The Washington times., 1914-05-27
ATLANTA CLUB SAID
TO Be DESTINATION
Griffmen May Leave Home
Leading American League
Procession for Flag Honors.
By THOMAS KIRBY.

When the Nationals leave here for
Boston late tomorrow afternoon Dick
Williams will not be a member of the
party. unless there is a hitch in the
arrangements conducted for his being
be his destination.
There is such a surfeit of pitching
talent at National Park that it has been
fC und impossible TO give all enough
work Neither Williams nor Harry Har-
per have had enough work this spring.
This has served as a drawback to the
Pair and Williams goes back in the hope
that he may ripen to such an extent
that he may later become a regular
washington pitcher Williams seems TO
possess considerable natural ability, but
needs work and experience before he
can hope to hold on in the majors. He
was bought by the Washington club
from Helena. Mont. where he made a
Great record last season.
It is understood that the Williams
deal is so arranged that he can be re-
called in the fall.
Now they tell us that the decision
in regard to no Sunday baseball was
reached early Friday. and was given
out in the usual order. How could
such a decision be reached if the matter
we're never seriously considered?"
Chick Gandil has contracted a cold,
hut IL has not proven sufficiently Sc
rious to interfere with his work.
Today. for the first time since the
expansion of the American League, the
Nationals are occupying first place in
the race. That is, it is the only occasion
since Ban johnson placed a club in this
nity that Washington has been on top
after the opening spurt has ended and
he teams have settled down to their
regular stride.
True. the hold on the top rung is
not q secure one. A defeat today nay
cause weeping and gnashing of teeth.
sun, the fact remains that every other
rity on the circuit is now taking the
Dust of the club that in straight sea-
sons Was the runner up.
Not only are the Nationals in the van,
hut by winning while the Athletics were
losing they widened the gap that sepa-
rated them from the dreaded Mackmen.
well-conditioned team back from
chs rIottesville and proIited through the
poor weather that every other contest
ant had experienced TO such an extent
that he was able to be in the lead in
the first week of May, 1910. In less
han a month, hcwevor, the other clubs
had commenced TO show toTm, and
Washington was speedily relegated TO
The lower realms
This time, IL has been a fight upward
and onward. Nobody has attempted 10
declare that the Nationals of 1914 were
'ayored like the Senators "a lso5. This
spring II has been a battle all the way.
and the present exalted position has
heRn earned by virtue of a gallant and
grinding attack that has commanded
fhe attention, interest. and admiration
of The baseball sphere.
II the Nationals can hold On today
and tomorrow, they will not only be
me pace settlers when they leave for
Boston late tomorrow afternoon, but
their chances Of remaining among the
elect for a month, at least are most
lnseate. Washington is proverbially
strong on the road, its greatest ad-
yances being before hostile crowds. In
less tradition is upset the club should
return here on June "A with all colors
unfurled from stem 10 stern and fly
lng from deck to toprnast, prepared to
make one mighty stand on their own
pslliwick.
Both teams yesterday played ball of
quality worthy of such a momentous
occasion as a defense and attack on
he most desirable place in the whole
campaign. Detroit was beaten, but the
Tigers went down in noble defeat be-
lore a superior foe after their admit
Iedly vicious attack had been crumbled
D. a defense that is without an equal.
Al no time during the afternoon was
he victory secure; Detroit had chance
I'D to the last moment, and il appears
rsssonable TO make the assertion that
not q hundred of the thousands Of
spectators left the field before Gandil
Gagged a pop fly that ended hostilities,
dragged down Detroit's colors, and put
the Nationals into the berth they have
struggled so hard TO attain.
Joe Boehling. youthful Virginian. was
master of Jean Dubuc. dean of the De
troit pitchers. True, the Tigers nearly
doubled the number of hits that the
Nationals made of Dubuc. still Wash
inEton's drives were timely: most OF
Detroit's were unproductive, Boehling
being most effective when there were
men within the scoring zone.
In justice TO Dubuc IT must be said
that he was i'll during the stay of his
club in Philadelphia. still that he was
in grand form yesterday was dem
onstrated in that he was the first visit,
ing pitcher to go through a complete
game against the local clan since the
Chicago White SoN were here ahead
Of Cleveland. Yesterday Dubuc was
good. but BcehlinE was more effective
az the psychological moments Of the
contest upon which so much depended
The fielding Of the Nationals vas
thoroughly standardized and ar times
f~'r' -'--led co afe~tivel- did the
whole club back UP the one in the