Evening Star Newspaper, April 14, 1925, Page 30

30 SP ORTS. CHAMPIONS WELL PRIMED FOR GRUELI Starting Se: NG CAMPAIGN son in New York Today Against Yanks, Formidable Foemen, Confident of Ability to T Retain Laure BY DENMAN hey Now Possess. THOMPSON. Sports Editor, The Star. EW YORK, April 14—They're N ing, the Nationals today start pennant won in 1924, the firs ton team in all the years it has been While the Griffs were clashing stadium here the six other teams of for contests inaugurating the twenty eight constituent clubs of the rival vear of the National Leaguc's exist of the country Unless all signs are misleading. day should prove one of the most sional base ball, and of all the 16 clut off. After cight long weeks of train- ed in defense of the American League t ever to be attained by a Washing- represented in the majors. with the Yankees at their capacious | the American League were scheduled -sixth season of the circuit, with the wheel prying the lid off the fifticth ence in various metropolitan centers the prosperous in the history of profes- s involved none will attract more at- tention than that which makes the Nation's Capital its home. Consigned in the pre-season dope to a berth in the second division, the Nationals last year, under the dy namic leadership of Stanley Harris, vouthful second baseman of only four vears' experience in the big show, provided the most stunning surprise the game had witnessed since a dec- ade before, when the Boston Braves flashed meteorllke across the dia mond firmament. Achieving the load late in June, W 1gton’s comlire tion of kids and veterans confounted the experts, who termed their spurt merely a flash in the pan. and al though ousted from the top, clung tenaclously to the heels of the leaders and with an unexcelled exhibition of gameness battled their way back to the crest and then climaxed their victory by defeating the Giants in the most sensational world series ever staged Nationals Are Confident. the acquisition of a trio of experienced pitchers and capable reserves for both inner and outer defenses, the Nationals are con- fident of their ability to retain the honors they now hold Most of Harris' players regard their opponents of today as the club most to be feared, and in this belief a ma- jority of observers conmeur, Detroit generally being rated as the third of the trio of surefire flag contenders, but the Yankees apparently are no better fortified than they were a year ago, while there is little doubt that the Griffs have been immeasurably bolstered, their more enthusiastic ad- mirers estimating the margin of im- provement as high as 25 per cent. The Yankees' hurling staff, their most important sector, not one whit stronger than in notwithstanding the acquisition Shocker. Fine pitcher though he Shocker last year was able to win only one more game than the 15 vic- tories accredited to a brother spit. ballist, Stan Coveleskie, now a Griff- man, and in landing Shocker the Gothamites had to give up Bush and Gaston. The latter Strensthened by shapes up as 1924, lof established quite a reputation a relief pitcher, due largely to his fine control, and Walter Beall, the Washington boy taken on by the Yan on's shoes, is notably t et so Sam Jones essential to rescue roles. is expected to make a better showing ing than in 1924, when he was able to account for only eight wins. But others on the staff accounted regulars, especiallv Bob Shawkey, are likely 1o fall below their marks of last year. Earl Combs unquestionably is the most valuable addition to the Hug- men, the American Association gradu- ate who was shelved by a broken leg atter a brilliant start last season being regarded as one of the coming stars of the game. But his su periority over Whitey Witt, whom he displaces in center field, can hardly more than balance depreciation in other cogs of the machine, particu- larly at shortstop, where Kverett Scott, the “iron man,” is showing unmistakable evidences of accumu- lated rust. He may not play today. Ruth Yankee’s Problem. Equal in importance to the Yankee's pitching is the problem presented by Babe Ruth, whose frequently recurring illnesses and accldents suggest that this year he may not prove the tower of strength he has been for so many seasons. The Babe has been showing up with more fat