Evening Star Newspaper, April 13, 1925, Page 18

18 T SPORTS. THE. EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, . D. (., MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1925. SPORTS. 1924 Flag Winners Picked to Repeat : Nationals Grooming for Inaugural Game e, GRIFFS AND GIANTS LOOM AS BEST IN BIG LEAGUES Yankees, Tygers and Browns Are Figured to Trail Champs in Upper Bracket of Johnsonian Loop—Dodgers May Press MeGrawmen. HOW THEY SHOULD FINISH IN THE MAJORS. American League WASHINGTON NEW YORK DETROIT ST. LOUIS PHILADELPHIA CLEVELAND CHICAGO BOSTON National League NEW YORK BROOKLYN PITTSBURGH CHICAGO CINCINNATI ST. LOUIS BOSTON PHILADELPHIA BY DENMAN THOMPSON. Sports Bditor, The Star. N EW YORK, April 13—Not that it means anything particularly, but simply because it is being done, as usual, we hereby present our idea of how the 16 clubs shou!d be aligned at the finish of the big league campaigns which are scheduled to get under way tomorrow in cight different cities of these United States. Unlooked-for events can occur six-month season, so many times in the course of the involving more than 150 games for cach entry, that any one willing to go on record as prophesying the position that will be occupied by a s nglc team at the wind-up, much less 16, is entitled to either a medal for valor or examination by a psychiatrist. The order of ~ finish presented herewith is In no sense a prediction. It Is merely a guess. One Is as good as another, and if the foregoing doesn’t meet your fancy, juggle ‘em around to suit vourself. The busi- ness has the advantage of being in- teresting as well as inexpensive, and no one will remember in October what your forecast was, nor care. If there is one club in regard to which there is any reasonable as- surance, it Is the Giants. They so far outclass their company that noth- ing short of a train wreck can keep [cGraw from the distinction unat- mmed to date of winning five times In a row. It's true the law of averages will be at work against sach a feat, but that applied lso last sea- =on when he set his record for “mod- ern” base ball, with four straight, se the psychological angle can be disre- garded. The field in the American League Is better balanced. It probably would he considered lese majeste, or some- thing like that, to pick Some club to finish ahead of the Nationals. We decline to do it, not for thaf reason, but simply because ‘we cannot see where any other team has a better chance. They were good enough to win last year and appear to have been strengthened more than any of their rivals. Nationals Are Peppery. The Griffs have not been sur- feited with titles and are not the type to let overconfidence lessen their hustling, while the charge that they are an outfit of veterans likely to crumbie is not nearly so true of them as it is of the Yankees. Huggins, with Combs in center field, has a stronger array than when Witt held forth there, but it is doubtful if he gained anything when he swapped Joe Bush for Urban Shocker, and there is a grave question whether Ruth will be aple to carry on through the ‘season in his customary effective manner when he does get back in the line-up. Cobb stfll has » weak spot in the second-base sector of his Detroit in- field as well as a managerial handi- cap in his own fiery temperamen while the caliber of the Browns' pitching staff is questionable, and there is no assurance that Sisler has entirely recovered from the eye trouble that kept him out of base ball in 1923 and made a rather ordinary sticker of a former .400 batsman last season. Injuries Mar Macks. Untll Joe Hauser was lost to Phila- delphia for the season, following the serious injury to Heimach, the Ath- letics loomed as first division pro: pects. With Groves living up to his International ~League promise and young Cochrane offering able assist- ance to Perkins back of the bat, the Macks should wind up no lower than the top of the second division, where they finished last season. Tris Speaker has not vet finished his work of rebuilding the Tribe, and oo much cannot be expected of Eddie Collins In his first season as pilot of a club that landed in the c year. For the Indians, White Red Sox It should be a battle to avoid the basement. Pittsburgh, for all its paper strength, has disappointed so often in recent years that it must be rated a notch lower than the Dodgers, who have a miracle worker in Wilbert Robinson still cn the job to extract 100 