The Washington herald., 1916-06-07
rain PUTS HALT
TO EAGLES DAY
Elaborate Plans of Cleveland
Fraternal Order Stopped
by Untimely Storm.
By WILLIAM PEIcT.

brought to an end the Nationals losing
streak-thank goodness for that.
Both Griffith and the Indians
assembled at League Park and practiced
for half an hour but the drizzle which
started about 2:3O o'clock bIossomed into
the 200 fans who had assembled were
told to go home.
Cleveland is wildly enthusiastic over
its ball club. Today was set aside for
the Fraternal Order Of Eagles, known as
Eagles Day and behind a brass band.
COO OF the birds focked to the park for
the express purpose of cheering the In
dIans on to victory.
Elaborate plans were nipped in the
bud by the untimely storm. The Eagles
proposed to start the ceremonies by pre-
senting Clark Griffith with goat" then
they were going to take It away from
him, drapng the animal with a big sign
reading. "Griff's goat" The goat was
there all right and when told about the
scheme of the Eagles the Old Fox said.
II wish they had gone through with it
I'd have kept the goat and sent 1t on to
Washington"
One Of the Cleveland scribes from the
press box informed his associates that a
''boner" had been pulled and that instead
Of a goat the Eagles had corralled a
lamb.
Returning to the hotel Washington
players lounged around the lobby and
read the newspa pers, all except Griffith,
Morgan. Mcbride and Rippy Williams,
who visited a bowling alley to see II they
had lost any Of their old Charlottesville
cunning. The bowling emporium was a
brand new one, only in operation about
a week and Morgan set new record for
the place by compiling a IFS game first
crack cut Of the box.
In one sense the rain was blessing,
for the Nationals were given breath
ing spell and a chance to forget how bad
Iy things have been breaking for them
since leaving home.
Had today's game been played George
DumOnt would have pitched for the Ma
tionals and Ed Kelpfer opposed him. 1t
IS likely now that this pair will hook
up tomorrow providing the rain holds
of, and prospects tonight do not loom
up particularly bright as the weather
forecaster has decreed showers for We'd
,esday.
The boat trip from Detroit last night
was uneventfUl. the lake as calm as a
mill pond and everybody was able to
sleep.
For the three games here Dumont will
twirl tomorrow, Gallla IS slated to pitch
Thursday and johnson will work Fri
day.
The Nationals have usually been able
to trim the Indians here in Cleveland.
and will go into the games with a con-
fdenCe that is bound to bring about re-
suits. Griffith is sure that the long los
ing streak is now d thing Of the past al
though he realizes that the present Cleve-
land club is A whole lot stronger than
former a he In
dians the compliment of being in his esti-
nation the best ball club in the West
With a right-hander working Judge will
be back on first base and Charley jamie
son in left field.
When it comes to handling his pitchers
no manager in the American League can
hold a candle to Clark Griffith. Not only
does Griff know by uncanny instinct
when to remove a boxman but he also
possesses the faculty of holding tight to
the men who will be OF use to him some
time later on in the season.
Take the case OF Jim Shaw. who has
only been in a couple of games all
spring and who, according to report.
would never be able to get back his
pitching arm.
Grif carried Shaw all season. ignoring
advice from others that Shaw was about
all through, and should be sent to the
minors.
AS a matter Of fact Shaw is rounding
into form. declares that all the old sore
ness in his arm muscles has disappeared.
and that he is anxious to start a game.
Shaw will probably be used against
Cleveland or Chicago. and If he is any
where near right, will come close to win
ming his game.
In Detroit last Sunday Griffith could
have grabbed about $500 more for his club
hn fn nit
and made this known through the news
papers. but nO-the Old Fox wanted TO
give Johnson plenty Of rest, and abso-
lutely refused to pitch the Speed King.
It's a pretty state of affairs when l
have got to pitch Johnson to win a ball
game" argues Grif. What have
signed those other fellows out there for?''
In the case of Jack Bentley. who was
recently turned back to Minneapolis.
Bentley needed work and was not quite
strong enough to take his regular turn
with the Griffmen. That's why he was
sent to Minneapolis.
GrifT sure IS a wizard when II come
to handling his pitchers.
Speculation is rife in Detroit as to what
disposition President Ban Johnson will
make Of Grifith's protest Of the Sunday
ball game when Veach was allowed a
home run on a hit into the territory mark
ed two bases
Joe jackson, president Of the Baseball
Writers Association, who is the base
ball expert on the Detroit News, does not
believe Griffith will be sustained. adyanc-
Ing the arguments that Umpire Connolly
word will bear more weight than the af
hdavits of all the Washington ball play
srs put together.
Unless prompt action is taken by Ban
Johnson. Griffith will cal on the Ameri-
can League chief when the Nationals
reach Chicago and insist upon a decision.
The Grinmen Sunday played before the
second largest crowd of the season yvben
l&Oo9 fans paid their way into the Detroit
ball park. The Boston turnout of p COO
On the afternoon OF April 10 was the
only gathering to top Sundays mark.