Evening Star Newspaper, April 9, 1925, Page 30

SPORTS. HE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1925, SPORT S. Griffs Now Traveling at Fast Pace : Giants Are Class of the National League STAND OUT AS PROBABLE HAVE WON SIX, TIED ONE, OF LAST SEVEN CONTESTS Recent Results Have Demonstrated Wisdom of Man- ager Harris’ System of Gradual Development. Backward Only in Hitting BY JOHN B. KELLER. P the Giants, 8 to 7, LAYED 24 games—Won 14, lost 9, tied 1. world champion Nationals for their Spring exhibition campaign in Dixie that ended at Augusta, Ga., in the ninth engagement of the little world series This i5 the record of the yesterday, when they defeated Not such a fine record when compared with the records of some of the other major league clubs, but a good one, nevertheless, for the minor league teams encountered by the Nationals were sturdy aggregations, and two of the four major clubs met had been sent through a more intensive raining program than the Washington outfit before jumping into inter- lu gue contests. Considering the deliberate training methods employed by the Na- tional management and the little time man competitive action, champions in the South ought to be gratifying to the most critical soning before swinging into world fans of the National Capital Manager Stanley Harris’ plan of gradual development of team strength Seems to have been a good one. In their first 18 games the Nationals broke even, But in their last 7 in the South they won 6 games and tied in 1. That was a brilliant finish, after a start none too auspicious for world champions. In the last week began to play really More s made of the hit-and-run game was better em- vloyed than in the early contest the training campaign and more in- telligence in base running was quite hoticeable. Defensively, there was a tightening throughout the team Batterymen paid more attention to holding runners to the out- sielders displayed more judgment in the selection of throwing objectives und there was a marked improvement In the work of the infield. The Nationals now appear be lacking in but one essential—base ball batting. And in that department they seem to be very much better than they were just a week ago. Mowever, there still is considerable room for improvement. Lack Clouting Consistency. ha n smart base ball. the sacrifice, use w to not been There have stick w Clouting s desirable of heavy have been cons| been s , but they o widely separated Given more punch in attack, this Washington club should be just *right” for the opening of the Amer- lcan League championship campaign hext Tuesday. Both teams hit freely vesterda the Nationals scored the third suc- cessive victory over the Giants, to BEClioms muitiri e National Leaguers olding only a five-to-four game dge in the Spring series. Jim Me- llamara and J. Benson Brillheart were roughly handied by the New Yorkers, but Allen Russell checked them. The world champions battered W wyland Dean, but did little with the ofi rings of Jack Bently. he run column was “crashed” by both clubs In the opening session McNeely rolled to Dean to start the Nationals' first turn at bat, but Har- ris doubled to right. After Walker caught Rice’s loft, Bucky moved to third slin_ drew a pass. Judge singled Dbetween Frisch and Terry counting Harris and sending the Goose to the far corner. Bluege then scratched a single past Kelly, tally- ing Goslin. McNamara's wildness helped the Glants to a marker in the first. Walker and Frisch strolled, and after the latter was erased with Young in a double play, Kelly singled to cen- ter, scoring Walker More Giant runs were the second round. With of the way, Jackson hit into the cen- ter-field stand for a homer. Snyder doubled to left and Dean walked. Walker then sent a bounder to Harris in front of second base, but with a double play in sight Harris let the Lall get by, so Snyder scored. Kelly's Poor Fielding Costly. yme free hitting mixed with 1y°s erratic fieldinz got the world champions four runs in the fourth. Bluege, Peck and Ruel singled suc- cessively, Bluega scoring. Brillheart was called out when he bunted a foul third strike. MecNeely grounded to Kelly, and, when the latter fumbled the ball and then threw over Terry's head, Peck tallied, Ruel took third nd the batter got to second. Harris' single to right sent Ruel and Mc- vely home Walker's single and Frisch’s double t the outset’ of the Giants fourth gave the enemy another run The fifth Giant marker was reg- Istered in the fifth frame. Wilson was out when J on rattled a double off he left-field fence. Snyder then lofted to center, and