New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
Giant-Indian
Game Is Again
Baked by Rain
Iris Speaker Says New York
Team Is Without
Real Rival
By Louis Lee Arms

HOUSTON, Tex. April 6.-The mud
in Houston is by TO means as rich or
deep as that in Dallas, but it was sufT-
GENTLY we'll developed to prevent the
scheduled game between the New York
Giants and the Cleveland Indians here
to-day.
In consequence Mister John Joseph
NcGraw is walkingabout with the wisest
and most knowing of airs. and when he
looks at Lee Fohl, the manager of the
Indians, that gentleman quickly ducks
for cover. 1t seems John Joseph was
80 impressed with the beautiful wealth
or in San Antonio that he attempted to
have Fohl shift the Dallas and Hous-
ton series to San Antonio. Cleveland
would not agree to hiA proposition,
whereat the weather man took a hama
in the game and has been pelting Dali
las and Houston with rain since.
This enforced layoff is critical to
both clubs. The Giants. particularly
the pitching staff. need warm weather
and plenty Of work to bridge the abb
breviated training programme laid out
for them When the team left San
Antonio il was coming fast physically.
hut baseball joints and muscles are 50
adjusted that even two days of idle
ness is precarlous.
Fohl Even More Put Out
Lee Fohl is more put out than Nc
Graw, for he was experiencing beauti-
full weather in New Orleans. and it was
over his protest that the Cleveland Of
fcials consented to the joint tour
through Texas. However. in two days
more. Mr.. Foh and his company from
the shores OF the Great Lakes will be
back in New Orleans, and the trials of
Texas rains will have been passed.
Long. white ribbons of rain and the
strains OF martial music greeted the
Two clubs when they stepped from their
special coaches this morning Ten
in Houston The blare of brass, the
ryhthmic fall of thousands of army
shod feet and the syncopated patter of
horses hoofs presented the most in
spring and solemn military spectacle
the ball PLAYERS have seen in this CEN
tire Of colossal military activity.
The driving rain drenched the pro-
cessional from tip to toe. but it did
not dampen one whit the buoyancy of
spirit that bubbled over in that long
line of lean ard fit soldiery. The ar
tey followed the infantry, and the
field piece canions rum bled sonorously
Practically every member of both
ball clubs stood on the rail-swept cor
ner Of the Hotel Rice and viewed the
spectacle At least q half dozen Of the
ball players, Of the two clubs expect be-
fore the close of the present season to
be actors rather than spectators in a
similar march.
If Giant supporters need encourage
ment or seek it, they will be interested
to know what an unprejudiced baseball
authority thinks of Mister McGraw's
current athletes. Our oracle is none
other than iris Speaker, who probably
by ball players themselve would be
voted the most popular and the great
est baseball player in the American
League, if not in all of baseball.
Speaker Boosts Giants
y think the Giants are one of the
greatest ball clubs | have seen in ten
years Of experience" said Speaker
while en- route to Houston. "They look
Ike a better team than represented
New York in 1917, and l don't see any
thing in their organization that ought
to stop them. Cincinnati is touted as
dark horse, but what we saw of the
team last fall strengthens my belief
nval. McGraw has the hitters, base
runners and pitching to win
This was Kind Of iris, inasmuch as
no member Of the Giants is ready to
return the compliment to the C!eve-
land club. II is the opinion Of the
National Leaguers that the Indians
lack an infeld, having only one man of
championship calibre in their inner de-
ience. He is, OF course, Ray Chapman.
who is beyond douot the greatest Of
modern day shortstops. If the Cleve-
land infeld compared with its second
aFy line of defence, in which may be
found Graney and Speaker, neither the
White nor Red Sox would be played as
iayorites in the Johnsonian circuit
John Foster has joined the noaners.
IN San Antonio the team barely cleared
expenses. 1t lost a. Dallas and the
rain busted up d financial holiday to-
Gay, for all Texas cities are Saturday
and Sunday towns. If Texas crowds
may be taken as a criterion soldiers
sill do much for To- support of the
Baseball this season. Eliminate the
army men who have attended the
diants games, and the attendance
you'd have been slim indeed. But with
mem the crowds have been t least
ayerage.
John Foster Is Sad
John Foster remembers that in 1914
@e Giants we're chased through three
iexas cities by an equinoctial storm
snich was always too late to stop their
games. This season the rain s pre-
seding the club, and for the Giants
'weretary joy has gone out of life.
Weather permitting, the two clubs
VII play tomorrow here and then de-
par for New Orleans on an early
aa'n. Bagby and Groom are the prob
s'ie pitchers for the Indians, while
nsnton, Barnes and Tesreau will be
aeGraw's selection.
:, houston is claiming the worlds
saampionzl> as it's Texas League club
ssss thrice banked the Chicago White
ssx. Il Is % be hoped, however, that
c1s.sy VIII al least treat our gcntlemanly
s'ants and the Indians with tolerance,
not enshusiasm.