The Washington herald., 1917-05-24
Nationals King Pitcher
Suffers With Sore Arm
Johnsons Wing Has Been
Bothering Him for Almost
a Week.

chicago May 23-Has walter johnson,
hrebail Finger Of the Nationals, lost his
ZIP Is the question asked by American
League fans? The big Swede has turned
IN but two victories in eight starts, while
he has failed on two occasions as the
pihch relief hurIer. What the Red sox
and the Browns have done to Walter the
Ureat Is now ancient history, and the
reason Tor the question Of johnson hav-
ing lost his zip can easily be seen.
me Smokeball King has not lost one
Dlt ci ms speed, but he has been attempt
ms 10 stand Up under the fire OF base
waiioPS when he should be resting his
valuable right wing For eleven years
Johnson has been firing them past the
DatIers with the same self-confident
shhile' ana during all this time of history
Iilhhlhs IN pitching record the Smoke
arm
IL Is a sore arm that is now bothering
the barney Oldfeld of baseball, and but
re" OF MS teammates knew Of this trou-
pie as for almost a week now Trainer
martin and the Old Fox have been work
ing on this 1880 wing without once let
tlhg any one in on how serious or how
bad this member is affected.
Inc leak Is out that Barney Is suffering
win MS arm, and in justice TO the big
king and Manager Griffith's confidence
that he will fast round into form, all
OF ms past performances must be placed
on the shelf
1t is up to the fans now to watch for
themselves and see il Walter can regain
his old powers. Johnson will surely be
started In one OF the games in this
series, and to say that GriT. Trainer
MARTIN and Walter himself, are anxious
lot the test would be putting it too mild
~. as the smokeball artist must deliver
10 Keep the Nationals anywhere near the
-S9 marx IN the American League race.
Johnson's ability to check the enemy
mas always been a big item in the worn
pot the Nationals, as many Of the cities
throughout the circuit book the Nationals
as walter Johnson and the Washington,
club are here today" so without the
wizard the Nationals would not only lose
in the old percentage column. but the box
office, both at home and on the road.
would be dealt a severe blow
Clark Griffith was a busy man this
morning as ne appeared before the meet
ing Of the National Commission here,
with protest and movement for the
betteTement OF the game in the Nationa.
Capital. Grif claims that Manager
Berry. Of the Los Angeles club of thS
Pacific Coast League. owes the Washing
ton club money for the transfer Of
Pitcher slim" Love from the coast to
the New York Yankees.
Love is the property OF Washington.
and although the old Fox" does not
want to lay any claim on him for actual
services he insists that the Washington
club should be reimbursed for the trans
fer that was made.
A decision will be rendered the old
Fox before the club leaves this city.
The board Of directors of the Nationals
have decided to play all home games at
40 in the evening so that the govern
ment clerks who arc real busy nowadays
because OF the pressure Of work due to
the war. will be given a chance to see
some OF the games.
In order to play the games at this
hour the ''Old Fox" was compelled TO
get the consent OF Ban B. Johnson. Of
the american LcaEuc johnson granted
the privilege to Grif and the first game
at home next week will start at 40
GriT talked over the movement which
he started Of contributing money TO a
fund which will he used to purchase base
balls. bats and material for the soldiers
that will be encamped near the big city
with the National Commission today. but
has not yet turned his system over to
them.
Ray Morgan has recovered from his in
jury and was back at the mid-cushion
today. He gathered half Of the total OF
hits made by the Nationals and played a
brilliant game in the field. not showing
any loss of his sucCd. DCGAN.