The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-08-03
CLARK GRIFFITH HAS
HAD VARIED CAREER
Old Fox Has Been in Baseball
Since 1887; Was Lead
ing Hurler.

landed his band OF youngsters IN Sec
ond place at the end of the season for
the first time in the major history of
the club, he started the championship
bee buzzing in the bonnets of Washing
ton fans.
That bee is still buzzing, and faith in
Griffith has not abated one whit, but
the return of the Athletics TO the form
which earned them two worlds pen
nants may defeat the hope of the
the hopes Of enthusiasts in every city
of the circuit whose team has cham
pionship aspirations.
Griffith, at the beginning Of last
season, said he had a pretty good ball
club. His friends shook their heads
sadly aud said: "Poor fellow, he has
gone from bad to worse-Cincinnati to
Washington.
In the first few games Of last years
ally. Then those youngsters began to
hit and field the ball, and to play
baseball as Griffith knew it should be
played Critics thought il only a
squirt, but Griff had his youngsters be-
lieving they would win the flag, pro-
fessed to think so himself, and outfip
ished the Athletics for the runnerrup
berth.
Born i'm Missouri.
When Griffith was offered the posi-
tion of manager at Washington, he
showed his faith in the city and the
team by putting every cent Of ready
cash-and some that wasn't ready
into the purchase of a block of stock,
He has seen no reason yet to regret
his investment.
Clark c. Griffith was born on No
vember 30, 1859, near Nevada, Mo,
where his father, who was killed in
hunting accident when Griff was
years old, was farmer. Griffith at
tended the Stringtown public school,
in the games of zone old cat" and
tttown ball. - When he was IA years
old. his family moved TO Normal, Ill,
where he continued his education, not
neglecting the school nine, on which
he played as catcher and later as pitch
Griffith's performances in school
games gave him more than a local
Reputation and he was Offered and ac-
cepted $10-the first money he ever
earned in baseball-to pitch for Hoope-
ston, H., in game against Danville.
He won Then Griff was ripe for po-
sition with the Bloomington indepen-
dent nine at a salary of $50 month,
This was in 1887 The next year
Bloomington Joined the old Interstate
league. Griff won ten out OF fourteen
games. and was purchased by James
Hart. then president of the milwaukee,
club of the Western league, for 500
Practiced Daily.
That control which became Griff s
al ~, Io oil mt
puzzling change Of pace, IN later years,
was not IN evidence then. To remedy
his wildness. Griff cut out piece OF
canvas about the size Of home plate
and nailed il on board fence at the
height of The average batter's waist.
Then from distance corresponding TO
the distance from the pitchers slab to
the plate, Griffith worked mornings
for control. He secured it,
at Milwaukee. and then took advantage
of baseball war in 1891 to jump to
the st. Louis Browns, of which Com
iskey was manager, at higher salary
In August he was traded to the Boston
club of the American association, but
later was dropped on account of sore
arm
Griffith then signed with Tacoma
in 1892 but the club puuctured its
season with the Missoula (Mont.) club,
because his family had moved there,
and he wanted to be near the commits
sary department In the event OF unto
ward happenings. His arm had re-
gained its strength. and the following
year he was thought good enough for
the Oakland (Cal) club.
AS matter of fact, Griffith was too
good for Oakland and his release was
he ~ bn
his old boss, Jim Hart, who had be
come president and part owner of the
Chicago Nationals. Griffith jumped
into national prominence in 1894, when
he and Bill Hutchinson practically al
ternated on the slab FOR an extended
period while the rest of the hurting
staff was crippled.
Was Leading Hurler.
While with the Chicago Nationals,
Griffith ranked with the leading hur-
ers of the league and it was consld'
cred great haul for the new American
league when he and Callahan flopped
to Comiskey Is White Sox at the begin
ming of the baseball war in 1901, Griff
pilo{ed the White Sox TO the league
pennant that season, led the league
pitchers with twentyfour games won
and seven lost, and batted over 500.
DE also aCC6Q dS lndudSoi VI tHc .'c"
York Hiphlanders when the American
leapue entered New YORK in 1908.
Wild pitch by Jack Chesbro lost the
of 1904 10 Boston in the final
game of the season.
In 1907 Griff quit active duty on the
mound and in 1905, following trouble
with the club officials and internal dis
,ension in the club, he resigned as man,
,eer in New York and was succeeded
=, "a L;d'i E1har5alJ .l
Griff cast his lot with Cincinnati IN
9Q9 and served as manager for three
ears He refused renewal OF his
contract when offered chane, to buy
block of stock in the Washington
lub.
When freed from baseball cares IL
winter Griffith spends most of his
ime nj lo00o-acre ranch 'ar Craig
Iont., which he owns jointly With ms
rother. The ranch is suitsbl, Tor
razing and is stocked with horses nnd
attic.
s'And they re first divisIoa borses
Al L. a