when McNeely isjudged the fly, the Giant catcher &0t a double, tallying Jackson The Nationals hung up a pair of markers in the seventh. With one sone Shirley batted in place of Judge, and got to second base when Kelly made & wild throw after taking Mule's grounder. Then Bluege knocked the ball behind the left end of the center-field stand for a_home run The cighth saw the Giants add two runs to their total. Frisch flied to tioslin, but Young singled to left and Kelly walked. Both men advanced as Harris threw o erry, then Wilson ent them he with a single to vight. Rice barely missed making a shoestring catch that would have re- tired Hack Jez Zachary is slated to do the hurling for the Nationals tomorrow the second game here against the Glants. Neither Jennings nor Me- Graw would name a probable New York pitcher. rk e recorded in Tn yesterday's game at Augusta the Giants used a revamped line-up. A cold kept Groh out of the game, so Kelly went to third base and Frisch, Who had been nursing a sore thumb, resumed his regular berth at second base. Walker ran far back to make a one-hand catch of Rice's fly in the first inning, but could not recover in time to prevent Harris moving from second base to third. Before the game Umpire Walker announced that play would cease at 5 o'clock to permit the contending eams to get their train for Wash- ington. In the Giants' third Ruel got Brill- heart out of difficulty with a couple of catches of foul flies. There were two on and one out when Muddy got Jackson's foul after a run, and there were three on when the catcher took Dean’s foul out of the, sun. Umpire Walker called Bluege out when the latter, after slamming the ball behind the centerfield stand in the seventh, was tagged by Snyder, who received Jackson's relay of Wil- son’s throw, but he reversed the de- sion when Base Umpire Rowland explained to him that a hit driving the ball out of sight of the plate um- vire must be considered a home run. Sam H. Harris, New York theatrical producer, has announced the birth of a colt at his stable In Lexington, Ky. The colt was sried by Man-o'-War ind dammed by True Flyer, by Pen- nant. Tt will be christened when eagible Lo cuter the maiden events. | Judge,” 1b. Dixic the_ club | Walker, cf. Wilson out | | one for Earl ¢ of the athletes had for sea- the record made by the THREE IN A ROW WASHINGTON. B. McNeely, cof..... Harrs, 2b.. T AR Goslin, 1f.. > Shirle u. Pock Ruel, o.... Tate, o McNamara, p Brillheart, p Russell, p.. | ETOISTOP IR | ocooomnuonoouon | ovocorumoocono?> Bllsssvettunsueliy 5 3 L ) Sy 10 *Batted for Brillheart in sixth. GIANTS. 5 > w n st U] Frisch, '2b. Young. rf.. Ealty; erry. ‘Wilson, 1f. Jackson, Snyder, Gowdy, Dean. p. Bentley, p. tSouthworth Totals Batted for Gowdy in Washington .....2 0 0 Glants 120 Home runs—Bluege, Jackson. hits—Harris (2), Snyder (2), Frisch, Jackson. Btolen bases—Kelly, Rice. Double plays— Peck to Judge, Jackson to Terry. Struck out— Russell, 1; by Dean. 4: by Bentley, 2. First base on balls—Off Dean, 5: off ‘M- Namara, 3; off Brillheart. 2; of Russell, Hit by pitcher—By Brillheart (Walker)). Hits—Off Dean, 9 in 6 innings; off Bentley, 1in 8 innings; off MoNamara, 4 in 2 innings: off Brillheart, 6 in 3 innings: off Russell. 2 4 innings. Winning pitcher—Brillheart. Losing pitcher—Dean. Left on bases—Was G 12, Umpires—Messrs. Wal- game—Two how Slisseannoortiann Sl e oo [oratconriiice TR e th, ° 1 [isdossiataien in 4 20 1 o2 u ° L Two-base Time of HORNSBY IN HITTING MOOD AS CARDS SWAMP TEXANS T. LOUIS, Mo., April 9.—Rogers Hornsby, second baseman and pride of the St. Louis Nationals, had a great day at bat at San Antonio vesterday against the Texas League club there. Hornsby got two homers, a double and a walk and scored four - 15 to 3. times. In the outfielder, as he pi forced to 1 Like the Cards, the won by a big murgin, Chicks, Southern League Memphis, Tenn., 13 to 2 Joe Bush hurled -his until the opening against at St. Louis Tuesday. Chick Hafey cockleburrs hall and was the game. Browns also defeating the club, at rst inring ched_som ire from last game Cleveland Ward Hits Two Over Fence. 2W YORK, April 9.—Aaron Ward, secénd baseman of the Yankees, took his turn In masquerading as Babe Ruth yesterday and sent two balls hurtling over the center field fence at_Greenville, S. Ruth, defying doctors, the “flu and all else, had set out for New York before Ward threatened his honors. He is the first New York player to return home, as he was the first to leave for the South. The Yankees captured an easy victory over the Dodgers of Brooklyn, 10 to 3, and took the lead in the pre-season scries by two games. Five home runs came out of the first three innings—two for Ward, Combs, one for Hank De Berry and another for Milton Stock. Tygers Now in Nashville. DETROIT, April 9.