The Washington herald., 1911-12-08
BY WILLIAM PEET.

At I o'clock yesterday afternoon Man
aver Griffith, Of the Washington baseball
club. breezed into his new office. base
hall headquarters,' in the Southern Build
ing. and formally took. possession.
lie was greeted by dozen persons
Including typewriter agents, StenoG-
raphers. and others. Looking around in
4 dazed soft OF way, the manager
spotted an old friend. who was busily
engaged in one corner OF the room tus-
sling with a Dig rug.
I've fixed everything all right. Grih.
A man was here to see about supply
OF towels. and ] told him to 60 ahead
and bring You one towel uaE' We
engaged a stenographer. She's a peach,
too! If you will give me hand here. we
will spread this rug, and then you can go
TO work.
Grif gasped, tried to look mad. and
tIcn smiled. Holding out his hand, he
exclaimed:
We'll. If it :smt my old friend. Tip
ONeiI. from the wild and woolly West,
Much Obliged for fixing up my office:
see have nothing moro to worry about
until the ball season opens
Tho Washington club headquarters arc
in rooms jO4 and JOJ. the Southern Build
ing. Fifteenth and IL streets. and Tip
O'Neil. the hustling president Of tn"
western League. VINO Is III Illc NsAl'll'Ni vi
a visit TO his brother. was the first caller.
1t did not take long for Grlff and O'Ncil
10 dig into baseball. and for two solid
hours a furious tanning bee was in
progress.
In talking with President O'Neil the
writer took occasion to inquire about
Gagnier. the infielder obtained by the
Nationals from Lincoln. Nebr. O'Neil said:
''Gagnier has been in the Western
s1Fn- n i'm
one " tho best shOrtstop& in tn" circuit.
He has - Y Vund,rfuI arm and two wears
ago had moro chances than any short
fielder in the Western League 'Iagnier
has always led our shOrtstops in heldinE'
and IS a pretty fair hitter.
Asked Il he thought Gagnicr could b"
used at third hase ONeil replied: Il
see no reason why not. He is a wonder
on ground halls, can throw from any
position and certainly should make good
1T third if given a fair trial
U'NciI in mis- breezy Western style,
talked entertainingly Of his league. which
comprises the cities OF Denver. SIOUX
CITY. Lincoln. Wichita. Omaha. Des
Moines. St. Joseph. and Topeka. He said
the league had just rounded out one of
the best seasons since its inception. ana
the majority Jf the cities made money.
How about Bob Unglau6 the former
Washington player, who managed the
Lincoln club. What sort Of leader did
he make O'NeiI was asked.
Il refuse TO d, interviewed. he replied.
with a smile L will add this. however.
Unglaub has not been signed up for next
year" Further tl'um this ONeil would
not talk whicn would indicate that Sir
Robert did not make such hoWiinE
success as manager.
O'N"H is mighty sweet on Germany
Scnaefer. II wish could get him frr
my IeaG:Ic.'' hC said. Il consider s. hac-
fer one of the braini"st ball players in
the Cuuutry W.. could use him out West.
and II Grifr ever decides to part with the
comedian | sincerely hope "" set first
chance on Schaefer's services.
Says the $, Louis Republic baseball
writer: Tho ancient and foSsilized idea
that every major league recruit needs
at least one years work in fast company
before becoming thoroughly seasoned was
given an awful jolt by two National
League twirIers this year The official
averages prove that no young twirler in
the business pitched better ball than
Grover Cleveland Alexander. of the Phil
lies q first-year man. and few young
curve artists ever made a more auSpi-
cious debut in swell baseball society than
our. own Bill Steele Of tho Cardinals
The PhillicS captured Alexander in the
draft dragnet for tho insignificant sum Of
$3.50, while the Cardinals paid $500 for
Steele's release. Alexander is a product
Of the New York State League. Steele
twirled for Altoona in 1910 Steele won
eighteen and lost nineteen games for the
Cardinals IN forty-three trials on the slab.
Alexander won twenty-eight and lost
In 0rtN-piuhr Alexander
won more games than any other pitcher
in the National League. His great rival,
Mathewson, of New York, won twenty
six, Marquard won twenty-fOur. Harmon
won twenty-three and Rucker won twen-
ty-two.
Another sensational yOungster uncov-
cred in 1911 is Chalmers, of the Phi!lies.
This boy established brilliant record
for first-year pitcher in the big ring,
winning thirteen and losing ten games
in thirty-eight attempts He worked in
eleven complete games. Doom used him
to help out Alexander and Moore.
\ series Of elimination bouts between
the numerous hopeless white hopes and
the foremost COlored heavyweights will
in all probability be the outcome of the
reiterated statement by Champion Jack
johnson that he is through with the ring
for all time and doesn't care rap who
assumes the championship titIe OF the
big fellows.
Evidently johnson is serious in hls eX-
DFesSed determination 10 retire from the
Fing. When announcement to this effect
WGs first made II was generally taken
to mean that the cOlOTed champion was in
sore need of money and was using the
retirement gag 10 solicit engagements.
But according TO late reports the con-
queror of Jeffries is not nearly as bad off
financially as has been thought and he
will not again engage in ;he manly art
for a livelihood.
In speaking o; Topsy HatseTs release
20 the Toledo club Of the American Asso-
cIat'on, the Philadelphia Ledger says:
The release of Hartsel was no surprise
for 'Topsy'' has been doing very little
work except coaching OH the side lines