per cent of service from an outfit that really is only ordinary outside of the box. The Cubs appeared to have gained much needed strength through their deal with the Pirates, but the acei- dent to Maranville and Grigsby's in- jury will hold them back. If Hendricks can get his Reds to play hall for him—something they didn't do with much enthusiasm last year—Cincin- nati may horn into the first division, and i every day was Sunday the Car- dinals also might prove real factors in the race. The Braves and Fhillies seem doomed to argue about what is left MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS ARE PRIMED FOR START By the Assoclated Press. N EW YORK, April 13—Base balf players of 16 major league teams have shelved their training clothes after a2 month and a half of strenuous preparation and sat back to rest for the 1925 revival of that American institution opening day tomorrow. The New past four years ready. The Yankees will enter the season minus their big gun—Babe Ruth— but his absence from the game is not expected to dampen their ardor. The Glants are alfo handicapped by fnjuries and illness, but a week is sxpected to see the complete strength of both teams mobilized Ruth still- lies in the hospitat, where he is recovering from indiges- tion and Influenza, while Frisch’s in- jured foot is expected to keep him on the side lines. The gaps will be filled by recruits. In Ruth’s place in the outfield will appear the prom- ising Ben Paschal, whose hard hit- ting and clever fielding has colored many exhibition games, while Me- Graw is hopeful that Lindstron will be available for second ase. Should this young player be still too lame to play, either Young or Kelly will be used. The uncertain arrangement of Mc- Graw's infield finds only one player sure of his berth. This is Jackson, at shortstop, although Groh, while not yet In satisfactory physical con- dition, is almost certain to take his accustomed place at third. If Kelly Is shifted to either second or_ third Terry will go to first base. Should Young be drawn from the outfield McGraw will call upon Walker, Meusel and Wilson to man the outer defenses. Fandom twirlers would mound tomorrow York Giants, winners , and the Yankees, is speculating as to what be dispatched to the by the Yankees. It is likely that Shocker, the hurler obtained from the -St. Louis Browns in exchange for Bush, Gaston and Girard, will start against Washing- ton Prospects of other American League teams are sized up as follow: Cobb Visions a Pennant. By the Associated Pre DETROIT, Mich., April 13.—Ty Cobb helleves that his Detroit Tygers will win the American League pennant this year, basing his belief as much on the team's reserve _strength as upon the regulars themselves. Neun, Tavener and Haney, Cobb be- lieves, not only will be ayailable for infleld duty whan, meeded, but also can be depended upon as pinch hit- ters. The 1925 club is virtually the same that finished in third place last year. Heilmann, Cobb and Manush will be in the outfield, Blue, O'Rourke, Rig- ney and Jones in the infleld and Bass- ler and Woodall will catch. An attack of influenza probably will keep Cobb' out of the line-up tomorrow, and either Wingo or Falh- ergill will replace him. Browns Are Optimistic. St. Louis, April 13.—Confidence and optimism are the dominant charac- teristics of the St. Louis Browns. While deprecating the absence of Outfiélder Jacobson, a holdout, George Sisler, manager of the Browns, be- Heves that the improvement in four separate departments of his team will more than offset the absence of his star center fielder. His pitching staff, Sisler belleves, has been considerably strengthened of National League honors for the winners in 1921, 1922 and 1923, are by the acquisition of Joe Bush, Mil- ton Gaston and Joe Giard, obtained from the New York Yankees this win- ter, and by the improvement shown in the condition of other members of the staff. With the veteran Severeid, and the youngster Dixon alternating behind the bat, the Browns' manager be- lieves he has a catching staff com- parable with any, while the third base problem seems well taken care of by Robertson. Then the improvement in Sisler's own condition is a source of gratifica- tion. Maek Is Reticent. PHILADELPHIA, April 13.