—A 6-to-2 vie- tory over the Knoxville team of the Appalachian League at Knoxville, Tenn., yesterday, and the Detroit Tygers were on their way to Nash- ville, Tenn., for a two-game argu- ment with the Volunteers of that city. Eighteen Bengals faced hurlers placed in the box mountaineers. The ceeded in making 12 hit and Doyle, for the Tygers, adversaries to 6. One error was made by Rigney, at shortstop, to. none on the part of Knoxville. the three by the Cobbmen _suc- . while Wells held their Indians in Final Workout, CLEVELAND, Ohio, April 9.—The Cleveland Indlans’ final workout at New Orleans was scheduled for to- day, préparatory to their departire tonight on the northward trip. The team's first stop s at Tuscaloosa, Ala, where tomorrow a game Is scheduled with the University of Ala- bama. Robertson Pitches Route. CHICAGO, April 9.—Charliec Rob- ertson went the route in the Chicago White Sox-Ivansville Three-1 club game there yesterday. He was the first of the twirlers of the. staff to ¢vavel the regulation distance. The game, the seventeenth victory for the Chicago club, ended-13 ‘to 7, the offering of Gray and Meis, Evans- ville right-handers being touched for eleven runs. The Cubs, in Kansas City, after a three-day trek from the Pacific Coast, rested up yesterday for their series opening today with the Kansas City American Association Club. Rabbit Maranville continued om to Chicago, where the cast will be taken from his “roken ankle. Piratés Halted by Rain PITTSBURGH, Pa., April 9.—Rain, which followed the Pirates’ squad into Oklahoma City on Tuesday con- tinued yesterday and caused the post- ponement of their scheduled game with Jack Holland’s Oklahoma City BOWIE RACES 11 Days April 1 to April 13 Special tralns leave White S!Iflon‘lt 12:30, 12:45, 1:00, 1:15, 1:30 pm. . Admission ....... .,,.Sli: Government Tax .. Vo $L.65 House and First Race 2:30 p.m. =l 0000000000m000!" HAUSER IS UNLIKELY TO PLAY THIS SEASON PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 9.— Joe Hauser, the hard-hitting first baseman of the Philadelphia Athletics, probably is lost to Counie Mack for tho season, as a result of his knee injury received In Tuesday's gume with the Philadelphia Nationals. An operation confirmed the of surgeons that Hauser's knee was fractured, The doctors would not venture an opinton how long Hauser would be out of the game, but it was believed he is through for the year. He is ex- pected to remain in the hospital for & month. The operating surgeon said that in some instances in injuries such as Hauser's the knee stiffens, but this was not expected in this case. Hauser was on the operating table more than an hour. Holes were made through the knee cap and the broken member was wired tightly together with gold wire. The knee was then incased in a plaster cast, which will remain in place for four months. Manager Mack said that for the present Bing Miller would play first | base fear cap MASCART GETS BOUT. CLEVELAND, April 9. — Edouard Mascart, European champion feather- welght, last night agreed to meet Al Corbett, Cleveland, in a 12-round de- on bout here April 22. They will weigh in at 126 pounds. FRENCH CARS IN RACE. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., April 9. —Three French cars built by Albert Guyot, well known race driver in Furope. will compete in the annual 500-mile automobile race at the Indianapolis dway May 30. 'VANCE ONLY 1 TO STARS OF By the Associated Press. N “Dazz will do for this year at its present ca man in the majo last season. For the other clubs the same old drawing cards will be played. A leader among them is Babe Ruth of the Yankees, greatest of home-run hitters. The entire Washington team, with Manager Bucky Harris, Walter Johnson and “Goose’ Goslin outstand- ing, will attract crowds throughout The Cardinals won, Indians. The fall ceased in the after- noon, but the grounds then were too soggy for the contest. However, the damage did not halt Manager McKechnie of the Bucca- neers from ordering his battery men into the park for a limbering-up, and enn Wright, shortstop, who felt in | need of a workout, accompanied the hurlers. Both Holland and McKechnie agreed that the postponed game would be played today, if the weather will permit, and th weather man promised that it would. Indications were that Buckshot May, who wore a Pirate suit last year, will pitch to his former teammates today. CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 9 Whether Luque or Donohue pitches the opening for the Cincinnati N tionals next Tuesday will depend | largely on the showing the Texan | | makes against the Colonels at Louis- ville this -afternoon. The Reds left Nashville last night for Loulsville, where they close the training season with two games with the American Assoclation team there. Donohue will pitch the first contest and expects to go the full nine in- nings, as Luque did at Nashville yes- terday. May probably will pitch the closing game of the northward trip. Braves on Way Home. BOSTON, April 9.