around his waistline each succeeding Spring, and the fact that he is subject to aflments of various sorts makes exceedingly questionable the caliber of service he will be able to deliver in the campaign just starting. If Ruth is reduced, through dis abilitie om a league-leading hitter to a swatter of only ordinary class, the Yankees will suffer from' a psychological aspect alone a blow that will prove fatal to their pennant chances: Tt undoubtedly ;would prove a_good investment for the Yankees if Presi dent Ruppert would consent to pay the salary of a bodyguard for Ruth, some one constituted with authority to su- pervise his activities off the fleld Much of Ruth's troubles are attributed 10 failure good judgment in euch matters as sitting for hours in a card game with an electric fan playing his unprotected epidermis and ashing down a trayful of hot dog sandwiche with a half-dozen bottle: of pop as a light lunch between seri- ous mea In the ordinary details of personal deportment Ruth has persistently shown an utter lack of appreciation for the accepted standards on con- duct and if he hadn’t been blessed with a constitution of iron and the stomach of an ostrich he would have frivoled his health away long a iffs Fine Fettle, The Nationals trotted out for the curtain raiser today generally better conditioned than anv team Washing- ton ever had during the Griffith regime. Bucky Harris has a stiff neck. Johnson's back is bit lame and a few of the veterans are a trifle shy of top form, but, speaking by and large, the players are in great shape physically and expect to make 8 flving start If they falter at the outset for some unforseen reason they will not be dis- couraged, however. They are thor- oughbreds and, as in the stake race ©f 1924, they can come from behind. EXCHANGE GRID IDEA. Fielding Yost, Michigan mentor, ar- rived Princeton yesterday, and to- day Coach Roper of Princeton will in- terchange ideas with the Western ‘wizard as they review the Tiger squad of 40 athletes in practice. BRAZILIANS WIN GAMES. ZURICH, Switzerland, April 14— The soccer foot ball team from Sao Paulo, Brazil, defeated a strong Zurich eleven, 1 to 0. A Vaneouver, British have a new swim will cost §200,000. ng pool whicli WHERE THEY PLAY AMERICAN LE Washington at New Chicago at Detr Cleveland at St. Louis. Boston at Philadelphia NATIONAL LEAGUE. York at Boston, Chicago, t Brooklyn t Cincinnati York New Pittsburgh at Philadelphia St. Louis | QUICKSTEPS TAKE PAIR. Virginia Quickstep nine, unlimited colored champion of Arlington Coun ty base ball ranks, tories in both halves header season opener. A team made up of Buffalo Teddy Bears and Po tomac Giants was defeated, 20 to 6 and the Fort Myer nine trounced, 15 to 6 scored easy vic of its double EW YORK, April 14—A shade N prepare to face the Nationals games, owing to a pulled muscle in 1 Snapping of Scott’s remarkable string of straight games today would mean the first break in a record series which started in a June 20, 1916, when he was with tkre Boston Red Sox. He played his 1,000th consecutive game May 2, 1923, at Washington, when he W pre- sented a gold medal by the American League. On two previous ‘occasions Scott has been in danger of having his string broken. While with Boston several years ago he was ordered to remain out 4 game because of n boil on his ncck, bu t ined that day and the team did not play. 1922 he missed a train after stopping off at his home town in Indiana. The game got under way without Scott, but | the field in time to play a few in- nings, after traveling 40 miles by trolley cars and taxicabs. Call on Pitching Aces. Greater New York's major league teams called upon their pitching aces to_bring them victories. Manager Miller Huggins announced his intention to pitch Urban Shocker, the former St. Louis moundsman, against the world champion Wash- ington club, while Brooklyn’s choice for the slab in the Dodgers’ opener against the Philadelphia Nationals was “Dazzy” Vance. Manager Fletcher favored Jimmy Ring to pitch for the Phillies, with Henline behind the plate. De Ber will receive from Vance. Steve O'Neill, the former Cleveland and Boston veteran, was scheduled to handie Shocker’s curves behind the plate. There was a possibility that a last-minute switch in Huggins' plan might find Sam Jones in the box for the Yankees, in which event Wally Schang would do the receiving. There was no chance of Walter Johnson getting the twirling assign- ment for the Nationals, Manager Harris announced. The Yankees planned to welcome 50,000 fans with music by three bands, and arrangements were made for the first ball to be thrown out by Rear Admiral Charles R. Plunkett, com- mandant of the Brooklyn navy vard. The usual flag-raising and parade of players will precede both game: hich are scheduled to start at 3:30 o'clock. 