—Connle Mack’s Athletics will open the Ameri- can League season in thelr renovated park. The visiting team will be the Boston Red Sox. The Athletics have added a new battery that is reputed to have cost $160,000. It is composed of “Lefty” Groves, from Baltimore, and Gordon Cochrane, from Portland. To offset the injury to Joe Hauser, who broke his knee cap in the Spring serles with the Phillies, Manager Mack has signed Jim Poole of Port- land. The American Leaguers also have several rookies of promise, in- cluding Fox, a young catcher; Smith, a shortstop, and French and Bagwell, outfielders. Connie Mack was rather reluctant to make predictions, but is looking forward to & good season. “Last year I figured on second place, and was forced to be satisfied with a second division Dberth,” said Mack. “This year we are not making any predictions, but we are plannin to go out and win enough ball gam to make the fans forget the years we spent in the cellar. Chisox Outlook Bright. CHICAGO, April 13.—Sparkling are the prospects of the White Sox this year. With Eddle Collins, for almost 20 years star second baseman of the American League, as manager, the morale of the Sox has reached Iits highest pitch since the revelations of the 1919 world's series scandal wrecked the team. The White Sox pitching staff is little changed and its success may rest largely on the condition of the veterans, Red Faber and Charley Robertson, who had a disappointing season last year. The supporting cast of boxmen, however, have had the benefit of another year of major league seasoning and Cecil Thurston ‘hopes to better his last season record of 10 victories in a row. The weakness in the Sox line-up last Fall at shortstop has _been remedied by the signing of Ike Davis, a veteran from the Columbus Ameri- can Association team. The most promising recruit, Man- ager Collins believes, is Harrls, a heavy-hitting outfielder from _the Southern Assocfation. Cleveland Is Stronger. CLEVELAND, April 13.—Well pro- tected in all departments, with pros- | represented this city since 1921, WASHINGTON PLAYERS WHO ARE SLATED TO START IN OPENING GAME TOMORROW SAM RICE ' RT. pects of the best pitching staff in several vears, the Cleveland Indians form the strongest team which has when the iocals were runners-up to the New York Yankees, in the opinion of President E. S. Barnard. Indications are, however, that three regulars, First Baseman Burns, Third Baseman Lutzke and Outfielder Sum- ma, will be ‘out of the opening game tomorrow on account of disabilities. Manager Speaker says he has the best array of left-handed pitchers that ever wore a Cleveland uniform. He is also well supplied with sub- stitutes, predicting that Fred Spur- geon, New Orleans recruit, will prove one of the finds of the year. Indications are that the pitching staff will be composed of Smith, Ed- wards, Shaute, Buckeye and Yowell, Miller or Clark, left-handers, -and Uhle, Speece, Karr, Levsen and Lehr or Luther Roy, right-handers. All are in good condition except Levsen, who has not rounded to form. Spurgeon is capable of short, second or third, is fast on the bases and a splendid fieider and bat- ter. Bob Knode, first baseman, prob- ably will alternate with George Burns when a right-handed pitcher opposes the Indilnl.{ The right fielders will be chosen from Stephenson, Lee and Smith, right-handed batters, and - Summa, Hendrick and McNulty, left-handers. Red Sox Are Hopeful. BOSTON, April 13.—Liberal injec- tions of new and younger blood have given renewed hope to the Boston Americans. Lee Fohl, manager of the Red Sox, said that his pitching probably will be better than a year ago and that the team’s third base and shortstop defenses will be improved. For virtually every berth the Red Sox have mustered two men. Vach of Dallas is a notable addition in left ficld. Rogell of Salina is fighting Connelly for second base. Ehmke will head the pitchers, who includa Quinn, Ferguson, Ross, Wing- field, together with Ruffing, Luce; and Kallio, newcomers. DREADNAUGHTS WIN FROM SOLDIER NINE ALEXANDRIA, Va, April 13— Alexandria Dreadnaughts, State semi- pro champlons, trounced the Fort Humphreys Engineers here yesterday, 8 to 5, at the Dreadnaught Park. The’ Soldiers flashed a brand of fielding that seldom has been seen on local diamonds and played through the entire ‘game without an- error. Dreadnaughts tallied seven times in the opening inning and shoved their final run across in the eighth. Alexandria High is meeting Gonzaga High in Washington this afternaon at diamond No. 4 at 3 o'clock. Riley is the hurling selection of Coach Lionel Levvy. Columbia Athletic Club drew a