The Washington herald., 1912-06-13
CAPITAL FANS
PICTURE PENNANT
AT BALL YARD
Sensational March Of the Nationals
Through the West Sets Local
Fandom Wild.
PULLING FOR CLEAN SWEEP

I Win a COnsuTnIldLe sdhelIOlA AI%N
would cause a lifting of eyebrows, even
though affected by a worlds champion
baseball team, Clark Grifith's Nationals,
with the marvellous aid Of Wonderful
Walter johnson yesterday afternoon add
ed the thirteenth victory to their con-
secutive conquests on the road by de-
feating the Detroit Tigers to the joyful
tune Of to l and incidentally effected
the transformation OF the entire popula-
! tion OF the entire population OF the Ma
tional Capital into that blissful team ad-
herency popularity known as fans"
With Grifith's pennant aspirations,
made patent by the timely addition OF
the erstwhile St Louis pitcher, Barney
Petty to the apparently invinclble twirl-
ing STAN Of the Nationals and the won
derful winning streak Of the juvenile
stars showing not the least indication OF
abatement, the enthusiasm OF fandom in
Washington has swollen past the high
water mark and flooded the city, por-
tending the most magnificent reception to
the returning team next Tuesday that
has ever been witnessed.
After Worlds Record.
Having established a worlds record by
gaining thirteen consecutive victories
away from home and broken the record
Of 1872 for an unbroken string OF wins.
the Nationals are now fighting tooth and
nail to surpass the record OF the Detroit
Tigers in 1902. when Hughey Jennings
team won fourteen straight victories. The
Nationals can beat the Detroit record by
winning the first two games to be played
with Cleveland.
So conhdtnt are the sCrappy young
sters with Griffith Of taking the entire
Cleveland series that their eyes are al
ready turning to the worlds record for
AZ. " ~ a..
Sox at ninteen in 1906 II the Nationals
equal or surpass that worlds record by
adding six or more straight victories TO
their string, the seating capacity OF 5000
at the new concrete coliseum probably
will be inadequate.
Fanaticism is a mild word with which
10 describe the Joy OF Washington fans
yesterday when the Nationals. for the
fourth time in one series performed the
trick expressed in that overworked
phrase, Twisting the Tigers tail" A
justice who holds forth on the bench OF
the United States Court was seen TO
lose all semblance OF dignity in an out
burst Of enthusiasm, and. jumping high
in the air, he Clasped his arms about the
neck OF a colored rooter whose visage he
had never seen.
"PeOPIe Have Gone Mad"
That demonstration by the noted jus
tice was typical for men in all walks
Of life, men occupying the highest pO-
sitIons that a big government can offer,
forgot for the nonce their poise and
dignity and shouted and cheered and
applauded like the merest boy. Before
the scoreboards, in a heat that Ord-
narily would drive all to shelter, thou
sands and thousands stood and watched
the Nationals bat and run and field their
way to victory. After the game thou
sands inquired by telephone at news
PAPER Offices for the score.
And the fair sex has fallen a willing
victim to the malady OF baseball IA
naIiGism Mothers, wives daughters
and swethearts, from the oldest to the |
youngest have evinced an unprecedented |
interest in the fame of the Nationals |
Popular indeed is that particular male |
member Of the household who first brings !
tidings Of the teams latest conquest. |
AS one kindly old lady, who does not |
know the difference between a pop fly
end shortstop, expressed Il: Washing
ton is baseball mad"
Even the Chamber Of Commerce, for |
getting in the heat Of team victory, the |
dignity OF the most conservative business |
body in the National Capital gave vent |
to prolonged applause when there was |
introduced resolution to send a tele- |
gram of congratulation to Manager |
Groffith. There was no dissenting voice 4
to that resolution and a few minutes |
after it was passed the secretary was
writing a message to Foxy" Clark Ad- |
vices from Detroit say Grihith is being
buried under congratulatory teIegrams.
Planning Big Reception.
Just what kind of a reception will be /
rendered the returning Nationals is still
conjectural, but that some mammoth |
demonstration will be made is a GER
tainty. Club ofidiaIs have said practi-
cally: Don't break the winning streak
by banquets and the like, Just 90 out |
to the park and show the team how you
feel by roofing and roofing as you never
rooted before" But will Washington
be able to confine its bubbling Joy to
such a tame showing?
Triumphal marches, with floral wreatha |,
banquets and receptions and all sorts Il
Of glory for the team is being talked
and each day contributions toward a Il
fund for such reception filter into the
newspaper sport rooms The team has
broken records" II is being said, and !
the fans ought TO begin breaking a few. L
has been supporting a losing II
team for enough years and now Il should L
not miss the opportunity to give real
support TO a real team" Lots is being
said. What will be done remains to be
seen.
But one thing seems certain. II Wash
ington takes the Cleveland series in the
way IT cleaned up the St Louis, Chicago,
and Detroit games. that ball yard at
Florida Avenue and Seyanfh Str.at {