3 Ban at Detroit Game. DETROIT, Mich., April 4—A ca- nacity crowd that is expected to num- ber about 35,000 persons was in prospect for the opening game of the American League season today, with Detroit meeting Chicago. All reserved seats have been sold for several days, and bleacher fans were in line early Warren Collins was Manager Cobb's pitching choice, with Johnny Bassler catching. Bddie Collins, making his debut as |a manager after 18 vears as a big |league player, has not announced his | battery, but Faber and Crouz are re- garded as likely selections. Byron Bancroft Johnson, president of the American League, was to wit- ness today's game. $150,000 Battery May Work. PHILADELPHIA, April 14.—Connie Mack planned today to send the Athletics’ new $150,000 battery, Groves and Cochrane, against the Boston Red Sox in the opening game here of the American League base ball season. James Poole, another newcomer, will be on first base for the Athletics in place of Joe Hauser, who is out of the game with a broken knee-cap. Manager Fohl had not definitely de- cided on his battery selection early today, but said he probably would use Ferguson on the mound and Plcinich behind the bat. Extensive alterations have been made at Shibe Park, increasing its seating capacity by several thousand. Fair weather was promised and a ca- pacity crowd expected. Bush to Hurl for Browns. ST. LOUIS, April 14.—For the open- ing game of the American League ason here today, Manager George Sisler of the Browns lined up a team to oppose the Cleveland Indians simi- lar to the one that he used through- out the spring series, with “Bullet” Joe Bush picked as the starting pitch- er. It was probable that he would work against Sherrod Smith. In the absence of Bill Jacobson, Sisler has alternated Herschel Ben- | campaign getting under way to- contest on | In| connection | he finally reached | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, APRIL 14, A. A. TEAMS IN GOOD SHAPE FOR OPENERS CHICAGO, April for record-breaking the opening today of the American Association pennant race at Louis- ville, Indianapolis, Toledo and Colum bus were made. With the exception of the Kansas City Blues, meeting the Indians in Indianapolis under handicaps caused by injuries, all the teams of the cir cuit came through the training sea son in fine shape. Their strongest line-ups were groomed for the openers. St. Paul, last season’s pennant win- ners, faced the Columbus Senators, freshly arrived from Nashville, Tenn., 14.—Preparations attendances at at Columbus. The Minneapolis Mill- ers took on the Toledo Mudhens in Toledo. Louisville is the only place where threatening weather seemed likely to disappoint fans, but club officials said the Louisville-Milwaukee game would be played if at all possible ST - |BILLY EVANS SURPRISED AT NOT BEING ASSIGNED CLEVELAND, Ohio, April 14. Billy Evans, who except for Tomn: Connolly, is the dean of American League umpires, missed officiating at an opening game today for the first time since joining its staff about 20 years ago. Fivans was at his home here await- ing an assignment He declared President B. B. John |son has had his signed contract a | week and expressed surprise that he had not received an assignment. McINNIS IS RELEASED. BOSTON, April 14.—“Stuffy” Mc. Innis, first baseman of the Boston Braves, who refused to go south with the club on account of a salary cut, has been untonditionally released VETERAN PLAYER DIES. RICHMOND, . April 14—John L. Bishop, a well known professional base ball pitcher, who went up from the Virginia League to Detroit and then to Pittsburgh died suddenly while on an auto trip to Hampton. 