Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-05
GRIFFITH HAS NO MATERIAL
HE CAN JUDICIOUSLY TRADE
Continued from First Page.)

stock within the next few days and be-
fore he takes hold here. This will make
him one of the largest stockholders in
the concern. 1t is not likely that Griff-
it'll will be the president of the club. but
all it's affairs will go through his hands.
and in fact he will be the boss concern
ing everything which involves the club
! and team The Washington club has
grown wonderfully in the last few years.
and there is something like a S6O0O0o
investment here now which requires the
undivided attention of at least one in
dfvidual the year around.
There will of course be those among
local followers of the game who will
want the old players retained until the
youngsters have shown beyond a doubt
that they can hold their own. but such
a policy is not apt to bear fruit here.
Most any kind of ball players could have
made as good an impression last year al
did Elberfeld and Conroy, and ii goes
without saying that both of these
worthless are certain not to improve with
age. A couple of youngsters In their
places might have lost a lot of ball games.
but If they had gradually improved the
team would not be better fortified than
IL has been Griffith's only salvation lies
in the trying out and developing Of young
players. Once he gets couple that
answer the purpose he will have them
for years. and knows that they are apt
to improve from year to year. which Is
quite an advantage over having lot or
seasoned material which is holding on TO
It's major league jobs by the skin OF their
teeth.
That the policy OF building up a team
with young material is sure TO bring sue
cess is shown in the case of the Giants
and Athletics. Barring few of the vet
eran pitchers. McGraw has q team OF
youngsters. and this Is almost true OF the
Athl etics Those teams will be pennant
for years to come. because
the players will be at their best for quite
a period yet. and in several instances
they vii improve. In time, of course.
these teams will go down. as have other
great aggregations before them, but with
an alert man In charge. quick TO see
leaks springing and filing them, win
ming team can be held intact for years
But the struggle comes in getting such
a team together. 1t requires lots of time.
money and work and. more than that, In
terest.
picked up just about four star ball play
ers Cantillon brought every one OF
them here. Johnson, Milan. Street and
Mcbride are the quartet. Under NC
Aleer little nothing was developed
Henry and Ainsmith, q couple OF prom
Using young catchers, were secured but
In no other way does the team seem 20
have been benefited. Most Of the young
either allowed to deteriorate on the bench
Or were found lacking and sent bacA
from where they came Grifhth starts In
with the determination TO build up a
young team. He has three years to do II
m and, like his predecessors, win not DO
by outside interference
Last season was the most successful In
Walter Johnson's career as major
league pitcher, and that. tea. after III
ness gave him poor start Barring ac-
,ident. Johnson's performance next sea-
son should be even better than IL was
asst. This prediction is built on the the
,rv that Griffith will be able to save that
mighty arm of his star pitcher bysgetting
him to use his head more often. When 1T
comes to the art of pitching heady ball
griffith has always been regarded in
class by himself and there Is no reason
Why he should not be able to impart this
to his pitchers.