—Powerful batting by the Boston Braves gave them a 5-to-2 victory over the Rochester team of the International League at Kinston, N. C., yesterday. Rube Mar- quard was wild and let in the two runs. Bernie Neis was the star in the bat- ting, getting a homer over the rl‘hl fleld fence in the eighth. Last night the Braves left for home and were due to arrive at 8 o'clock tonight. From Cleveland the Red Sox of the American League were reported roll- ing homeward in excellent spirits. They were to reach here today. Man- ager Fohl announced that Ferguson and Quinn would pitch in the game against the Braves at the opening of the series next Saturday. MARANVILLE :I'O BE HOST AT TESTIMONIAL DINNER PITTSBURGH, April 9—More than 300 friends of Rabbit Maranville have arranged a testimonial dinner for him at a local hotel on the night of April | 22, when the Pirates open the season here with Chicago. Honus Wagner is treasurer of the committee in charge of arrangements, and the veteran Hans has agreed to give “a little talk” during the course of the dinner. The guests will include virtually all of the local men prominent insport- ing and public life, all of whom are friends of the injured star, who is the only big leaguer now making his home in this city. TROUSERS To Match Your Odd Coats EISEMAN’S, 7th & F America’s Finest Rowboat Motors s37 Puts One on !mr Boat “‘Pay While You Play” Caille 5-Speed Twin Row Boat Motors go forward, backward or idle, just like an auts, Guaranteed without reservation. JOHN J. ODENWALD Dixie Distributor for Caille Perfection Motor Co. of Detroit '1209 H N.W. Ph. Fr EW YORK, April 9.—When the present occupants move over an inch or two and make room for Arthur C. Vance, sometimes called it will be found that the imaginary “Hall of Stardom” r leagues to become an acknowledged star of base ball PORTS that George Herman R were dissipated early today wi which he is traveling. RUTH ON FIRST PAGE | IN LONDON PAPERS LONDON, April »—The London press, which served a public know- ing nothing about base ball except that it ix some sort of a game like “rounders,” gave the Teport of “Babe” Ruth's death today, prominence which the passing of a mere financier or politician would not have achieved. The first English paper on the atreets with the atory gave it a tophend front page alongxide the dispatch telling of the stoning of the hotel in Damaxcus, Syria, where Lord Balfour wax stopping. Other papers followed with pic- tures and storiex from ene o {wo columns in length, deallng with the % king of base Dall,” and bis great salary—a sum which has alwass wed amaze- ment in conservative lngland. So great was interest that the pupers immediately began calling on the American correspondents in London for special articles. 2 England hase ball itself means wothing, but there wax none who could not get a thrill from the human interest aspect of this base ball prodigy’s career. 924 ADDITION BIG LEAGUES pacity. “Dazzy” Vance was the only the coming season, for it holds the world chmplonshlp. Tris Speaker of the Indians, gray-haired after years of “service with the Red Sox and Clevelgnd, is well known to the fans, and his left-handed throws to the plate have made base ball interesting. The inimitable Ty Cobb of Detroi born in the late 80s, remains a power at bat and on the bases. Speaker has Charley Jamieson, a powerful hitter, in the supporting role, while Ccbb has Harry Heilmann, champion bats- man of the American League. Manager George Sisler and his ex- ceptional outfleld, comprising Bill Jacobson, Ken Willlams and Jonny Tobin, always make things Interest- ing for the opposition. Eddie Collin now manager of the White Sox, is one of the great second basemen of base ball and is ably aided by Ray Schalk and Harry Hooper. Bill Wambsganss of world series triple play fame still plays for the Red Sox, and opposing batsmen will con- tinue to worry when they hear the names of Eddie Rommel and Stan Baumgartner ‘mentioned in connection