'SCOTT, AS WELL AS RUTH, MAY HAVE TO IDLE TODAY of gloom tingles the joy of opening day at Yankee Stadium today as the cohorts of Miller Huggins without the home-run threat of Babe Ruth and the backbone of their infield defense, Everett Scott There was little hope in the New York camp that the veteran short- stop would be able to take the position he had filled in 1.291 consecutive his groin. nett and Joe Evans in centerfield, which is possibly the Brownie weak spot. Despite this, the team was op- timistic. | Manager Tris Speaker was uncer. | tain of his line-up, mainly because of the number of players on the injured list. His only sure starters, he said, were himself at center, Charley Jamieson at left and Joe Sewell at shortstop. Like the Browns, however, the Indian morale was superb. An attendance that would tax to its utmost the 18,500 seating capacity of Sportsman’s Park was expected. Alexander Due to Pitch. CHICAGO, April 14.—Fair weather today brought predictions of an at- tendance of 32,000 fans at the season'’s opener between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates, with the veteran Grover Cleveland _Alexander, right- hander, opposing Emil Yde, lefthand ed youth. The raising of a flag, commemorat- ing the fiftieth anniversary of the National League was the only cere- Il)lfivl)‘ on the program. The game is the major league debut of George McAuley, Los Angeles vet- eran, plugging up the hole at short left by the injury to “Rabbit” Maran ville. " Denver Grigsby, who has a broken collarbone, also was missing. | The opener also brings Niehaus and eorge Grantham, sent to the Pirates in the trade that brought Maranville to the Cubs, in action against their former teammate: Braves Arouse Hopes. BOSTON, Mass., April 14.—*“Cloudy, with showers late in the afterncon” was the best that the weather man late last night would promise New England fans for the opener today between the Braves and the Giants. The Braves, crowned city cham- pions by virtue of a solitary pre- season win over the Red , 43, already have aroused enthusiasm among the local followers of the game. Gov. Fuller, Lieut. Gov. Allen, Mayor Curley and President J. A. Heydler of the National League are among the dignitaries scheduled to attend. Jess Barnes will pitch for D The meeting is not closed to di- rectors of the organization, and:Act- ing President O'Malley announces that members and managers of sandlot teams are especially invited to attend. Eastern Athletic Association Grays, who defeated the National Circle Club, 15 to 4, are hot on the trail of other unlimited clubs of the city. For games -all Lincoln 3810-W tomorrow between , 0 and 6:30. 5 Knickerbocker base ballers are prac- ticing at Georgetown Hollow this afternoon for their game with the Ten- leytown Athletic Club next Sunday. Phil Sykes hurled the Yankee Juniors to an $-to-7 victory over the Mount Vernon Juniors in a 16-inning contest. The Yankee pitcher fanned 15" batters. A. Enslin at Woodside 98-M is book- ing unlimited teams for games with the Woodside nine. Alexandria_Cardinals expect to en- tertain the Eastern Athletic Associa- tion nine next Sunday. Games with the Seneca Athletic Club unlimited nine may be arranged through Manager Brown at North 7828-J. Joe Healy is booking games for the Renrocs at Lincoln 2554. Stanley Midgets made their wins six straight by defeating the Corinthians, 10 to 6. - FEDERATION WILL PLAN FOR CAMPAIGN TONIGHT [RECTORS of the Washington Ba the Washington chapter of the National Base Ball Federation, are meeting tonight at. the Typographical Temple, 423 G street, to put the finishing touches on plans for the base ball season and to discuss the annual field day and track meet that will be held this year on May 9. Terminal Insects are requesting in sect base ball plavers in the J west section to rep ON THE AIR TODAY. PHILS BEAT MACKS 5 OUT OF 7 GAMES PHILADELPHIA, April 14.—The Philadelphia Nationals vesterday won the final game of the city champion ship series from the Athletics, 8 to 3 getting to Willis, a Mack rookie twirler, for seven runs in the first inning. The final count stood 5 to in favor of the Phillies. Score: R H E Philadelphia (A.) 378 Philadelphia (N} s 31 Batteries—Willis. Andrews. Meeker Cochrane, Perkins: __Oeschger, Mitc Knight and Henline. Wendell At West Point— New York 7 10 Army = o 7 Batteries—Baldwin. Tunney and Hart- ley: Menter, Roosma. Bliss and Soule, Hei- ser. . At Winst, Ashesille | &' 75 3 Winston' Salem 26 2 Batteri and Mealey: Ferrell, L: d Chisholm,” Simms. At Norfolk. Va.