Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-07
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NEW YORK. September 7.-While the
game between the Highlanders and the
Washingtons might have lacked about
which would have clustered around it
had both of the clubs been fighting
for the championship. there was one
circumstance which was particularly
interesting to Groom. That was to
get even for the beating which the
Highlanders gave him the last time
that he pitched in New York, and he
certainly got even. Those big round
curves which circle the plate on both
sides, and occasionally, to the con-
sternation of batters, come through
the middle. never were going better
than they did yesterday. The High
landers found out early in the game
that they were not likely to get very
much, and after they had got that far
they lost interest to large extent
Instead of going after Groom as if they
expected to knock the ball out of the
lot they finished with little speed. They
could not get the ball out of the in
that.
Fisher was not batted unusually hard,
but when he tried to get the ball over
the plate it swung out about three
inches wide. 1T did not take the Wash
ington players long to find out that
such was the case, and they were after
1t when they figured that Fisher had
struck one of those days when he was
likely to be batted.
1t was a great game for double plays
for four innings. If the Highlanders
and the Washingtons had continued to
make double plays at the same ratio
there would have been no end to the
records which they might have made.
Washington began with one in the
first inning. Then New York pulled
Off another in the second inning.
Washington returned the compliment
in the third inning and after that the
HighlanderS made one in the third in
ming for good measure.
If two or three had been made in the
fifth and sixth innings or somewhere
around there the game would have had
double-play records which would have
made some of those old scores out in
Chicago look weary.
One Of the double plays was a queer
sort of performance Knight mixed in
an error, but in spite of the fact that
he let throw get away the ball never
Travelled back to the pitcher until after
the second player was put out of the
way. so it had to go for a real double
play.
1t was one of those Instances on the
ball field where it is possible for a
player to make mistake yet recover
the ball and make a play for his team
in spite of the fact that his first blum
der has given the other side advantage.
There was time when they would
not agree that a play under such con-
ditionS was to be considered double
play. Never could see why, except on
the ground that the man who was
scoring was unwilling to admit that
the attacking side, SO to speak, had
gained nothing.
Many base ball fans" who looked at
the game marveled at the speed which
was shown by Schaefer at first When
he first appeared in New York this
year he did not seem to have anything
like the speed which was in evidence
yesterday. AS matter of fact. most
OF the ball players who were out to
see the game as well as the base ball
fans could hardly believe their eyes
The last time that Washington played
In New York Schaefer was i'll and not
up to his usual condition. This time
not only was he not ill, but he was the
life of the Washington team, and he
had all of the players going along as
II they were as close to the champion
ship as the Athletics.
It's a pretty good thing to have a
PLAYER like that with a ball team, even
If the team isn't as high in the race as
the club which is managed by
Connie Mack. Eventually the Wash
ingtons may get as much life in their
team as some others of the American
League, and it is fair to say that if they
do they will owe part of it to little
lively 'jollying" on the part of a player
like Schaefer, as well as the encouraging
words of the manager.
Il don't say that we would win the
championship right now said Schaefer
when he was talking with some friends
in New York, but if this SeaSO hap
pened In some way to be extended about
two months more there is no telling what
might happen"
There is one little fact in connection
with the Washington club which is worth
keeping in mind. and that is that the Ma
tionalS may come to the scratch with
much stronger pitching staff in 1912 than
they seem to have this year. In other
words, with what they have now and
make many club worry hard next year.
Some of the Giants were watching the
game yesterday. and one or two of them
made bold to say that the pitchers on the
Washington club are of the type which
are getting better and that it seemed
to them as if they would pitch better ball
in the season to come than they have
pitched this year. That same opinion has
been expressed around Broadway more
than once, and 1t looks as if the New
York base ball fans have a pretty good
opinion of the Washington pitchers even