with the Athletics’ pitching. The National League has its stars Frank Frisch, captain and second baseman, leads the array in New York, with Vance and the mighty Zack Wheat carrying the honors in Brooklyn. The Cubs have land Alexander, Max Carey, the their Grover Cleve- the Pirates their Braves their Dave .Bancroft and old Rube Marquard, the Reds their Eddie Rousch and the Phillies their Cy Williams. Rogers Hornsby, for five years the National League's leading hitter—a longer time in consecutive seasons than Hans Wagner, former Pitts. burgh shortstop, held the throne—r .mains with the St. Louis Cardinals. batsman, had died en route from Asheville, RUMOR OF RUTH’S DEATH ON TRAIN PROVES FALSE (“Babe”) Ruth, base ball’s premier C., to New York, ith the arrival here of the train on Accompanied by representatives of the New York Yankees, Ruth left Asheville at 3:50 p.m. yesterday, and immediately was put to bed in a com- partment. The train arrived here at 7:45 a.n. today. and the sleeper in which Ruth had a compartment was switched to a New York train which departed at 8:20 am. It is due in New York early In the afternoon. Reports - that the home-run king had died en route to Washington started in the early morning hours when his train was speeding through southwestern Virginia. Originating apparently in Canada, it spread with almost incredible rapldity. Even before the train reached Washington, newspaper offices here were kept busy answering inquiries, and train dispatchers along the route of the train were set to work check- Ing up on the repo When the train Union Station a group officials and _ others immediately boarded it. They were told Ruth apparently was in better physlcal condition than he was when he left the North Carolina town where he wag stricken after a fight against influenza Among these were officials of the Southern Railway who had been routed out of their beds and who previously had set in motion the intelligence machinery of the road in an effort to ascertain the facts As an instance of the rapidity with which the rumor spread Government clerks en route to their work heard whisperings of it, and it was a topic of conversation and speculation among groups gathered here and there on street corners and elsewhere. pulled into the of station Babe Can Eat, Anyhow. BALTIMORE, Md. April 9. Ruth had a good night and w. proved this morning, Paul Kritche veteran scout of the New York Amer fcans, said on the arrival of the train bearing Ruth to New York from Ashe- ville, N. C,, where he collapsed yes- terda Ruth will be met in New his physiclan, Dr. King, Kritcheil aid, and will be taken to St. Vin- nt's Hospital. Kritchell expressed no doubt of Ruth's ability to com- plete the trip. Ruth- was taking a nap when the train reached here, after having eaten some breakfast. — e KNODE OF INDIANS GETS NOSE BROKEN BY BALL LEVELAND, April 9.—Bob Knode, recruit first baseman, is the second Cleveland Tndian to be placed on the hospital Hst with a broken nose in as many da He stopped a bound- ing batted ball during batting prac- tice at New Orleans. Outfielder Homer Summa was struck in the nose by a thrown ball Tuesday. Phil Bedgood, right-handed pitcher has been unconditionally released. He joined the club three years ago, but was put on the voluntary retired 1ist last season because of an injured shoulder. SHAMROCK SENIOR NINE HAS GAME WITH HARPS Shamrock Seniors have a tough as- signment for tomorrow afternoon, when the District champlon Harps are to be met in a practice game at Fifth and L streets southeast. Unfforms will be issued the Seniors tomorrow night at 529 Eleventh street southeast, and on Sunday at 1 o'clock the Smith & Smith nine will be en- countered at Fairlawn diamond. o DERBY ELIGIBLE SPEEDY. LOUISVILLE, April 9.—Lee O. Cot- ner, R. W. Collins’ Kentucky Derby candidate, worked once around the Churchill Downs course yesterday in 1:41 4-5, setting a new mark for the distance by eligibles in training. —Babe s im- L York by PHILADELPHIA NATIONALS’ ROSTER FOR 1925 Pitchers. Throws. Betts, Walter M. rison, Harold G.... Couch, John D... Fillingham, Da; Glazner, C! Knight, Elmer ... Lewis, Bart ...... Mitchell, Clarence Oexchger, Joseph .. O'Neal, O. Harry... Plerce, Raymond . Ring, James J.. Ulrich, Frank .. EEEEEREEEEEEEE] Catcherw. Henline, Walter .... Wendell, Louis Wilson, Jumes .. - Infielders. Dunham, Leland H.. Ford, Horace H.... Hawks, Nelson L Helke, Walter H. Huber, Clarence B. | Kimmick, Walter . .... Lord, Carlton ... Metz, Leonard R...... Sand, John H... ‘Wrightstone, Russel Outfielders. Burns, George J... Harper, George W. Henrich, Frank W... Leach, Fred M........... Mekan, John L... Schults, Joseph C, Willlams, Fred ... Yordy, Harold . ‘William F. Baker, president; William J. Shettsline, business manager Arthur Fletcher, manager; Benny Meyer, coach; Bradentown, Fla., training Played with in 1924, Phillies Phillfes Phillies Phillies Phillies . Beaumont, Tex. L. ‘Topeka, West. Asso.. Phillies Waterbury, E. L. Phillies Phillies . Phillies Nashville, S. A. Phillies Beaumont, Tex. L. Vernon, P. C. L. Harrisb’g, N. Y.