The Washington herald., 1916-04-13
HARPER TO FACE
YANKEES TODAY
Hackensack Southpaw Selec-
ton for Mound Honors
Against New York.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT

New York, April 12.-Before New York
ers get over the shock of losing the open
ing game. Manager Griffith promises an
other little surprise when the clubs meet
again tomorrow.
"rm going to pitch Harry Harper in
the second game and If Harper twirls
true to form, the Yankees will face the
best looking left-hander they have -batted
against this season, count upon Harper
to win his game, for we are up on our
toes and lighting said the Old Fox.
There are four left-hand hitters on the
New York Club and Frank Baker is one
Of them. Griff figures that a good south
paw can beat this crowd.
Bill Donovan, the. Yankee pilot, stated
tonight that he would oppose Harper with
either Fisher or Keating, both of whom
are in good shane and have been show
ing lot of stuff all spring.
Carl Sawyer, the Nationals utility in
fielder, cut loose with his antics on the
coaching lines in the seventh inning, and
the crowd went wild over his acrobatic
stunts.
who is he, who is he?" everybody
asked
sawyer's stun was so funny that Ger
many schaefer just crawled into his cage
and quit work for the day.
Joe Gedeon, for whom Griff put up a
stif fight this winter only to lose out
when the Yankees grabbed him, looks
like a greatly improved hitter than
when he was In Washington three years
ago.
Gedeon played prominent part in to-
days game. 1t was his long fly which
put over the New York run, tieing the
score, and 1t was also his nun OF a
thrown ball in the eleventh that made
possible the Washington victory.
AS a fielder Gedeon has considerable to
learn' but he stands up to the bat nice
ly' and takes good. healthy swing at
the ball.
Umpire Owens was off color on two oc-
casions today, his decision in the
Yankees seventh, when johnson and
Judge plainly retired Magee at first base,
making 1t possible for the Donovan club
to tie the score. In the eighth inning
Joe Judge, after drawing a walk, stole
second base, beating Nunamaker's peg,
but Owens declared Judge out.
A party of Washington fans, including
Messrs. Clarence and Henry Norment,
Harris Brown, Charley Linkins and Sec
retary Ed Walsh, OF the Washington
club, came up from the Capital to see to-
days game. Needless to say they were
perfectly satisfied with what they saw,
Today's warm weather brought out a
corking big crowd for the opening game,
10000 fans being the estimate. A stiff
northwest wind was blowing, but the
Polo Grounds, being so well sheltered
under the shadow Of Coogan's Bluff, did
not feel the wind.
The field was as dry as tinder, and the
players had nothing about which to com
plain: Previous to the throwing out of
the first ball by Sheriff Smith, the brass
band played THE Star Spangled Banner"
and everybody following the custom)
arose. the men removed their hats
Bill Donovan has gathered about him a
mighty fine ball club this season. There
is no doubt about that as shown BY to-
days game, If his pitchers are able to
stand the gan the Yankees should be in
the thick of the fight for the pennant.
Frank Baker, Lee Magee, and Joe
Gedeon have added a whole lot of batting
strength.
From today's game the writer is of the
opinion that the Nationals have only a
slight edge on the Yankees. Griff has
a smoother running machine and better
pitching staff, but not as strong a hitting
combination.
The present series between the Ma
tionals, and Yankees promises to be
bitterly fought and with Judge in a
batting slump, the Griffmen can hardly
expect to do better than break even on
this trim