forfeit from the Oriole Juniors of Washington vesterday, but trounced the Washington All-Stars, § to 7. Troquois clubmen lost to the St. Mary's Juniors, 12 to 4, in their open- ing game. In their game with the Cardinal Athletic Club nine here yesterday, the Lafayettes of Washington refused to continue play in the eleventh inning when the score stood 1l-all, and forfeited to the home team. Columbia basket ball five wishes to arrange games with junior teams having the use of outdoor courts. For bookings, call Manager Jack Allen, Alexandria 424, or write to 216 3y Columbus street, playing | 'HARRIS AND RUETHER | 1 | South and which flared HARRI® 2 [*(/Vanayer) Photes By CARLT THONER. OSSIE: BLUF.GL 38 8 DARL MENEELY.CT GIVEN GATE BY UMPS NEW YORK, April 13.—Resent- ment engendered by Umpire Walker's work during games through the up Saturday when he fired Judge and Altrock, was fanned by more resultant evenfu- alities yesterday. The contest had hardly gotten under way before Harris was banished from the park by Umpire Walker. Bucky protested that a pitch by Scott had grazed - McNeely's -shirt, and used such quaint language that the arbiter gave him the thumb and then pulled his watch on him. Bucky dutifully fetired to the clubhou leaving LAMAR IS FAVORITE IN RING TOURNAMENT Henry Lamar, Western High School athlete who recently won the junior light-heavyweight boxing title of the South Atlantic A. A. U, is being cked by ‘the experts in Boston to win the light-heavyweight champion- ship in the national tourney, which opens there tomorrow. Lamar, who made quick work of his two opponents at Baltimore this year,” knocking them both -out within an hour, will face two other cham- pions, Joe Woods of Los Angeles, a former middleweight, now boxing as a 175-pounder. and Leonard Herring, Philadelphia 1light-heavyweight and Roger Peckinpaugh to run the team.,Middle Atlantic champion. Then, in the latter half of the round more trouble ensued when Ruether kicked over the rulings that gave Frank Walker free transportation, Dutch also got the gate, a delay of 15 minutes resulting from Walker's oration, delivered with almost the entire personnel of - the gathered about the plate. Peckinpaugh staged ome .of his copyrighted spectacles in the eighth, when he dashed over back of second, dived to spear Gowdy's roller in his gloved digits and then heaved to Judge from a sitting position to get the verdict at first. It was feared, Peck had injured his leg in the fall, but this was dispelled when he un- tangled himself. Next in order from a flelding stand- point was the leaping one-hand stag of George Kelly's drive that Adams made in the ninth. The youngster, in addition to handling seven chances fautlessly, included a fine bit of pivot work in a dual killing, connected for a double and two singles in his six times up. Adams’ work was truly remarkable fn that he was painfully spiked by Wilson in the fourth inning, two gashes being cut in his lower left leg. He displayed great gameness in carrying on under the circumstances. The injury is not expected to prove serious. The Nationals will mot be able to loaf next Sunday, an off day in the schedule, an exhibition having been arranged with the New Haven club of the Eastern League. The players will entrain at Philadelphia for New Haven Sunday morning and will re- turn to Quakertown that evening. At Portsmouth, Va.— Syracuse (1) Portsmouth (Va. Beinhort, Frankhoute. Gra all, Lon; n.. ‘Foets and Woods has held the Pacific Coast championship for three y and was at first favored to carry off the honors in the national tourney, but his over confidence and a seem- ing lack of condition have caused the dopesters who have studied the Nationals | three champlons to turn to the Wash- ington schoolbo: Smoke the ROGER PECKINPAUGH i & CARDINALS DEADLOCK SERIES WITH BROWNS | ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 13.—The St. Louis Cardinals evened the count in their two-game spring serles with the St. Louis Browns by winning yes- terday, 6 to 5. Rhem was hit frequently, but was effective in the pinches. R. H. B € 13 5 13 3 Gaston, Davis and Cardinals Brow Rhem Severeid. and Schmidt: At Reooklyn— New York (A) Brooklyn (N) s Pennock, Hoyt. Reall, Johnson and O'Neill, Sbang: Petty, Thormahlen, Roberts, Greene and Taylor. R W B3 9 10 1 At _Oincinnati— Qleveland (A) Cincinnati (N) R H B $ii9 O3 4 23 (11 "innings) . Yowell, Buckeye, Edwards, Miller and " Luque, Rizey, May and Hargrave. - At Memphis— R HE Pittsburgh (N) 8 5.3 Memphis (8) 13 6.1 Koupal, Culloton and Smith; Calders, Mor- ton and Kohlbecker. At Baltimore— Baltimore (1) TISE 'S Philadelphia (A : ety Earnshaw, Jackson and Kopshaw; Groves, Reis and Cochrane, Fox. R HE At New Haven, Conn.