kentucky Derbies were matched, which horse would you bet on?
