The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-09-11
JOHNSON SEEMS SURE
TO EQUAL WADDELL
Bunted Third Strike Causes Confuson-Wardman Of
fers Purse for Worlds Record by Washington
Pitcher-Improvemen at Park.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

HlICnST-lllpIO
By THOMA
stung by the Athletics Tough. indeed !
Walter Johnson had eight strike-outs
yesterday in Philadelphia when the
Athletics beat him . TO . The news
paper box scores were about evenly Oh
vided this morning on the subject
whether he famed seven or eight but
the larger figure is correct The mis-
take arose through the fact that one
man went out on hunt strikes at the
same time that Beckendorf had passed
ball. johnson got credit for the strike
out even If BeckendoTf fell down on his
part OF the Job
Wonder If Ainsmith can hold Johnson ]
johnson has now Z7s strikeouts 10 mis-
credit, and has only twenty-five more
to make in the remainder Of the sea
son to equal Rube Waddell-s record OF
5GI That he VIII accomplish ms Is
almost a dead moral certainty and a
feeling has arisen among the fans that
he should receive some recognition Of
his remarkable feat. Into the breach
comes Harry Wardman. the builder and
contractor. who offers TO put up $50 as
half CT a purse 30 be gwen Johnson for
breaking the record made BY WaGdeII.
II the general public, or any particular
fan OF group OF fans VIII put I'D the
same amount The last time we re-
member the Washington fans giving a
player a present Of any consequence
Wa when they bought Tom Hughes a
handsome scarf pin several years aSo
for starting a winning streak b. his
ing ridiculous If we mistake not It was
in the days Of Jake StahTs manage
ment, and Mr. Hughes was much
obliged for the pin. Mr.. Wardman's
offer IS certainly liberal enough and it isl
more than likely thar II VIII be covered
by q select company of tie violent sort
Of fans who have spent years waiting
for Washington 10 accomplish some-I
thing in the major league besides see
ing that no other club wandered into
the cellar and contracted a severe cold
In the head because OF the dampness
there.
Hooray! Another victory for the
States Bob Chanler has won the
heavyweight sucker championship of
the world
Beckendorf's work in the past week
has de1eriOated at a rate which is sur
pTising and grievOus. His great recon-
mendatiOn has been that he could hold
Johnson's delivery, bur his two passed
balls that were costly yesterday, viii
Win him no medals or increase in wages
and before he left on the present trip
wasn't holding much Of anything Why
his catching should so suddenly become
81 mediocre after being highly satisfa Glory
Is another mystery like why is a corOn-
er-
There is nobody in sight classy enough
70 meet Chanler for his title and he
-4Eill probably hold 1t for several years
Johnson's wild pitches yesterday were
another sources. OF danger 10 the team,
oQt II IS nearly always question
whether Johnson should he charged with
wild pitch OF the catcher with q
passed ball When his speed is at its
best the ball comes over the plate 50
fast that If there s the slightest mis-
understanding between him and the
catcher. OF n does not get Il away ex-
Sctly r1sht, the catcher has hard time
stopping IL Charley Street has always
maintained that the scorers were Go
ing the backstops an injustice in charE-
ing them with dement's because they
did not knock down Johnson's wide
ones, and there may be some truth
in this. II is certain that Washington
leads the league BIZ big margin in
the matter Of passed balls. and vet
Street Is good catcher who has done
most Of the work this season and Is
not prone 10 let any ordinary delivery
escape his clutches.
Get an early start on getting yorrr
name in the newspapers by opposing,
IEe moving pictures OF Bob Chanler
winning the heavyweight champion
ship
It is an encouraging sizn Of the
progress Of the human race when we
learn tEat John 7. Brush is gradually
coming around to a point Of agreeing
to let the New York Nationals UIav a
post-seaSon series with the New York
Americans Brush has been foofshl.-
and needleSSly opposing the series for
several years apparently never hav-
ing heard that the war was over be
tween the two leagues The New
YORK fans want the series and il viii
also be Of great interest to the base
ball enthusiasts Of other cities
Chanler's title carries with IL the
belt won by John / Taylor, when Tay-
Tor traded George Stone and $500 for
Jesse BUrketJ.
The fact that the Washington ball
team would probably not build its new
plant for next year has been pub
Ishsd in The Times. and we will have
TO be shown before we take a great
deal Of stock IL the stories that any
extensive improvements viii be made
The policy OF the club in the matter
Il furnishing accommodations 10 its
.JatTOns has been beyond the COmpre-
s-ension Of the average mind That
thousands Of people have been kept
away from the park this season be
cause OF the utterly Inadequate ticket
selling and entrance facilities is Just
as certain that other thousand
have been kept GWay because OF the
conditions after they got into the
stands
The inconvenience have beer. pointed
out by individual fans and by the news.
papers over and over but there IS sci
dom a permanent Improvement, and