Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-31
ATH[ET|CSSTR0NG,
SAYSCAPT. M'bR|DE
Washington Shortstop Thinks
MackereIs Is Team That
Must Be Beaten.
ADMITS HIS TEAM
WILL HAVE HARD FIGHT
Griffith's Club Will Be Strenuth-
ened by Youngsters, Says
Milwaukee Boy.

| MILWAUKEE. Wis. January 81
there is more optimism than anything
| else, George Mcbride the great short stop
and captain of the Washington Ameri-
cans. does not predict that the sensation
| al Climbers will cart off the muslin in
the Banjohnson circuit next summer.
George, who is a Milwaukee boy, as
every one in this neck of the woods
| knows admits that his club has chance
of getting into worlds series. but he
does not predict that the Grffithmen will
coop the bunting. Instead, he says he will
be satisfied if the Nationals finish two
three.
According to the opinion of the tall
Washington field leader. the pennant
| marathon in the American League next
summer will be between the Nationals.
| Athletics and Red SoX. He thinks Connie
| Mack's men have the best chance. and
| he declares that if Connie can get
/ Coombs and Bender shooting in III form
| the llonors will go to the City of Brother
| ly Love.
| I'VE have a great ball club in Washing
! ton, said Mcbride the other afternoon
at his brothers bowling alleys. but ao
, have Boston and Philadelphia. OF course.
| we have chance at the bunting, but |
| cannot predict that We will win it. I am
! confident we will finish One-twO-three,
| barring accidents. Accidents always play
| a large part in every pennant race. Last
season the injury to Dan Murphy. the
| great Philadelphia outfielder. and the
slump of COOmbs and Bender put the
Athletics out fthe hunt. Individually
| the Athletics, are a better ball club. to
my way of thinking. than the Red SoX.
and If Mack can get his veterans working
right / look for the Mackerels to Gust
the Red Sox from their perch.
Says Mackmen Look Strong. :.
! THE Philadelphia club looks stronger
| right now than it has in several seasons.
| Strunk is getting better and Murphy and
| Walsh are two promising Outfielders who
are bound to be heard from. Then there 6
| that wonderful infield of McInnis, Collins,
| Barry and Baker. The club also has a
| fine corps of catchers. This leaves the
| whole problem up to the pitching staff.
| If the veterans come back, watch out for
the Mackmen.
Confidence born of experience will
make the Red Sox mere formidable than
ever Winning the worlds championship
will put the Boston club on its mettle. and
| it is bound to be up in the race again, es-
pecially if StahTs young pitchers can ped
die the same line of wares they did last
season.
Many critics claim that Washington is
a one-man team. and that II Johnson
| fails us we would have to fight to keep
| out of the cellar. 1t is true that Johnson
| is wonderful pitcher-the greatest in
the business, l believe-but the Washing
ton club is far from being a one.man
team. We have excellent Outfield, a
strong infield, q fine pitching staff, and
the best catching corps in base ball We
have an excellent ball club without John
| son. and he is whole team in himself
If the youngsters Griffith picked up last
fall come through as expected We will be
stronger than ever. And if Johnson 5
| great arm doesn't get out of whack Wei
| make them all hustle. i won't predict
| that we'll win the pennant, as / said be-
fore, but the American League will know
| that there is a ball club in Washington
next summer. just the same.
Is Admirer of Chance.
| Mcbride also believes that the addition
of Chance to the A. l.. will mean a diff
ferent brand of ball for New York. Nc
Bride is a great admrer of the p. L., anG
he thinks that Chance will fight his way
| into the first division within the course OF
a couple of seasons. He also figures that
Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago will have
| to fight 1T out for fourth place in the
| race.
| cleveland has three wonderful bal
players in Jackson. LajOie and Gregg,
| continued George, and as Birmingham
seems to possess the driving power So
necessary in winning manager, | woulc
not be surprised to see the Maps in the
first division. The White Sox and Tigers
have lot of individual stars, however
| and the team that gets the jump and the
| breaks will land the job.
| THE HighlanderS will be greatly
strengthened by Chances presence, anC
Stovall at st. Louis will have much
stronger club than last season. All il
all. the signs point to red-hot fight II
the American League for the ID pen
nant."