Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-07
GRIFFITH HAS REMNANT BEE
BUZZING IN HIS BONNET
Players Are Hustling for the Old Fox, and
He Says He Never Had a Team
He Liked as Well.

against his rivals Look over it from top to
bottom and there is not man in the
lineup who is not apt to make a base
hit or steal a base. The team has the
speed and 1t has proven that 1t can hit
and has run-scoring proclivities. as its
remarkable record of having scored on
an average of nearly eight runs per game
in the last fourteen will prove. 1t has
the best catching staff that any club. re-
gardleSs of league, can boast of, the
greatest pitcher in the world and pitch
ing staff which has suddenly changed
from what appeared weak to one which
promises to develop lot of strength.
, When the present campaign is over it
will probably be conceded that never be-
fore in the history of base ball has a
major league club been so fortunate in
the selection of its material as have the
Nationals this year. AS a rule, club In
the majors is fortunate when it picks. up
one good ball player out of twenty, and
yet Griffith seems to have virtually gath
cred about him entirely new team OF
players who are far above the ordinary.
Which of the clubs can boast of having
added a pair like Moeller and Foster. and
there is not club in the circuit today
which could not make room for Shanks.
prize package. He has all the earmarks
of making one of the grandest ball play
ers that has been developed. He gave an
exhibition yesterday which was nothing
line drive with the bases full in the sixth
was one of the greatest bits of fielding
that has been witnessed on any diamond
this year, and as there were three on at
the time, there is no doubt that 1t saved
the day for the Nationals.
Back in 1894 Ned Hanlon had a rejuve-
mated team in Baltimore, where tall
ender had been holding forth. 1t won the
pennant, but the season was nearly over
before any one took the Orioles seriously
fnoY m fpdo hnt tAoy
in more ways than one. and like 1t, will
not be given credit for It's strength until
1T has finished its campaign.
There has never been a time when Hal
Chase play ed a more sensational game at
first base than did Chick Gandil yester
day. He was simply invincible in the po-
sition. One-handed pickups and ,long
stretches were numerous, but, better STILL
he finally landed on the ball, as he says
he should have been doing right along
In the third inning he stepped into one
of Ed Walsh's spit balls, and sent it on
a line into the left field bleachers for a
home run. 1t was a terrific swat. and vr-
tually started the White Sox down the
hill. for UP to that time they had a one
run lead to overcome. but after that hit
1t meant two to tie and three to take the
lead. Gandil fits into the team splendidly.
and 1t is a noticeable fact that since he
has been playing first the Nationals have
won seven straight games.
There is as much difference in the
spirit the team is now showing compared
to that it used to show as there is between
night and day. There was a time when
the Nationals were as good as beaten
just as soon as a team got a lead of a
couple of runs on them. but that Is all
different now. There is no handicap too
great for the players these days. They
have every confidence in themselves, and
thew nfayip~ hy far the hest anil
most consistent game of any team in the
league. 1t is an impressive-looking team.
and one has but to hear the comments
of those in the stands in other cities to
appreciate this fact
When Griffith brought Johnson into the
game with the bases full in the sixth and
none out he made a wise play. Johnson
had had but one days rest, and it might
have been figured wise to save him and
allow Groom or one of the other pitchers
to finish when Musser was taken out.
But Griffith saw his two-run lead and
was going to take no chance, and by his
move he won the day, for Johnson not
only stopped the Sox, holding them to
one run in this inning. but 1t was Wal
ter'S home-run drive which put the game
on Easy street. And what hit it was!
He caught one about knee high, hit ii a
mile into the air and so far away that
Callahan, in left. merely folded his arms
and watched IL IalI INTO tne cTOWd III the
left-field bleachers. That drive did every
thing for the Nationals, for Walsh
stopped there and then, and the team was
badly demoralzed from that out.
At that Johnson was lucky to get
away in the sixth when the bases were
full. Shanks saved him by wonderful
catch and Gandil ended the round by
catching difficult line drive off of Col
Inns bat Walter had not warmed up
sufficiently when he went into the game,
but from that out he was in splendid
form. and did not allow hit in the last
three innings.
When Musser went out of the game
Henry went with him. Griffith always
wants Ainsmith to catch Johnson, anu
the change proved a good one, for Aim
smith came through with timely hit
and was to a great extent responsible
for the final rally in the ninth, when he
reached first base on Weaver's error.
have easy sailing against the Nationals
he had occasion to change his mind in
the very first inning. which he undoubted-
ly did, for he seemed to put forth every
effort thereafter. Moeller opened the
game with single to left and he Scored
a moment later when Foster hit to center
for two bases Milan died at first and
then Walsh got Foster at the plate on
Gandil's tap. Shanks, however, followed
with a double to right, and then Morgan
popped up and the inning was over.
Musser walked Bodie, the first man up
in the second, but he was forced by Col
Inns. and then Henry caught Collins
stealing. The first hit off of Musser came
to-, he ~, xxrhan x1if6 ont T ord