If you ask Ralph Houk, he'll tell you that the American League is really superior to the National, that the greater competition credited to the senior circuit is a myth.

Bring more than a decade of All-Star competition, Houk points to the Yankees' easy victory over Cincinnati in last year's World Series as evidence that his team harder time defeating rivals in its own league than it did trouncing the best team the National League had to offer.

Well, Ralph, old man, here's ten that says National League teams will dominate the World Series in the next ten years in the same way that the National League has dominated ten years of All-Star games. From the confusion which arrived with the eclipse of the great Brooklyn Dodgers, two teams have now emerged to dominate all of base-ball for some time to come.

DODGERS LEADING MAJORS

Just because they are currently leading the league, let's take the Dodgers first. Los Angeles may not win the pennant, but, with a healthy Sandy Koufax, they could take a World Series from New York in five games.

At the week's end, Los Angeles as a team was third in batting (.274) and third in pitching (E.R.A 3.58). They held a slim margin of four over San Francisco in the all-important category of runs scored, and led the major leagues in RBI, triples, and stolen bases.

In fielding, on the other hand, they have not been doing so well. Although their aggregate average of .972 is only 8 percentage points behind league leading San Francisco's .980, the Dodgers have committed more errors than any other team except the New York Mets, and have a league low of only 96 double plays.

As individuals, though, Dodgers are leading the majors in an astonishing number of categories. On Monday, Tommy Davis sneaked ahead of Stan Musial to lead the majors with a .345 B.A. He has also collected the most hits (164) and driven in the most runs (118).

Elsewhere, Maury Wills is setting the pace with 100 runs scored and his phenomonal 60 stolen bases. In pitching, Sandy Koufax, who hasn't worked since July 17, still leads the majors with 209 strikeouts and starting pitchers with a 2.15 E.R.A. Don Drysdale's 21 wins are pretty much out of reach.

Then there's Stan Williams. What I mean is that behind Koufax, Dyrsdale, and a revitalized Johnny Podres, there isn't much in the way of a fourth starter. The Dodger farm system is full of potentially great pitchers, but Joe Moeller, Pete Richert, Phil Ortega and Nick Willhite are far from ready for the majors.

It may well be, though, that Los Angeles doesn't need a fourth starter this year, Since the loss of Koufax, the Dodgers have not slumped perceptibly. Although it's true that they've been feasting on second-division teams of late, Drysdale's history of strong finishes, Podres' recent fine showing, and the inevitable return of the best pitcher in baseball make Los Angeles the logical choice for the pennant.

If the San Francisco pitching staff were slightly more consistent, you'd have to give it to the Giants. Sa Francisco has a great outfield, a fine infield, and the best bench in the National League. They have the edge over the Dodgers in the field, but despite greater power they are only about equal in run production, and appreciably behind in pitching.

Juan Marichal, Billy O'Dell, and Jack Sanford are all strong starters but all too often weak finishers. Behind the starters, Giant relief pitching is not up to past standards. Stu Miller isn't as sharp as he used to be, and Don Larsen, having abandoned the search for another perfect game, is still groping for competence.

Despite this only relative weakness on the mound, the Giants had no trouble with Los Angeles in the weekend series, although the Dodgers still lead in the season's series, 8 to 6. The return of old reliable Billy Pierce, demonstrated in his victory over L.A. Saturday, could boost San Francisco over the top. The two teams meet in Los Angeles for a final four-game series in September that will probably be decisive.

Third-place Cincinnati has not, surprisingly enough, fallen off from its first-place pace of last season. The Reds have a record comparable to last season, but their task has been made impossible by the vast improvements in the Dodgers and Giants.