Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-17
GAMES WON AND
<LOST BY ONE RUN.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Washington's ball team has always had
the reputation of being able to lose more
games by single run than any of its
rivals, and yet it seems that the actual
figures have never been produced to SUBJ
stantiate this claim.
The table which appears above shows
that the Nationals have figured In TWEEN
ty-nine games this season which have
been decided by the margin of one run.
Of this number the Nationals have lost
eighteen and won eleven, losing more
by one run than any of the other teams.
Philadelphia, the leader In the race.
and New York, which is second, have
than any of their rivals, which New
York has won more games by one run
than any other team.
There is no doubt that nothing shows
the effect of luck more in base ball than
these close games. There are SO many
ways that a single run can be scored
that it is usually safe to figure that
when a team goes through nine or more
innings and loses for the want OF a sin
gle run it has not had its share of the
breaks.
Washington and Boston have figured in
! an equal plumber of gamesthat have been
decided by the smallest margin. while
Detroit has taken part in the smallest
number of these games.
II pays for a ball club to treat it's play
ers with consideration. especially those
that it finds necessary to let out. Under
existing conditions the club which has
the most friends in base ball is going to
be most benefited.
The local club has been most consider
ate in it's dealings with its players.
whether they continued as members of
the team or were let out Nothing but
kindly words for the management has
ever been heard. and in due course of
time the club will reap the benefit of this
treatment.
In fact, it is already enjoying the fruits
of the consideration 1t has shown Its
players.
Blankenship for instance, has been in
communication with the Washington
club for several weeks with reference to
Outfielder Swain of the Vancouver club,
an account of whose purchase by Wash
ington appears in another column of this
issue 1t means nothing to Blankenship
whether Washington or some other club
purchases Swain, but he considers him a
good ball player. and appreciating the
see a winner here.
Little is known of Swain. only that
Blankenship insists that he is one of the
best outfielders he has ever seen, and
Blankenship has had several years of ex-
perience AS is always the case when a
club is trying to build UP it's fences, it
was necessary to pay good sum for
Swain, but any price is cheap if the
player makes gOo0.
The one thing that has caused McAleer
a lot of annoyance, has been the fact
that his scouts have been unable to
find any outfielders. McAleer figures that
it is his outfield, more than any other
department, that needs Strengthening. He
wants two capable running mates for
Milan, whom he considers one Of the best
outfielders in the league. Milan is a
much better ball player than he has
shown here this season, because he has
oeen playing under severe handicap all
spring. being anything but a well man.
But McAleer's scouts could find nothing
in the way of outfielders that impressed
hem, and when Blankenship came along
with the tip that Swain was the man the
Nationals needed he was Immediately
gobbled up.
When McAleer insists that he has only
one outfielder who has the class to make
first class team of the Nationals he
is not necessarily critical. McAleer
knows an outflelder when he sees one, for
In his day he was the king OF them all.
He realizes the worth OF Lelivelt as a
hitter, but he figures that in order for
Lelivelt to be of real worth to the team
he would have to bat 800 or better, for as
| a. fielder and base runner he is not quite
up to the mark. though there is always
| a. good chance Of his improving, SO that
there is not the slightest chance Of Leli-
welt being disposed Of With Gessler 1t
| is different. Doc has not been hitting this
| year as he used to. and when Doc is not
hitting at a terrific clip he is not helping
his team much. for there is nothing else
that he excels in.
| But picking up young outfelders does
not mean that any of them will be bet
ter than those he now has, and for this