The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-14
bOEHLING NOW
TALK OF west
Young National Southpaw Is
Object Of Great Interest
Among Western Fans.
JOE HAD TOUGH START
Critics Harsh at First, but Griffith
Had Great Faith in the
Yeungster.
JOE HAD TOUGH START

Special to Tbs Waahingtoa Herald.
Cleveland. Ohio. July A-Probably the
most talked-of young man in American
League baseball today is Joe Boehling,
the Nationals young southpaw. who last
Friday by beating the Detroit Tigers add
ed his ninth straight victory. and who up
to that time has not been beaten this
season.
"Who IL this BoehlinE person? Where
did Grin get him? And how did he sud
denly develop into a real. sure-enough
pitcherT' are the questions fired at Man.
and others a. the Climbers tear around
circuit.
The person who recommended Boehlins
to Griff. and modesty forbids disclosing
the scouts name. deserves passing praise.
but to the Old Fox goes most of the
credit for developing a wild, untamed,
tow-headed youngster into pitcher
whom the Nationals pilot says himself
could not be purchased for $4,000 in real
money.
There is q paragraph somewhere in
the Bible to the effect that the ''stone
the builders cast out became the head
and cornerstone" The Herald's Sunday
school readers will doubtless remember II.
The test applies exactly to the case of
Joe Boehling. who is worthy of a short
sermon.
Last season. or. to be exact. when the
Nationals returned from Charlottesville,
Grin decided to retain Boehling because
the southpaw had SO much natural abil-
ity, In spite of his witness
There was no room for the youngster
on the Washington club. and Boehling
was farmed out to the Chattanooga team
of the Southern League, sold under the
optional agreement In less than a month
he was returned to the Nationals. for
Smith. the Chattanooga manager. de-
clared that Boehling was too wild for
the Southern League.
A place was found for the blond
finger with Jessie Burkett, owner and
manager of the Worcester club Of the
New England League. where Boehling
was sent and where he finished the sea-
son, winning three-fourths of his games.
Griff exercised his option. and bought
Boehling back before the drafting sea-
son. carrying him around with the Ma
tionaIs during the final Western trip of
the 1912 season.
Right here comes the real story Of
Boehling's career with the Nationals.
1t will be remembered that the south
paw pitched in several exhibition games
on the Florida Avenue prairie before the
season opened and looked fairly good.
but his same old NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
out time and again.
Veterans on the Washington club who
seldom hesitate to express their opinions
and whose opinions GrifY invited, all
advised him to get rid OF Boehling.
"Boehling will never make a pitcher
in million years" they told him.
I'm gong to hold onto him a while
longer any way. for l believe the kid
will come through for me-" Griff re-
piled.
The latest developments show that
Griffiths judgment was the best II was
case Of where the Old Fox was the
only friend Boehling possessed on the
ball club. the only one who refused to
believe that he would not some day be
a great pitcher.
Grin has the right to go around with
his chest thrown out crying. Il told you
So"
Had the Nationals at this time last
year possessed a twirler of the caliber
Boehling shows today the Climbers
would have won the American League
pennant. All Grifr needed then was
left handler.
When the Nationals were in Cleveland
May 10. 20. n. and -. no less than six
OF the Maps were hitting for more than
800. A glance at one or the local papers
the present batting averages
Of Birmingham's team discloses the inL,l
information rnar sucn mlgntyS
siugsers as Graney, Chapman, Johnston,
and others are down around the zoul
mark. where they belong.
Cleveland has but two real sluggers.
Larry LaJoie and Joe jackson