The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
FANS FAILED
10 SUPPORT
LOCAL TEAM
Grif's Nationals Had Hard
Uphill Battle in 1917.
Finished in Rut.

History In local major league
baseball repeated itself In 1917 as
the Nationals found themselves
back in the rut in the league stand
ing after one Of the poorest sea-
sons ever witnessed here Poor at
tendance of the local fans caused
rumors to float thick and fast that
the Nationals would lose their
franchise at the meeting held In
December and Clark Griffith and
the board OF directors of the local
club denied these outcries repeat
edly.
Washington has not and. accord
ing to the best OF dope, will not
lose its franchise in the American
ahead to better conditions for the
baseball world in 1918.
Ever since the reign Of Clark
Grifith, the Nationals have trained
in Charlottesville. Va, but the
weather man has worked such
hoodoos on Grif and his clan in
the little Virginia COLLEGE town that
the training camp of 1917 was
changed. The rockies of the team
were hiked on to Augusta, Ca, on
the first day of March and were
Joined by the regulars on the 10th
OF the month. For twelve days af-
ter this date the Nationals worked
hard in the warm sunshine Of
Georgia and the training trip in
the little town across the Carolina
line was given the o. K. approval
of all hands as practice was only
halted one day because OF bad
weather. On March % the squad
divided into two teams and barn
storming trips to the Capital were
under way. The Yannigans, under
the leadership of Ray Morgan,
went up the coast and although
they failed to return with any big
financial results, they showed that
Grin had gathered around him some
promising youngsters, as every
game was won by a big margin.
The first string team hit the trail
through the middle west PLAYING
exhibition games with Christy Ma
thewsOn's Cincinnati Reds. The
Nationals broke even in this Sc
ries and things looked rosy for To-
cal fandom, but shortly after the
season got under way. Grifrs clan
was Handicapped with injuries
which held the team back and it
was the same old story OF the Ma
ttanals being back in the rut
From financial standpoint the sea-
son was a poor one, as even a specta-
tor could see oy the attendance that
the club lost money. This was due
TO the war work of the government
clerks who were the big supporters
OF the team. During the summer
months 1t was impossible for the gov
ernment to snare its aids and when
things settled in September and Oc-
tober the club was so far back that
II was like wasting time to make the
journey to the Florida Avenue
Stadium to pull for our losing outfit.
GTiR picked up a couple Of likely
looking youngsters in Horace Milan
and Mike Memosiey last season, but
he will be without their services in
1913. as they both have answered the
call to arms. George Du Mont, the
Young righthanded pitcher, purcha sed
IN 1915, proved a winner for the Old
Fox lest season and should have a
good season in 1913. Doc Ayers, an
other who has Joined the ranks, had
the best season OF his career in 1917.
Sammy Rice was the only National
that clouted the pill above the 300
mark. Rice reaching this by one point.
Walter Johnson lead the league again
in strikeouts, but did not get started
until late in June.