The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-29
CLARK GRIFFITH
HIGHLY SEASONED
Has Had Varied Experience
In His Baseball
Career

~0SSSk
Washington, Dec. 2s.-If variety be
the spice of life then the career of
Clark Griffith has been seasoned high
~. For the present manager of the
Washington team has had considerable
experience. He has won a pennant
az q manager. and he has been in
Cincinnati.
A glance into the history of the
latest Peter Grimm. who has returned
to the American league. is an inter-
esting Journey. Grit was born in Mis-.
souri,, which is perhaps the reason that
he must be shown considerably. Ne
Vada, Mo-, to be exact. is his birth
place. and Nov. FL, 1869. to be still
exact, was the date OF the event.
Griffith picked up baseball on the
lots OF his native town. which, like
many another hamlet in the alfalfa
belt. comprises a weekly newspaper,
a older mill. foreign liquor ads and
some buildings. Clark. as soon as he
raj able to handle a ball. started in
ceptive kid at that. a fact that grew
as he became older.
Small In stature, he couldn't put
much on the ball." to drop into the
vernacular. But he was foxy as n
reynard. and speedily earned the
nickname Of "old Fox"
knew where to stick that old pill. II
z batter cou!d't hit n shoulder high,
that's where he got every one of them.
II b sticker looked like q monkey
reaching for q low one the old pill
never ascended above hts knees.
Control His Asset.
That was Grtf's. asset-control. At
placing the ball Inc was a master
head even after he didn't have
But to bark back to history.
When Grit was entering his eigh-
toenth year on this mundane sphere
he got a place on the Bloomington.
I'LL, team. It was predicted with that
GASES that CLARK would stay long
enough for breakfast"
Prophets were sorry for that utter
ance later. For Grit. unlike the cat
OF Julie Mackey's famous ballad, did
come back" One year in Bloom
ington had SO COMPOUNDED the critics
that Grit moved to Milwaukee. And
for three seasons he played ball in
the city of schnapps and suds.
The following year war broke out
between the National league and the
American association. and Crit leaped
the barriers and went to the Browns
Of st. Louis. They were some Browns
In those days. the famous aggrega-
ton owned by the unique Chris Won
Der Abe and managed by Charlie Co.
miskey.
However. Grif stayed in the haml3
Of hops but half q season and then
was traded to Boston. The team in
the latter city o the pennant; no
mail factor in the Hubs success be-
ing due to the same Clark Griffith.
Goes to the Coast.
When war was over and the Ameri-
can association vas forced to capitu-
late to the older and stronger organi-
Eation. Griffith hied himself to the
Pacific coast. He pitched for various
teams in that region, and did not
make enough money to rival Rookie
Teller at that. For baseball. t o quote
. distinguished magnate. was lin it's
infancy" In the west at that time.
However; Crit managed to fan the
was with the Oakland club. 1t was
while pitching for these Californians
that Cap Arson brought his famous
White Stockings to the coast. The
pitching of Grif Immediately inter-
ested the old leader. Clark was
signed as soon as convenient.
SLk(S III SNlCdSo anu IElI became
the idol of the fans. He was the star
twirler. and was the same cool. crafty.
cautious. tempting and teasing old
fox.
War busted out again in 1901 be-
tween the National league and the
American league. and Crit again TOOK
high hurdles in u flying leap.
Charlie Comiskey had placed a team
in Chi" and he selected Grit to man.
age the aggregation. Here Griffith
Won a p%ennant.
Next year the American league
banner was won by the Athletics. and
in 1903 Griffith went to New York as
marager Of the Hishlanders. Here he
remained with Indifferent success.
losing the pennant by a game in 1904
and sinking down to sixth place by
1908, when he was released as direc-
tor.
And Now Cincinnati.
He went 20 Cincinnati. and stayed
In Redland until the close of this sea.
son when Grit voluntarily gave up his
position to become part owner and
manager Of the Washington team.
OF his experience in Cincinnati
nothing more comprehensive can he
written than Cirif's own words: ut
makes no difference which part of
the city l am in." he told a friend,
all I need to do is to hear two men
by me talking. l can always
he sure to see one of them point to
and say: There goes the blank. |
ETY.. blankety blank blank now" |