The Washington herald., 1908-07-13
One Run Defeats Suffered by
Nationals This Season.

haLSfuHn WIen
impaired. but his retrogression could not
have been foreseen by one who had not
had a long and close association with
him. Griffith has not been a successful
trader. but possesses many points that
some major league managers lack. and
his record since 1901 is much better than
that Of several OF his former rivals. 1t
would be better for his league. his club.
and himself. however. II Griffiths next
contract T. manage a club should cons
tain a clause calling for the forfeiture Of
half a months salary for his first re-
mOval from game. and OF full months
salary for the second ejectmeat. The club
owner who can curb Griffith on the fiele
Will make a frst-class manager Of him.
The Pittsburg Pirates cannot boast OF
many sluggers this season. but the team
has been batting consistently as whole
since II recovered from its recent severe
slump, and the bingles have been on the
timely order in nearly every game, The
team has but two men. in the 300 class
Of sluggers-Hans Wagner and Roy
Thomas. The latter has been hitting bet
ter since he joined the Pirates than for
many years, with the result that his
name is now emblazoned upon the
! leagues roll Of honor above the 300 hit
| ters. Wagner Is nearly always above the
/ 800 mark and II he Is not found leading
| the league when the official figures are
I given out az the close OF the season,
many Pittsburg fans will lose their guess.
! Wagner's record as a batsman has never
/ been equaled. and II is never likely 10 be
Just a few days ago The Flying Dutch
% d
hammered out since he entered fast com
pany Just think OF this record! Two
/ thousand times this wonderful exponent
of tho greatest of all sports has come TO
\ the plate and landed safely on the ball.
MOI only has he made this remarkable
number OF hits. but his record as run
I getter is also marvellous. lie has scored
more than 900 runs in the twelve years
| that he has been I'm fast company, and
there IS 10 doubt at all that he will have
passed the LOO mark before the close Of
the present campaign. He has stolen 800
bases. has taken part In more than l5OO
/ games. and has been at bat nearly bW0
times His grand batting average for the
twelve years. counting his present marx
OF .305 for tile present season, is 81
They say that Wagner is drawing a
salary Of $4,000 this season from the
Piusburg club. If that is true, can any
body have the hardlhood TO say that he
does not deserve every cent Of lt2 Barney
Drevfuss has spent thousands Of dollars
for ball players, but he never Invested
more wisely than when he obtained Wag-
ner. and he never lays out money that
brings him greater returns than when he
pays the big citizen of Carnegie his sal
airy.
A Cincinnati critic. In sizing up the
National League race. says that the
Giants chances hinge on its pitching stan
and Cap. Mike" Donlin. As regards the
pitching staff the brunt OF the work falls
to Mathewson and Wiltse ''Matty" has
pitched I'm fifteen games thus far. and
won eleven. II the peerless one will con
tinue al this pace and Wiltse will only
continue 10 pitch half as well as he die
last Saturday. then McGraw can figure
that this pair will win so per cent Of th'
| Giants remaining games.
Another big factor in the pennant rac'
Just now is Mike Donlin. At the pace
Donln is batting at present he can b'
counted on 10 punch out many victories
The other pitchers are not considered
consistent enough 20 be taken too seri
ously McGinnity, Taylor, and Crandall
! II they can win only. 80 per cent Of thei
: games. will keep the Giants near the TOT
, and I'm the thick OF the fight, provided
- OF course ''Matty' and Wiltse can con
, tinue at their present fast pace.
"Matty," Wiltse. and Donlin appea
} to be the three links necessary TO wel'
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