The Washington herald., 1916-08-09
Nationals First Sacker in
Workout Here Reports No
III Effects Of Operation.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP
BY WILLIAM PEET,

Joe Judge the Nationals first base
man, who was operated upon for hernia
three weeks ago. appears to have entirely
recovered During the past two days
Judge has donned his uniform and
worked out at National Park.
When seen by the writer yesterday,
Judge stated that he would not be sur
prised If Griffith ordered him to report
in Boston next Saturday, for according 10
the club physician he will be ready By
that time to take his Old place in the
line up.
Judge, who Is an optomistic little chap,
says-"It sure is pretty tough to see the
club lose so many games. I wish I
could be with them and in condition to
give GriI the best I've got, perhaps
might be of some help.
AT any rate We'll get going again
soon. and are about due for a big drive.
and you can't convince me that any one
Of them outclass our bunch
It sure was tough yesterday to lose
both ends of that double-headsr, for
this set back hurt. Even Bob Groom
who until yesterday has never finished
game he started against US. triumphed
over his old team ma ties, and allowed but
few hits.
1t wasn't quite so bad that licking
Groom handed, as the fact that the
lanky pitcher himself got a safe hit.
1t must have been an awful game OF
ball from a Washington standpoint, for
could not hit an elephant with a bass
fiddle.
Those Boston Red Sox came to life
yesterday and turned the tables on the
Chicago White Sox, thereby cutting down
Chicaso's lead. st. Louis is right on the
heels Of the league leaders now and the
old race grows more interesting day by
cay.
With Ray Morgan back in his stride
and Joe Judge in the game, there is
every reason to believe that when-ehe
Nationals entertain their Western rivals
here, starting next week. different stories
will be written than the papers have
lately been carrying.
The Nationals still have one more road
trip to make before che curtain fops, and
incidentally are still in the pennant race.
Many things can happen between now
and the 5th of October.
We are informed that the Anacostia
diamond has been put IN shape to enter
tain the Bureau and Machinists teams
this afternoon.
Last week, when the writer visited this
park, the grass was so long in the infieid
that balls bunted alon-, the first base line
were easily lost, while the right fielder
was almost hidden from view on account
Of the weeds.
Whether the Potomac League could not
spare the money to keep the field in
shape or whether the shrubbery was a;
lowed to grow in order to add an artistic
touch is not known. 1t is still a mystery
how ball games could be plaJed under
existing conditions.
The diamond and outfeld have been
given much-needed shave and hair cut
so we are told.
Zeke Wrigley, the veteran ball player.
who is still good enough to be the star
OF the Brill team of the Delaware County
League, took part in a double play a
week ago that he says was the oldest
he ever saw in his career. which dates
from the time the roofers working on
the ark went on strike for shorter
hours, more pay and recognition of their
union.
Wrigley covers short and directs the
play. With opposing player on first.
Zeke ordered the Brill pitcher to deliver
waste ball. he OWNED the runner
was going to try to steal. The pitcher
pitched wide, and ZekC ran over to the
bag to take the throw.
The batsman. however, reached out and
stabbed a liner that the pitcher barely
touched with the fingers Of his glove,
but couldn't hold. Still in the air the
ball was detected 10 feet to the side Of
the keystone sack in second-base territory
Zeke. who was stationed on the sack
lunged over and caught the ball before II
hit the ground. Then he tagged the run
ner and personally completed a double
play on which the pitcher had an assist.
Can you beat it?
The preesnt race in the American
League is conceded by all veteran base
ball fans" to be the closest staged in
many years on major circuits. In fact
it IS said. there is nothing in big league
history to equal it. and a search Of the
records Of recent seasons bears out this
contention. On August l seven of the
eight clubs in the American League had
a percentage of 800 or better. St Louis
held seventh place with ffty-ffty stand
ing, while the Athletics, in last place
were 2}3 points behind the Browns.
Boston. in first place, was but three
points ahead of Chicago and the New
York Yankees, which led the league for
some weeks, were in third place, thirty
three>points behind the leaders and four
points ahead of Cleveland, in fourth po-
sition. Between Boston, in first place
and St Louis. in seventh, there were Just
seventy-nine points difference in per-
eentage, or seven and one-hAlf games.
with something like ten weeks Of play
remaining, any one Of these seven clubs
must be conceded a chance for the 1916
pennant, and the situation is unique in
the history of the big league pennant
races.
During the last five years the leading
club on August l, with its lead in points
over the second place holder, was as
follows: 1911. Detroit, 25 points; 1912, Bos-
ton, s. points: 1918, Philadelphia, IS points;
1914. Philadelphia. 72 points 1875, Bos-
ton, Is points With the exception of
1871 the club leading on August l finally
won the pennant and participated in the
worlds series. In 1911 Philadelphia
wrested the lead from Detroit late in