-Pa. Phillfes .. ‘Waterbury, Phillies . Phillles L HH ® ° Reds . Phillles .... Phillles .... Wil'msp’t, N. Y.-P: Phillies . Harrisb’g, N. Y. Phillles .... Phillles . Phillies . ‘Waterbury, spesiaes: o 100 148 . . Lo 138 The Vexatious Problem— or used car lies example set by have dealt with ! for $1,620. | 1423-27 L St I Of the man now: get good service when he needs it. century and come in to look at the 1925 Advanced Six Nash cars. mu-nummmmn R. McReynolds & Son days who wants to buy a new in the probability that he will not Follow the thousands of satisfied men who McReynolds for more than a half 14th & Park Road & SCHOOL NINES BUSY OUTSIDE OF SERIES STANDING OF TBAMS. Won. Lost, e 1 1 Pet 1,000 1.000 1 2500 1600 000 Central Enstern Tech Western Business 0f &1 While no more high school title ries base ball games are scheduled until after the close .of the Faster holidays, scholastic teams are booked for plenty of action before April 21, when Western and Business resume play in the championship series. Each of the five public high school nines has one or morc games ar- ranged for the vacation period, and all but Eastern are meeting other school teams in the three. remaining days of the present week. The Lincoln Parkers, who defeated Tech, 7 to 6, yesterday, when making their first appearance in the title games, will stage a practice contest this afternoon with the Cardinal Juniors, a sandlot aggregation. Burline went the nine Innings for the Eastern team against Tech and £0t to the Maroon and Gray hurlers, Jett and Guether, for three hits. Each team scored a pair of counters in the opening frame, but went run- less for the mext three. Eastern scored again In the fifth and sixth, but Tech came back in the sixth and tied the count. Eastern counted three times in the eighth and in the same inning the Tech batters brought In the final palr. Although weriously crippled by the fraternity ban, the Tech track and field team is meeting Episcopal High School of Alexandria in a dual meet on the latter's field this afternoon world last year. T Only slightly Robins in the National League. under fire. pitchers, Dazzy Vance and Burleigh the issue was settled. Washington Nationals Won 92, Lost 62, Pet. .507. Finished First in 1924, It the flaming will-to-win spirit planted in the breasts of an ordinary array of players last year can be spread over another season, the world champion Nationals will have to be reckoned with all through the cam- paign about to open. Never in the history of base ball was there a better example of the value of the inspiration of a real leader than in the drive of the Washihgton team to victory last year. Never was there a better {llustration of the base ball axiom that an earnest, hustling fighter of no great individual merit is better than a lagging star. Molding a mediocre pitching staff around the great Walter Johnson, a fielding defense about himself and one of the greatest shortstops in ti game, Roger Peckinpaugh, and a bat- ting attack around the yvouthful Leon Goslin, Harris. proved himself one of the great managers in the history of the game. Ask Clark Griffith, president of the Washington club, whether his club will repeat and he will tell you it will. His belief is built on the solid rock of his faith in Harris. But he has been- quietly strengthening his team until it {s now far better than the one which began last year's campaign, an outsider in the betting. The Washington infleld of Judge at first, Harris at second, Peckin- paugh at short and Bluege at third is the best in the American League. With such an {nner defense pitching is easy, but, in addition to the staff which was good enough to carry off the league pennant in 1924, the Nationals have obtained Ruether, once star left-hander in the National League, and Coveleskis and Gregs. both veterans. This trio may not win more than 20 games between them, but, if they do even that, they will lighten the burden on Johnson, Mo- gridge and Zachary, the shock troops of last season, who won 54 of the club’s 92 victories. To back them up the Nationals have Fred