Evening star., 1916-09-30
TWO GAMES TODAY
Ayers and Thomas to Oppose
Seibold and Johnson.
THREE-GAME PLAN IS OFF
Chance of Finishing in First Divi-
sion Gives Grifmen an Incen-
tive to Hustle.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, September 30.-Clark
Griffith and Connie Mack tried to pull
off a novel stunt for American League
base ball tonight by trying to get Ban
Johnson's consent to work in three games
for tomorrow, one in the morning and
two in the afternoon-in order to get in
the extra postponed game which was
made necessary by the heavy rain yes
terday.
Griffith and Mack made frenzied ef-
forts to get In long distance phone COM
munication with johnson in order to get
his permission for this unusual method
Of giving the public long day Of base
ball. but as Bans permission was not
forthcoming the scheme did not avail the
two veteran managers anything except to
start considerable amount of discussion.
Neither manager wanted to try it unless
johnson O. KID the feat -.
Only once have major league clubs
played three games in one day and that
was in the National League. September
1. 1890. Brooklyn and Pittsburgh played
three games between sunrise and sunset
by scores of 10 to 8, 3 to and s to 4.
There was no particular reason why
the Athletics should want to resort to
this early morning stuff for a third
game today, but in order to oblige Grif-
fifth. who still figures his team can I'm
ish in the first division. the attenuated
Mack consented to play the game II
Johnson gave his consent.
But Mack consenting to play the
third game did not necessarily mean
that the Athletics would play indifrer-
ent ball against the Griffmen Just SO the
latter could win all three and gain a
first division foothold. The Philadel-
phians, while the weakest in the
lague, undoubtedly would do their best
to lick the Nationals in all three games,
which will be played today. Mack has
no particular love for Griff1th and he
can be depended upon to send his best
lineup against Washington in the
double bill.
Before the Griffmen started for the
ball park yesterday Manager Griffith
was served with a subpoena to appear
in a local court to show cause why he
trespassed on Federal League prop
erty during the war days. Grin was
astounded by the summons, but when
he found out that every other major
league manager was to be served ac-
cordingly he breathed easier. The mat
clubs attorneys
Ayers will likely work in one of the
games this afternoon and either Lefty
Thomas or Craft in the other seibold
and Johnson are Mack's selections for
the twin bill.
Local critics are loud in the praise OF
Leonard and predict that next year
he will be the sensation of the Ameri-
can League. They all say that Griff got
all the best of the deal with Cleveland
when he shared Leonard and Smith
from the Indians for Moeller and Boeh-
ling.
Menoskey may not be a Clyde Milan
| but he looks like the making OF good
| ball player. He stands well at the
plate and his helding has been good
| die himself we'll on tho defense. He
| looks good enough to hold the fourth
| position among the outhelders next
year.
The unusual display of pep the Wash
ingtons have shown here surprised the
local fans and critics in the samea
played Wednesday and Thursday. but
tho reason cropped out today wher
Griffith confessed to a burning desire
to land his men in fourth place before
the curtain dropped on tho chase.
This is an incentive for the players
1t keeps them on their toes to the nm
| ish and assures the fans who turn ou,
| in the fading days of the race good
exhibition of ball playing. Nothing
disgusts ball park patrons more thar
to see two ball teams go through nine
perfunctory innings with an indiffer.
ent air and manner just to get rid OF
the nine innings. The base ball far
likes night and ginger. no matter
whether at the start or finish of the
year. Manager Griffith is to be com.
mended for the spirit he has instillet
| in his proteges.