— Beston_ (N) 3 New Haven (E)...... Benton, Cooney and O'Neil; Nichols, Loftus and Berger. R H Kansas City (A.A) X T Blake, Morgan and Hartnett; Messenger, Bounelly and Chinanit. The Largest, Most Reliable, Most Economical Tailoring At the Sign of the Moonm | ousted Whitey Witt DRILL IN YANKEE STADIUM Beating McGrawmen, EW YORK, April leveled at them for engaging N by tying up the series at six drubbing they administered in the t opening tomorrow of the America against the Yankees. Manager Harris had his athlet them through a series of sprouts tha Stadium, where tomorrow afternoon and most colorful performer on the missing from the scene. Unless he makes a last minute switch in his plans and calls on Walter John- son, who is not yet quite fit, Harris will send George Mogridge, paw, to the mound in the curtain raiser to Urban Shocker, spitball manipulator, recently obtained from the Browns, the task of facing the world champions although Waite Hoyt also is con eligible. Teams Little Changed. Except for Earl Combs. a graduate of the American Association, who has from his job centerfleld for the Yanks, and Ben Pas- chal, an Atlanta acquisition, who has been filling in for the ailing Ruth, the contending clubs probably will line-up race down the stretch Aside from the Bambino all the ef- fectives of both outfits are in good ph sical condition following nearly two months of conditioning work in (he South, and both pilots are looking for- ward to obtaining a running start in the pennant chase. 'We are ready,” said Harris today. few of our players are just a bit shy of top form, but generally speak- ing we are in good shape and T see no from the outset.” “Ruth’s probable ab: blow to us, of course,’ gins, nce will As In Saturday’s setto, the Griffs yesterday started off with a rush, amassing five runs on half a dozen showers in the process. McNeely opened the barrage with a wallop circuit of the bases, tallies accrued from doubles by Adams and Bluege and one-base swats from slaughter not being ended until Jack | Bentley injected his laeft-handed form into the proceedings. The pass Ruether issued to Walker the only an to face him before he | was wavbd out of the pastime for | kicking, developed into a tally after voung Harry Kelley had disposed of two Giants when Long George Kelly was credited with a double on a blow to deep center that McNeely got under after a hard sprint but couldn't hold. It looked for a time in the second inning as if Bentley would be roughly treated. Line singles were evolved by Adams and Rice with one gone. Goslin then crashed a safety Off the pitcher's glove, and when George Kelly retrieved the ball and heaved wildly past Terry Adams scored, and his mates reached third and second Rice then was run down on Judge's roller to Jackson, and Kohler tossed out Bluege. Kelley Gets in Trouble. Kid Kelley hurled scoreless ball un- til the fourth, although he was hav- ing trouble continuously with his control levers, but in that frame his unsteadiness got him in trouble to| the extent of a pair of tallies. He franked George Kelly. and, with| Terry disposed of, yielded a single to | Wilson. The latter was forced by Jackson, but Gowdy also drew a pass, filling the bases, and the tallies were in when Bentley past Adams to center. McNeely was on the producing end of a brace of Washington markers in the fifth. Judge strolled at the outset and Bluege singled him to second. Peck bunted & third strike foul, but Ruel walked to fill the bases, and, after Kelly popped foul, Barl hooked a double down the left field line, good for two runs. Ruel also tried to tally from first, but was effaced by Kohler's relay to Gowdy of Wilson's throw. Kelley yielded onty a double to Terry during the fifth and sixth innings and then gave way to Cove- leskie. Stan. handily disposed of the first two Giants, but, after Kohler's clean hit, a pass to Young and Kelly's infleld scratch had loaded the bases In the seventh, he had to “Wender What Merts Will Say Todayt™ 13—Having effectively lean south- | Manager Huggins probably will assign | dered | with the regular positions manned as | they were last season when the Na- tionals beat Huggins' men to the