Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-09

In view of the fact that their two
most noted sluggers Eddie Collins and
Joe jackson. have been hitting far be-
low their normal stride and that there
have been no additions to the pitching
staff the assumption is that the unex-
pectedly strong showing of Rowlands
men to date must be due to other
causes. and il is-to three of 'em.
One is the remarkable showing made
by Eddie Cicotte, the veteran of thir-
teen seasons in professional base bail
nine OF them in the big show
Another is Chick Gandil. the former
Grifman- whose acquisition from the
Indians plugged the hole at first base
that Fourier. John Collins. Jack Ness
and others tried in vain to fill. Chick
has demonstrated that he is able to do
all that first sacker should do. and in
addition has been hitting a a consid-
erably higher than 300 clip for sew
eral weeks past.
The third. and probably the most i'm
portant. of the three reasons that the
White SoX this season look to have
better chance to finish in front than for
more than decade is the presence at
short field of a Young man named Ris-
berg. The acquisition by the Sox of
the fielding star of the Pacific Coast
League has injected into the ranks of
the Windy city outfit the one thing
II needed to make il real contender
on the field as well as on paper-fght,
The Swede is on his toes every min
ute and his exhibition of pepper has
proved example for the somewhat
phlegmatic athletes filling the other
positions on the Chicago outfit. Ris-
berg has demonstrated that he can
cover as much ground any short
fielder in the business. He is back of
third on one play and behind second on
another and frequently goes far into
the outfeld to take short flies when
the Sox gardeners are playing back for
some smuggling member of the opposi-
ton Indeed. Risbergs only fielding fault
is that he overplays balls that many an
other guardian of his position would
not be able to get to. In addition, al
though hitting but few points over
the eco mark, many of his blows have
been injected at most opportune times.
and he is regarded dangerous hit
ter IN pinch.
But his mos, valuable attribute is
his aggressiveness. He never quits
trying. and the result of thee example
he sets for the other white-ho war
r1ors has been very noticeable If the
White Sox this season are able to
land pennant for Comiskey for the
first time since 1906, to Charlie Ris-
berg should go large share of the
credit.
Bert GaIlia probably will be the
pitching selection for the Nationals in
the second game of the series with
the White Sox today. with Reb Rus
sell, the star left -hander of the Chicago
Ringing corps. as his opponent.
The defeat of Chicago by the Griff-
men yesterday. mainly because of Har-
per's stellar twirling. was a hard blow
for Manager Rowland. but his team
lost no ground in the race. as the Red
SoX were soundly trounced by the
Tigers. who advanced to third place in
the standings as result.
Following the closing of the Central
Association season yesterday. and con-
: sequent release of the players of that
circuit, Manager Griffith was Informed
that Pitcher Lynch of the Waterloo
livery at the end of the season. was
available. and the local pilot imme-
diately notified the youngster to re-