Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-29
BY J. ED GRILLO.

By striking out ten of the White Sox
yesterday Walter Johnson established
new strike-out record-it will take the
official count to decide whether he has
famed 307 or 3OS to date-but this is not
the only pitching record johnson has
established He holds one other, which.
perhaps, Will never be equaled In a major
league, that of shutting a team out with
out a run three consecutive games.
This Johnson accomplished in the fall
of 1908 in New York, when he pitched
Friday, Saturday and Monday against
the Highlanders and did not allow them
q run. He would have pitched the Sec
ond game of the double-header Monday
had it not been for the fact that he was
hit on the arm by a pitched ball In the
first game, which incapacitated him Tor
the time being.
The feat was a most remarkable one,
and will probably stand unequaled for all
time to come, because it is not every
pitcher who can display the stamina to
work three games in row. and what Is
more, with pitchers arms most valuable,
there are but few pitchers who wouid
make such an attempt.
Johnson has been sensation ever
since he broke into the American League,
but there are reasons for believing tnat
he is just now rounding into his very best
form. He has pitched much better
ball this season than ever BEFORE ana %
the season prog resses his work seems to
be improving He should be the sensa-
ton of the next season il he continues TO
improve Not that Johnson has more
speed or better curves now than oeioie'
but he has experience and knows more
about working a batsman. Heretofore ne
has had to rely entirely on his natural
ability to battle opposing batsmen, whiie
today he resorts to strategy as much as
any other pitcher.
That outfield on the local team appears
to be just as much OF an uncertainty NV n"
as it has been all season. Ralston, VINO
was believed to be the pick or the out
field material the local club secured. mas
not made good with the stick. Inc AKRON
giant has failed absolutely to keep up inc
pace he set in the y. and Z. League, anu
so has failed to add the expected strength
to the Nationals. He may, of course
only be suffering from temporary slump
such as many players encounter. but on
his performance to date tneTe Is ~
rea son for enthusing over his acquisition.
Ralston will have to make decided prace
before he can take the place or any o!
the regular outfieiders. and McAleer Wiil
have to have a stronger outfeld ne
expects to cut bigger figure In the next
race than he has in the present one.
The outfield. barring Milan. of course
has been lamentably weak all season TOT
the reason that it did not deliver the
number of base hits to be expected from
this quarter, and until it is decidedly i'm
proved the team cannot be counted as
having a chance in the first division.
OF course. McAleer still has Corbin. Con-
way and Swain to try out in his outfield,
nd hAo
thought to be in Ralston's class does not
mean that they are not his equal. for 1t
often happens that the player who is not
expected to make good proves star
1t was SO when Chicago bought Jack
Hardy and had Johnny Evers thrown in
for good measure. and the great Lajoie
came into the big league as virtually a
gift from the Fail River club, which sold
Phil Geier to Philadelphia some years
ago.
But McAleer needs an outfielder or two
badly and 1t Is to be hoped that the
ma terial he will try out in the spring
will get better start than has Ralston.
If the American League clubs should
waive on Herman Schaefer some minor
league club Is going to get hold OF a most
valua BILE man.
In this connection 1t might be said that
it is most likely that Schaefer will go
to Minneapolis next season. Joe Cantillon
has expressed a desire FOR Germany, to
whom he is willing to turn over the man
agement of the Minneapolis team. No
deal has been made as yet involving
Schaefer, and there are several clubs in
the American League that will not be
acting wisely if they waive on him when
Washington gets ready to let him pass
down. Schaefer has a lot of base ball
left in him. His performance at Chicago
when he made four clean base
hits in as many trips to the plate proves
this. While there may be some question as
to the amount of strength Schaefer would
add to a major league team, there is no
doubt that he would be star in q class
A minor league organization.
Walter Johnson is sure to pitch two
more games Of the remaining eight,
and IL he does and continues in his
present form he is sure to strike out
1t least fifteen more batsmen, which
would bring his total up to nearly 325
There is not much chance Of any
pitcher now in the game eaualing that
record, under present conditions
Figures vary regarding Johnson's
record George Moreland. the base ball
statistician, gives him credit for 30S.
while others have it that he struck out
BOZ The official averages alone will
decide just how many men Johnson has
struck out. though there is no question
Of his holding the record.
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