The Washington times., 1912-07-30
CLARK GRIFFITH
HAS NOVEL IDEA
FOR THE AMATEURS
Wants Cleveland Champions
to Play Five Games in
Washington.
WILL CONSULT WITH
PRESIDENT YOUNG
Nationals Manager is Willing to
Finance Visiting Team
If Necessary

By aSENAroR.n p

DETROIT, Mich, July 30.--On his re-
turn to washington Clark Griffith,
manager Of the Climbers and one of
the greatest boosters Of amateur base
ball the District of Columbia ever has
had, win take mp with the amateur
commission the subject of having the
District championship team play the
amateur champion team of Cleveland a
series Of ave games in washington for
an intercity championship.
While in Cleveland Manager driff,th
had long talk with Will r. Mckay.
former director Of sports for the city
and now head of the Cleveland Anna
teur Baseball Association, regarding
pennant winners of both cities together
in q series of games. Mckay pledged
his support of the scheme as outlined
by Griffith and 1t seems almost a cor
teur baseball will see their heroes
coupled with the best amateur team of
Cleveland fighting for the intercity
title. The series will be PLAYED at the
Florida avenue park.
Il believe IN keeping interest IN anna
teur baseball alive ali the time," says
Griffith. Where are we going to get
our future big leaguers unless we fos-
ter the sport on the sand lots. Already
1t Is becoming harder and harder to find
standards of the big leagues. This
series between Washington and Cleve-
land amateur teams would be the best
thing Imaginable for baseball generally.
Guarantee Expenses.
In order to get the series for WASH
ingtoh I stand ready to guarantee the
expenses of the Cleveland teams. 1t
won't cost so much for their train fare
and hotel bills, but II the Washington
folks are timid about 1t, I'm willing to
guarantee them myself. II advertised
properly and good weather attends the
series, large crowds should be drawn
way, have faith enough in the pro-
position to act as surety for the ex-
When return to Washington shall
teur Commission there, and discuss with
him methods to be used in staging the
championship. Perhaps the Richmond
champions may be included in the series.
I shall leave that to President Young,
though. because he knows the situation
far better than 1 do"
Cleveland has a large number of
teams playing In organized Leagues.
Each season the winners meet for the
championship. and the team able to
fight it's way to the top is generally
composed of players good enough for
the fastest minor league in the country.
The caliber OF the players Is first class,
and their season Is harder by far than
that of the winners of the District
championship.
A series between WashingtonandC Cleve-
land amateur champions should bring easi-
ly 10000 fans to the ball park in Wash
ington. 1t will be handled, according to
Grihith's plans, just as any series be-
tween American League teams. The
same attendents will be present and the
same care taken of the patrons as Is
the custom during the major league
season.
Locates Eby.
Willis Eby. the young pitcher from
York, Pa. recommended to the Nation
ais by Hollander, the Georgetown in
fielder, has been located by Manager
Griffith, and ordered to report to the
Richmond club Of the Virginia League.
The Climbers boss says that the young
ster has plenty of promise, but needs
experience. He has been working in a
machine shop and his muscles are not
free enough at present. Griffith will
keep a string attached to him though,
and he may be taken south next spring
for a trial with the Nationls.
Jack Ryan, the Nationals veteran
coach, is somewhere in the wilds of
Dtxieland on the trail of a left-handed
twirler tipped off to the club by an
umpire.
Mike Kahoe is in the middle West and
may join the team next Sunday in Chi
cago to make verbal report to Griffith
concerning a few youngsters in the
bushes Of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.