The Washington times., 1912-09-18
GRIFF WANTS ONE
MORE .300HITTER
Had Moeller and Shanks Kept Up Style of Suggng Dis
played in Early Part of Season, Nationals May
Have Been Leading Now.
BY SENATOR"

ST. LOUIS. Sept. 1S.-"Give me one
more 800 hitter said Grf to
the writer. "and I'll dispute the
pennant with any team in the
American League in 1913. Indeed, II
Danny Moeller or Howard Shanks
had continued to hit the ball all sea-
son, we might nave been there today.
However, the work OF my team
has been surprising more to me than
to anybody else. I read everywhere
that the Nationals are the sensation
of the American League race. Well,
they are. but they have surprised me
more than any one else.
Last spring | figured on reaching
possibly NTH place this year. The
changes ] made were planned long
before they came. | don't make any
decisions over night. knew, for in
stance, that Flynn would not do the
first time he began 10 play at Char
lottesville. But l had to get some
body else for the place before l let
Flynn go.
six weeks went by before got
Gandil. He proved the man l needed
for the inficld. The outfield gave me
no worry then. but the pitchers were
hardly uo to snuff Johnson, Hughes.
and Groom were living up to expecta-
tions, but the others were in-and-
cutters.
Then we started on that memorial!
winning streak and l saw that, with
luck, I might sneak In and cop the
my plans to do that. l have not sue
ct eded, but that Is more because of the
weakness of other teams in the league,
Several times we might have jumped
LnI -sl.l
cago, or Philadelphia done to Boston
what we expected.
However, am fairly contented for
this season. To lift a team from
son calls for considerable hard work
/ have put in that hard work, don't
worry about that | am getting greater
rewards this year than ] looked for,
though. I counted on NTH place as
something worth reaching. little
dreamed Of a first division team in my
first year.
Now ! am planning for 1913. | want
a 800 hitter In the outtield. If Moeller
winter he should hit above 800 next
season and. with his speed on the
bases, should be one of the best out
felders in the business. But give me
that 300 hitter, that's all l want right
now"
McAleer Likes Foster.
" IVii I "NiiI W iNoNllNSNGi W lOpf
ever the team last year" Jimmy Nc.
Aleer told the writer in Boston re.
Gently, - was thinking more OF Moellel
than any other player. Nothing haL
been said at all about Foster. The mo,
| ment | saw him play ball, though,
stopped watching Moeller. The outfield
| er looked up TO requirements, all right
| end would do. but this Foster lac
locked very good to me.
Trying to talk bushes with Camel
] was informed that Foster belonged tc
the Highlanders. got Tom Noyes oil
| the phone, told him about the player
and he made the arrangement with
| Frank Farrell. FaFreTl wired Gange
! 10 talk business with me- The result
oft was that l got both Moeller anc
| Foster.
Il consider Foster the best md O
the season in the American League
outside of pitchers. He Is what is called
| wise player. TO watch him OH,
| would think he hadn't a care IN tn,
world lie is the only one I'm the gam,
| who car make boot and continue L
| keep cool Nothing worries him. Hell
come right back with a fancy stop anC
! circus throw that brings the fans L
I their feet
II have been told that hc lacks am
| bition. That isn't so; not q bit of II
| He is simply GOODNESS personifird ant
his easy way Of doing things fool
AT the bat he Il one Of rhe 'wlsest