Marberry, Warren Ogden, Allen Russell and Joe Martina not to mention the freshmen tried out at Tampa, but still untried on the stern flelds of the regular season. Herold Ruel, “Muddy,” now one of the stars of the league, and Tafe will give the Natlonals good catching. The infleld has been aided by the signing of Mike McNally, once with the Yankees. The outfield of Goslin, Rice and McNeely, with Leibold and Matthews as substitutes, has power in_attack and skill on the defense. Powertul behind the bat, in the box, with sensational infleld work and more than ordinary merit in the out- fleld, the Griffmen should hold their position as the second best fielding team in the league and they may im- prove on their batting average as a team of .294. Sl E s DUGAN IS NEAR INJURY. NEW YORK, April 9.—Joe Dugan, third baseman of the Yankees, came near to joining the ranks of the in- jured yesterday when he went after a foul fly at Greenville, S. C. In mak- ing the catch Joe fell into a pit cre- ated for the weight men at the Fur- man University Field. WINNER IN PENNANT RACE Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Dodgers Should Be Contenders, With Louis Cards Al Having a Chance. -] BY JOHN B. FOSTER. (In this dispatch John B. Foster tells how the eight teams of the National League size up for the championship race which starts next Tucsday. scen all of them in action at them colleotively as to their relation. he will discuss the teams of the Americ N EW YORK, April 9— ders, the Pittsburgh Pirates There is a third team which should hit | Cincinnati Reds There is a fourth team which cylinders plus, but it probably will n There is a fifth machine which material and perhaps another cylin Dodgers. There is a sixth team which started so fast that it looked like a mcven- cylinder operator gure, and then fate punctured the gas tank—the Chlcago Cubs. The Giants must of sheer necessity | bie winner o Golder be selected as the prol the pennant in the league's DODGERS, LIKE NATIONALS, ARE COUNTING ON BANNER This is the cighth of a series of articles on the prospects of the teams in the two major leagues which will open a new season next The Washington Nationals and Brookiyn Robins are here various Tuesday. considered. HE Washington club of the American League upset the base ball Picked at the beginning of the season to finish in the second division they began a rush in Midsummer which car- ried through to the league championship and later to the world title. behind the Nationals was the feat of the Brooklyn Placed out of the class of contenders by common consent in the Spring of 1924 this team practically was rebuiit Fourth in team batting and sixth in fielding, the work of the great Grimes, allowed Wilbert Robinson to battle against the Giants until two days before the season closed before Brooklyn Robins Won 92, Lost 62, Pet. .597. Finished Second in 1924. 1f Stanley Harris surprised the base ball world by his dash with the Na- tionals last year, Wilbert Robinson worked a miracle with the Brooklyn team. Of all of the sad aggresations ever seen, the Robins in the Spring of 1924 were the worst. No infield, no outfield, no batting strength—simply _two pitchers of power, “Dazzy” Vance and Burleigh Grimes. Three quick purchases of players, a trade or two, a shift in the infield, and the nondescripts were made over and driven through four months of tumult to within two games of a National League pennant. That is fine leadership—the ability to pick out the weak spots, plug them and to make kittens fight like wild- cats. No matter how badly the Rob- ins look on paper, the fans will know now that they have to reckon on Rob- inson before counting them out. How different, however, is the out- look this Spring compared with last, Traveling around Florida and meeting the Yankees on the way North, the Robins have been showing a real team with a real punch and a real de- fense. They are talking of the Rob- ins as contenders “If the pitching comes through.” Last vear at this time pitching was the only thing the team had a semblance of! From a dearth of capable infielders Robinson now has plenty. There is still the faithful Fournier, home-run leader of the National League, at first base; Andy High at second, Johnny Mitchell at short and Jtmmy Johnston at third, to say nothing of Milton Stock and “Cotton” Tierney to fill in at almost any of the positions. This combination is far from the worst in the circuit in fielding and five of the six ought to bat over the .300 mark. Zack Wheat, a veteran slowly fading in flelding agility, but still a power with the bat; Eddie