wire | by two full games after a sensational | reason why we shouldn't hit a fast pace | be a asserted Hug- | “but ‘= real winner has to have | hits and chasing John Scott to the| into the upper left feld stand for a| and four more the bats of Rice, Goslin and Peck, the | rammed a safety| AFTER SPRING SERIES WIN World Champions Increase Prestige By Decisively to Break Even With Great Rivals in 12-Game Exhibition Set. BY DENMAN THOMPSON. Sports Bditor, The Star. silenced all criticism in Spring exhibitions with the Giants victories apiece through the 11-to-5 welfth and final contest here yester day, the Nationals today are busy putting on the final touches for the n League championship champaign es in uniform at 1 o'clock and put t lasted for two hours at the Yankee a capacity throng is expected to wit- ness the season’s inaugural, despite the fact that Babe Ruth, biggest gun New York roster, probably will be | capable reserves and I think we will | demonstrate we are adequately forti- | fled in that respect. We may win more y with him, but I think we win without him.” It was a crushing and thoroughly | convincing defeat that the Griffs meted out to the Giants yesterday in a contest marked by much wrangling between the Champs and Umpira | Walker, resulting in the enforced !idleness of both Harris and Ruether | Where the vouthful Harry Kelly and the veteran Stanislaus Coveleskis | held the Giants to eight bingles, mora than double that number bounced off | Washington bats, with three of the | regular hurlers of the Giants—Scott [Bentley ~ and Ryan—getting the | roughest treatment GFIffw Prestige Increased. Instead of having their prestige as world champions impaired by defeat at the hands of their rivals in the | 1924 Fall classic, as was dolefully predicted in some quarjgrs, the Na- | tionals enhanced their reputation as a ball club, even though they got no | better than an even break in the dozen contests. The earllest of the | games held in Florida, where the | Giants made their best showing, were staged before either team was ready to play base ball and when anything might happen. In the last week, on the eve of the opening of the races, when both clubs had attained form more truly indicative of their real strength, the Griffmen won 5 of the last 6 games played. Nationals Crush New Yorkers With Heavy Artillery Attack | bear _down on Terry to get out of the hole. Covey's unsteadiness got him into a jam in the following frame, when, after walking Wilson and getting | the ultimate count on Jackson, he grooved a ball that Travis lined into the upper left field stand for a homer, scoring Wilson ahead of him. | Despite two additional passes, Covey got through the ninth un- scathed, which Is considerably more | than can said of Bill Ryan, the fth of McGraw’s pitchers to appear. { Virgil Barnes was effective during the sixth and seventh rounds and | Kent Greenfield breezed through the hth, but Rosy Bill was heartily spanked in the final frame when suc- singles by Goslin, Judge, Peck and Ruel netted three boost the Nationals' to runs to 11 to D. C. SOCCERISTS BEATEN. Germania soccerists of New York yesterday defeated the German-Amer- ican Soccer Club of Washington, 4 to 3, on the local team's field. Gaffney, Heller and Bleir contributed the Washington eleven's goals. At Waterbury, Con Boston (A) : 9 Waterbury (E e e e Ruffing. Jami . Stokes and Smith: Fuller, Louchstone, Carrigan and e Carthy. | At Indianapolis— | chicago” (4) .- | Indianapolls (AR) i Elankenship and Crouse, Grabawski: T son, Fitzsimmons, Henry and Robertson. AE gtagy L homp. At Lonisville— | Detrort () 8 . | Lowisvine” (& Soailiia eh e | Dauss. Wells and Bassler, Woodall; Holley, | Koob anda Meyer. R BB 813 0 At Bridgeport, C Toronto (I) - Bridgeport (E) Satterfield and Williams; and Wilson, Tats, BOWIE RACES 11 Days April 1 to April 13 Special trains leave Whits House Station at 12:30, 12:45, 1:00, 1:15, and 1:30 pm Admission Government Tax. . R H S T e'5 1 Caftery E. Wole, First Race 2:30 p.m. ,___.. Open Daily Until 6 F. M. Correct Clothes at Attractive Prices Established 1885 SUIT or TOPCOAT Made for You Pad Can’t Be Duplicated Under $35.00 Big business demands big atock& See our wonderful display of woolens and you' will have no trouble selecting your suit. Every suit designed and tailored by our own ewperts. Mertz-made Suit Is Guaranteed. Every Royal Blue Serge Suit—Made for You—3$25 Mertz & Mertz Ca., Inc. Tailor s 906 F St