The Washington herald., 1917-01-07
Grif Would Welcome Chance
to Gain Controlling In
terest of Local Club.
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

city at noon yesterday. The "Old Fox
is In great shape after his three weeks
sojourn at his ranch at Billings. Mont,
and is ready to Immediately pitch in and
straighten out the players contracts and
the final arrangements for the spring
training trip.
Local baseball writer's hurled questions
right and left at the "Old Fox upon his
arrival. and many of the fairy tales
printed lately throughout the country
were denied. The many stories of the
Nationals finishing away down in the
rut In the 1911 race, brought out a good
laugh from Grin, as he believes, with
the material now on the roster, and a
Ettle OF the breaks that the Washington
club will be up there with the contenders
when October, 1917. rolls around.
In reference to the story printed re-
Gently In one of the leading baseball
papers Of the country, which claimed
that the "OId Fox was attempting to
buy controlling interest in the Washing
ton club was not denied by Grif Grif-
nth claimed that he had made no par
ticular progress toward gaining the con-
troll Of the club, but that he was pleased
with the surroundings and that he Is in
the market to buy stock at a suitable
price.
II think well Of Washington as a maJo
league baseball town and would welcome
the chance to have control OF the stock
any OF the board OF directors and I want
this Understood thoroughly.
Il am sill In the market to buy stock
OF the club, as Washington suits me well.
II takes a lot OF money to swing a deal
OF this kind, so I make no promises that
II will ever materialize. It Is satisfac-
tory for me to work right along with the
ether directors, II 1 cannot get enough
stock to control affairs"
Grif1th was pleased when informed that
the Brooklyn National Jeague Club was
making arrangement to train in Augusta.
Il would welcome a chance to put my
club against the Robbies three times
week. and II It is true the National Lea que
champs will train at Augusta, 1 believe
we would both be benefited by these
games.
Il have completed all arrangements
with the Augusta baseball people for the
use OF the park and our hotel arrange
ments are also made. l would not agree
to allow the Brooklyn club the use Of
the park which we have closed out for.
but 1 would welcome these practice games
if the Dodgers do close out for the Driv-
ing Park grounds at Augusta"
The Boston Red Sox. champions of the
world and a powerful penr
team in the merican League races since
1911, are at a turning point which may
play an important part in the history Of
baseball, the outcome depending entirely
upon the success OF the latest move made
b~ Harry Frazee and Hugh Ward. ths
new owners. This was the appointment
Of Jack Barry as manager to succeed
Bill Carrigan. who refused to consider 4
remarkable offer made to him to return
to the game.
II Barry Is successful the Red So1
~ Mill h.,
tenders for several years With such a
wonderful stan of young pitchers; but K
the new pilot falls down on the job there
Is no telling just how low this team of
veterans. aside from the pitchers. will
fall. The entire American League Is on
the anxious bench. as winner in Bos-
ton means a lot Of money to every team
in the circuit. whereas losing team will
cut down the receipts Of all
Boston always has been a strong
American League city. and until the
Braves made baseball history by climbing
from last place to a worlds champion
ship, Hctle attention was paid to the Ma
tiOnal League. Since 1914 both teams have
been supported we'll; but IL either falls
down while the other continues 20 be 4
pennant contender the unsuccessful team
will have a few lean years. As It Is vir-
tually certain that the Braves will be a
contender for a few seasons more at
least, the American League is xtrenely
anxious to keep the Red Sox in the run
ming.
....
Is Barry qualified to manage a major
league ball team? Ninety-nine out OF 100
fans will say yes without hesitation.
They will point to his wonderful career
with the Athletics as a shortstop and at
second base for the Red Sox. They will
say that he was the main cog Of the $780,
900 Mack infield; that he has pulled more
brainy plays at critical stages than any
other player, and that members Of the
famous Mack machine have declared that
he is the brainiest player in the game.
No one who has seen Barry play will
dispute any of the good things said about
this wonderful player. But is BaTry's
reputation as q brainy and brilliant play
er any greater than the regulations of
some who have failed when given a
chance to pilot a major league teamf
Fans probably consider Barry q brainier
player than Johnny Evers, John King,
Joe Kelly and a host OF others who were
lauded to the skies when they stepped
into a managerial position but who failed
10 get results, which, after all. Is the
only real test of mana gerial ability It
seems that a manager must have certain
qualifications that the smartest ball play
ers d. not have, and many have been
successful managers when It was certain
that they had their shortcomings as play
ers. 4 whole lot depends upon the
breaks, personality ami conditions
It's the New York Giants against the
field IN the next championship race of the
National League.
The wonderful run OF twenty-sfx
straight victories by the Giants near the
close OF the past season has convinced
the majority Of magnates, managers,
players, fans and critics that McGraw's
team should be not only the favorite, but
also the topheavy favorite for the pen
nant this year. Indeed, some Of the Ma
uonal Leaguers have such a good opinion
OF the Giants that they are already ex-
pressing the hope that the New York
team viii get bad start in the spring,
so that It will not be able to make a run
away race OF II.
The one element of doubt as to the
ability Of the Giants to land the ,ennant
appears to be as to TIA pitching depart
ment. Among baseball Hen generally the
Giants are not rated as having a twirling
department which is the equal Of that of
the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Phillies or the
Boston Braves. Nevertheless, McGraw's
twirlers managed last season to make
two remarkable winning streaks. one of