— Raleigh (P} 4" 82 Norfolk (Va.) ot Batteries—Ross. 0'Quinn_ and Powell: Johnson, Capps and Funk, Hipple. At Greensboro, N. C.— Wilson (Va.) piag. 2 Greensboro (P.) L T Batteries—H. Cohb. Sale and Brandon Sherill, Crews and Dayton. At Durham, N. C— Duke Univereity . 3 10 1] Durham (P.) -9 8 Batteries—Thomas, Dempster and John- gon: Masters n_and Hayworth, the Braves and Art Nehf will the Giants. it is expected that take the mound for Red Fans Enthusiastic. CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 14.—Cin- cinnati, always an enthusfastic open- ing .day city, was prepared to sur- pass all former records in ushering in the new base ball season at Redland Field, where the St. Louis Cardinals and Reds clash in the first champlon- ship round this afternoon. Allan Sothoron and Pete Dorohue were the choices of their respective managers to do the hurling. Manager Hendricks issued a state- ment in which he lauded the spirit of harmony and confidenme prevalent among the members of his club, “which is going to mean a great deal to us, whether we get off to a flying start or not.” Unsettled weather, forecast for the day, was the only source of worry among the fans. With clear skies prevailing, it was predicted, the at- tendance would exceed the 30,000 mark. Ball and Athletic Association, Sacks, at 1225 Tenth street, for a try- out on Wednesday afternoon. Northern Insects, who were de- feated, 5 to 4, by the Yorks, are book- ing games at Adams 762, V. Marino has been named manager of the Smithfield Insects, and G. Casper has been chosen captain. For games call T. Dale, Franklin 6519-J. Manager Lou Baker of the Pow- hatan midget team is booking games at Lincoln 567S. Moose Midgets chalked up a 15- to-10 victory at the expense of the Owls. Froman pitched a steady game for the Lehigh Insects, when the Reser- voir Insects were defeated, 12 to 7. . GONZAGA HIGH WvINs. Alexandria High batters managed to chalk up but folr hits against Colli- flower, Gonzaga High hurler, when the I Streeters turned in an §-to-4 vic: tory at the Monument Grounds. TheBetter Blade at Smaller Cost a new circuit—the National League. Morgan G. Bulkley of Hartford was |named president and Nicholas E. | Young of Washington secretary- Griffs Baltling for Second Pennant : Champs Must Speed o HERE IS THE ONLY NO-HIT OPENING GAME IN HISTORY W ty-sixth. operation, while the younger league century. The world’s first professional base ball league started in 1871, and s known as the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. Nine clubs competed in the first pennant race, finishing .in this order: Athletics of Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Mutuals of New York, Olym- gton, Haymakers of Troy, ) orest City team of Rockford, 11l pics of Washi Ind., and the This first association along for five years, some clubs drop- ping out and others replacing thern In 1875 13 teams competed in the pen- nant race. Managed by the players themselves, the association was mnot | well managed, and more than once it | threatened to collapse. In the Win- | ter of 1875-6 representatives of eight clubs (Boston, Hartford, Mutuals, Athletics, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louis- ville and Chicago) met in New York and, declaring a new deal, organized taggered treasurer. Players no longer had any volce in the management of the game, nor have they been allowed any voice at any time since At various times since 1876 the Na- tional League has had to engage in bitter fights with antagonistic leagues over plavers' services and salarles, territorial rights and base ball con- trol, but with the single exception of the American League, every com- petitive organization that sprung up was outclassed by the older league, which, now in its fiftieth year, is healthier than ever before in its career. The first National League pennant campaign was staged in 1876—the vear of America’s centennial. Chicago won the pennant, the first of 11 Na- tional flags to be acquired at inter- vals for the metropolls of the West by A. G. Spalding, Capt. Anson and | Frank L. Chance. Three thousand people saw the Na- tional League's single opening game, which was played on Saturday, April 22, 1876, at Philadelphia. Boston won in the ninth, scoring twice in that round on hits off Alonzo Knight by Murnane, Schafer and Manning. This Murnane was the same Timothy who in later vears ranked as dean of base ball writers. In the last half of the ninth, with the tying run on second, Pitcher Josephs, whose real name was Joseph E. Borden, fanned Ezra Sutton and saved the day for the Bostons. The score: Boston. AB.H.O.A. _ Athletics. AB.H.0.A G.Wrightss 4 1 2 2 Forcess.... 