Brown, one of the rescuers of the 1924 team and a great ground coverer and hitter, and Cox, a flashing rookie from the Pacific Coast League, are playing regularly in the outfield, with Tom Griffith and Dick Loftus as alternates. “Zack” Taylor, Hank De Berry and Charlie Har- greaves are three hustling and hard- hitting catchers. Only the pitching staff is in doubt. The crop of youngsters was a poor one for Robinson. He probably will lose Bill Doak, who did great work last year. -Vance and Grimes of the topliners remain, and the second- string men are: Tiny Osborne, Rube Erhardt and Jim Roberts. In his en- deavor to obtain a left-hander to take the place of “Dutch” Ruether, Robinson has secured Jess Petty, once with the Cleveland Indians, from the Indianap- olis club. If Doak fails him, Robin- son must get a consistent winner from among his young men or his hard work at building up for a year may go for nothing. The Robins of 1925 should be rated as strong in the infleld, outfield and behind the bat. In hitting strength they ought to surpass the 1924 team, which was fourth in the league stand- ing with a mark of .287. On paper they seem to be one of the dangerous hitting teams of the league, and this may make up partly for possible shortcomings in pitching, even with the wonderfully Dazzy Vance on the staff. Zight base ball National League race of 1925 next Tuesday. one—the New York Giants—which hits on all eight cylinders. There is another team which hits on seven and three-quarter cylir | derous pitcher He has their training camps and in czhibition games In previous dispatches he has discussed cach team individuall ; mow he treats with cach other. In his next dispatch an League machines begin work in the Of these there is onl on at least seven cylinders, the has power to hit cight ot, the St. Louis Cardinals. has six cylinders worth of pitching der in batting power, the Brooklyn enough on may not win, b filled with pit team which not which s pre right those thin by a team pennant Jubiles year cause | fals only is seasoned, erly fitted to do which must be order ta win the hey is done a Giants Have Reserves. The Giants They have stter than an infield w in base ball gh to win nation with the assistance The great mens the possibility that will crack. If one of the veteran two, go by the boards, it will disturbing factor, even to this balanced orga fon. It has declared that the weakness of Giants is in the pitching staff the pitchers are not so bad, compa tively, when rated with those of the other clubs. Other teams have bet- ter individual pitchers. but they also have weaknesses which the Giants do not have Pirates Possess Speed. Pittsburgh has the fastest team col- lectively in ball today. Its pos- |si es of fielding are superior to those of the Giants. If its batters thump the ball to a state of .295 the team will be in the race to the finisk but if it does not develop battin when batting is needed—that is, when runners are on bases—it will not wea any golden crown The Cincinnati club, if it had a fir baseman of parts, would be danger ous. It has a pitching staff, proper! controlled, which should make all of position Fatters doff their bowler: Three positions the infield fair sing with vim fourth is an un certain quantity It the St. Louis kid through, the Cards wi nir This is a dang many ways, although it fected and smooth-running If it is not “overadvised” finish in the first division. Petty Fortiftes Dodgers. The chances of the Brooklyn cl began to mount when Petty was taken from Indianapolis. This big and pon- is no ng_chicker but he is a tough old bird. Brookly: may clout its way to the pennant the free usé of the Robinson pile- driver, but it will b to do it 1 | brute force. Chicago probably will not recover fully from the blow which befell onc of the most promising teams in league W Mara t shackle himself to a base bag In Los Angeles. No one will ever know what the Rabbit might have done for the Cubs. Of the Philadelphia and Boston clubs nothing but good. They need it. Neither of these teams, by base ball comparison, can hope to get out of the | secona aivision have reserve strengt) tfield which They the which pennant proy 192 that hich i but be a well The pitchers come be in the rur rous outfit is not a per ball clul it is apt to MANY years ago, Kraeuter pliers won first place in the hearts and hip pockets of American mechanics. You, too, are entitled to a pairof thebestpliers made. The oneillustrated is very useful around the house. It grips hard—and has side cutters like a lineman plier. KRAEUTER PLIERS *Ask anyMechanic?