5 1 0 4 4 Egxler 5041 Fisher.Th 313 0 Meyerie.2b) 5 18 2 Sutton,gb... 5 0 1 0 Coons.c..... 4 2 1 2 Hallif..) 4 210 Parks.1h. Houser,rf.. 4 0 3 1! Josephs, Knightp... 4 113 Totals . Totals ...411027 13 Boston. . 20100026 Athletics. 2 000300 15 Runs—G. Wright (2), 0'Rourke, Murnane, Schafer, McGinley. Fisher, Meyerle, Coons (2), Knight, 1. Errors—Leonard, Schafer, Me- Ginley (3). Parks, Josephs. Force, Eggler. Fisher, Sution (2), Coons (3), Houser, Knight (2). rned runs—Hoston, Athletics, 2. Total bases on hits—Boston, 9: Athletics, 12. First base on errors—Boxton, 6; Athlet] Left on bases—Boston, 7; Athletics, 6. Dou- ble plays—Eggler and Coons; Force, Hbuser and Fisher. Umpire—Mr. Willlam 'McLean. Time of game—2 hours and § minutes. The American League represents an eastward expansion of the Western League—an expansion begun by Pres- ident Ban Johnson in 1900 and com- pleted in the Spring of 1903, when the New York Yankees replaced the Bal- timore Orioles. On opening day, April 19, 1900, rain prevented two American League RACING —AT— Havre de Grace April 15 to 29 (inclusive) SEVEN RACES DAILY Special B. & O. train leaves Union Station 12 o'clock noon. Dining Car attached. Special Penna. R. R. train leaves Union Station 12:10 p.m., eastern standard time—direct to course. Admission — Grandstand and HEN cight umpires brush off eight big league home plates this afternoon the National League will swing into its fiftieth an- nual pennant race and the American League will open its twen- Thus the older league is about to ro@nd out its half-century of Paddock, $1.65, including Govern~ Made in Amer Fits Gillette Model Razors MARATHON RAZOR BLADE CO.. NEWARK. N.L, ment Tax. FIRST RACE AT 2:30 P.M. 1925. SPORT starts on its second quarter of a Y.; Cleveland, Fort Wayne, games, but Minneapolis beat Kansas ¥, 9 to 8, by scoring five times on Case Patton in the ninth, and Buffalo beat Detroit, 5 to 0, Doc Amole win- ning for the Bisons by pitching the only no-hit game ever played on any league's opening day. The score of that notable game in the American League follows: Detroit. AB.H.0.A Bay.1f 4001 Harley, o 30 Elberfeld s 3 Sullivan,3h. 3 MeAllister,r 0 3 Ryan,1b. Hallman, Wheeler,2b. Andrew Shaw,c Speer, Cronin,p.. Amole,p. Totals ...26 02718 Totals.. 38 727 13 Buffalo 00100130 3=S Detroit. 00060000000 Knoll (2), Flood (2), Shearon, Gett- man (2), Amole. 'Errors—Eiberfeld (3 livan, $eAllister, Ryan, Wheeler, Flood. “Earned runs—Buffalo, 2. S hits—Elberfeld, 3McAllister, Shearon. Stolen base—Gettman! Bases on’ balls—Off Cronin, 2; off Amol Wild pitch 2: by Amole, Struck Hit b Umpire. t—By Amole, 4. man—By Crontn, Mr. Frank Dwyer. 2 Time of game—1 hour and 40 minutes. COLLEGE BASE BALL. At Georgetown—Georgetown, 9; Bos- ton College, 4. At Brookland—Holy Cross, 9; Cath- olic University, 2. L Athens,” Ga—Georgia, 6; Mary- At Wake Forest—Wake Forest, 5 North Carolina State, 4. At Salisbury, N. C.—North Carolina, 8: Davidson, 3. At_Greenviile, S. C.—Notre Dame, 10; Furman, 3. At Johnson City, Tenn.—Cumber- land, 9; Milligan, 6. At Charlottesville, Va.—Virginia, 8; Syracuse, 4. At Williamsburg, Va.—Yale, 4; Wil- liam and Mary, 2. At Ashland, Va.—Johns Hopkins, 9; Randolph-Macon, 2. g At Richmond — Pennsylvania, Richmond U.. 2. PIGEONS IN TRIAL FLIGHT. Thirty racing pigeons owned by Henry C. Hile were liberated at Aldie, Va., yesterday for a trial flight in preparation for the combined pigeon race that is to be staged at Chatta- nooga, Tenn., on June 21. Owners within a radius of 500 miles of Chat- tanooga have been Invited to partici- pate. g TROUSERS To Match Your Odd Coats EISEMAN’S, 7th & F THE GUARDS g THE NEW Sw COLLARS Translates correctly’ Style in Collars . Cluezt,Peabody & Co.Inc zMahers IN CLASHES Attack Development WITH GIANTS Judge, Bluege and Harris Slaullmed Ball Well, But Other Griffmen Failed to Clout Effectively in Dozen “Little World Series’’ Game: BY JOHN B. KELLER. I N a training season unusually successful in bringing men around to good physical condition, the world champion Nationals were pointed to enter the American League pennant campaign stagting today wel fortified in every department of the game of base ball, excepting one that of batting. They have clearly demonstrated their defense is of high order. Field ing in the exhibition games during the past six weeks at times reached midseason class and there was a marked improvement in the pitching corps in the last two weeks of the Spring conditioning grind But throughout the series of training games the attack was nothing to brag about. Probably the best test of the offensive power of the Nationals was to be found in the 12-game series with the Giants most finished pitching of the pre-se at only a 263 clip does not indicate an immediate dev: attacking power. True, the world champions discov- ered in the last two games with the Giants that bats were to be used for more than the shattering of the air The accumulation of 28 safeties that pair of engagements may ha been a wholesome sign that so members of the club are about step forth and “bust” the ball most approved style. But careful comparison of the work in the second half of the Giant series with that in the first half warrants no optim istic prediction of batting prowess in the early part of the American League campaign. to in | Poorly at Start. While the Nationals were flounder ing about almost helplessly and & sorbing lickings from the Giants. in the first half-dozen games be¥ween these former world series rival socked the ball at a rate of very poor rate, even for Spring exhibition contests when the batters, s, the: not having faced much pitc can not be expected to wallop well The last six games found the Na tionals hitting for an average of Quite an improvement, but still leav ing much to be desired. Over the full route in the American League last vear, the Washington representative: batted to a mark of .294, and that was achieved only by a deal of con- sistent and sustained clubbing. It a long jump from .282 to .294. Unless the Nationals’ batting lamps are brightened quickly, this question of their attack may prove a most serious one. A study of individual batting sta tistics of the dozen games with the Giants reveals that the low offensive power of the Nationals was due the ineffectiveness of three regulars who swatted with vigor last sewson and the unusually weak stickwork of the battery mer and the reserve talent. Adams Leads Reserves. Of the reserves, Spencer Aduus was the only player to do anything worth while with the war eclub against the New York hurlers Y Leibold, Wid Matthews, Roy Carlvle, Mike McNally and Mule Shirley h: yet to swing into a real batting stride. Reserve players in the Giun series went to bat 36 v times, 1 recorded only 8 hits and Adams of them. Muddy Ruel did the-best hitiing of the catchers in the little world serie: and his average was .239, with 7 safeties in 27 times at bat. M erage for the 1924 season was Red Hargrave made 1 hit in 4 up and Benny Tate got 2 times vallops 11 trials. Not so strong. The pitet ing cdrps went to bat 35 times for 5 hits to an average of .i43, very low even for moundsmen, who are notoriously low-figure batters. Dutch Ruether was the king swut-nidita of the slabmen, getting 2 blow in ¢ trials. The three regulars who failed to shine against the Giant pitchers were Earl McNeely, Sam Rice and Goose Goslin. ~ McNeely found the going decidedly rough. In 51 times at bat in the 12 encounters, he got exactly 4 bingles. The best that could be said of Earl's clouting was that the little of it was of a healthy variet One of his blows was a double and a pair of them homer He did not connect safely until the sixth game of the series, then waited until the last two to get the remainder of his smacks to achieve a .078 mark. And he socked for .330 last season Rice Had Trouble. Rice got to the Giant moundsmen 17 average, although he for only a has been a 00 class time he has been in the League. Sam got 10 hits, 4 of them doubles and 1 a triple, in 46 times at bat. Goslin, too, had his troubles but managed to reach .298 with hits in 47 times up. All of Goos wallops were singl With this gloom stuff off our chest let us turn to the brighter side of the Nationals’ offensive. Four regu lar members of the champions’ line up in the matches with the New Yorkers excelled the clubbing marks they established last season. Manager Stanley Harris, Joe Judge, Ossie Bluege and Roger Peckinpaugh fairly outdid themselves in punishing enemy pitchers. Judge was the big noise of the se ries in a batting way with an average of .4 He collected 19 hits, includ ing 1 two-bagger, in 43 times at bat. He went along at a pace 118 points better than his sticking average for the 1924 campaign. Manager Harris, with 15 hits in 46 times up, bettered by 58 points his average of .268 made last season. Three of Harris' blows were doubles. Bucky and Joe were the Nationals' most dangerous hitters during the lit- tle world series, their wallops coming at most opportune moments and driv- ing in many runs. The most pleasing development wx hitter all the American L Al In that they faced th» ason work, and that the club batted pment of startling found in the batting of Bluege. This voung fellow, who hit for .281 last year, went along at a .370 pace in the dozen battl th the Giants. He | Bot 17 hits in 46 times at bat, 2 safe- ties being two-ba 2 triples and 1 a home run. Bluege's work with the flail was nothing remarkable ir the early games of the series, but he quickly worked himself into a batting frenzy and ran wild in the six contests. Peck got in some healthy wallops and timely ones, too. He socked the ball for a mark of .294, whereas he batted but ast year. Rajah got 10 hits, includin double _and triple, in 34 times at bat. The leg | hurt last year did not seem to mar stance in the clubbing box, not decrease his ability to step along after slamming the ball In fact, all of the Nationals showed plenty of speed, once on the runways They made 67 runs in the 12 engage ments, Goslin and Bluege toppi scorers with 10 tallies each. Ti | champions pilfered 13 bases, doing most of the stealing in the last ha of the series. McNeely and Rice stole 3 bases each, while Harris, Gos lin and Judge were credited with 2 thefts each. Peck grabbed 1 sack Must Speed Attack. Perhaps the excellent work of the quartet of regulars who did the bulk of the clubbing in the Giant series may inspire the outfield trio to more doughty deeds with the willow. May | Rice, Goslin and Mc y feel the hit ting urge soon. They undoubtedl will recover the batting eyes that have to| made them fe; by opposing pitchers | —at least, Rice and Goslin may be pected to do so—but if the Nationals | are to make their offensive effec | in the early s of the Americur | League’s 1925 race, their vision m be cleared without delay. JENNINGS SELECTS AN ALL-TIME CLUB king Al pil America foot | | teams is ail the rage, just to be differ- | ent. Hughle Jennings of the New York | Giants was asked to pick an All-America | base b ” |~ Jenni Who has been connected with major league base ball for more than 30 vears, is certainly qualified tc make the selection Always game, willing to take a | chance, knowing his choices will meet with disfavor in many quarters, Jen | nings spoke thusiy | ~“The greatest infield 1 have ever seen In action would be made up of Sisler at | first, Lajoie at second, Wagner at short | and Frisch at third “My selection of Frisch over Jimmy Collins will no doubt occasion some | surprise. D the fact that Frisch | is now play cond, T regard third | as his natural position, and him a more valuable all-around player than Jimmy Collins. “The outfield woul be made up of ler. I have se- ce to Ruth be- as a greater team and Ke ler in prefere e I regard him | player. | . “My batters would be Mathewson and P Rrenanini THars never was' o Tatics |one. Incidentally, T would be content to manage that team in any league s PINEHURST, N. C., April 14.—Yale | University’s polo team won the annua Spring tournament here by defeating Fort Bragg in the finals, 8 goals to 7 America’s Finest Rowboat Motors $37 Futs ane on Your Bo “Pay While You Play" Caille 5-Speed Twin Row Boat Motors o forward, backward or idle, just like an auto. Guaranteed without reservation JOHN J. ODENWALD Dixie Distributor for Caille Perfection Motor Co. of Detroit 1209 HN.W. Ph. 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