Evening star., 1919-05-08
JOHNSON T0P|TCH
IN BOSTON FINAL
Ruth Likely to Oppose Him.
Griff Not Sorry Game Was
Prevented Yesterday.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

>@>>@>s
| BOSTON, May S-Walter johnson
VS.. Babe Ruth is the pitching pro
gram announced for today, and If thu
weather is only halfway favorable
for base ball the largest crowd thai
has visited Fenway Park this spring
should turn out to see the second anc
final clash Of this series between the
Nationals and Red Sox.
Lowering clouds. a chill wind and
reatening rain caused the cancella-
ton of the battle listed for yesterday
Both Managers Griffith and Barrow
were lust as well satisfied to idle. as
the pitching staff of neither club Is
up to snuff. Doc Ayers or Harry
Thompson would have worked for the
Griffs had contest been played yes
terday But with an added day OF
rest for Johnson he will be called or
or not Ruth draws the assignment for
Boston. If the big left-hander ap-
pears to be in shape he Will ascend
the hill. otherwise 1t will be Sam
Jones the visitors will have to contend
with. 1t will be tough assignmen nj
for the Senatorial gladiators in any
event. Ruth has always proved
hard nut for the Washington team tc
crack, and it was only as recently as
a week ago Sunday that Jones helc
the Nationals to five blows and nc
runs in that first Sabbath clash OF the
season in the capital.
Doing duty this afternoon will make
it devolve upon johnson to appear
again next Sunday in New York in the
first Sabbath game for the Yankees a
the Polo Grounds. Another recort
turnout may be expected for thi:
event, as Miller Huggins' team ha:
| increased in popularity greatly II
| Gotham and there are thousands O.
| followers of base ball who never be
| fore have had a chance to see John
son in action. Sunday base ball in New
York is going to prove of tremendoul
financial benefit,--not alone to the
| three teams located in the metropoli.
district. but to all other clubs in the
two major leagues: Last Sunday ir
the first professional ball game evel
played on the first day Of the week fr
New York city, $4,000 fans jammec
| their way into the Polo Grounds. de
spite the fact that the despised Phil
| lies were the guests of the Giants
over in Brooklyn that day. with tht
+. Dodgers entertaining the BostoI
, won a game this season, the attend
ance was $4,000. Some new records
| for attendance and high marks for re
| ceipts are bound to be set this year.
Until yesterday it seemed likely th
/ Griffmen might return to Washing
! ton for a single engagement with tn
Red Sox next Sunday. Manager Grff
| fifth was willing to pass up the imam
| cial plum of participating in the mrs
Sabbath game for the American
| League at the Polo Grounds in orde
| to give Washington a Sunday game
| it having been demonstrated conclu
sfvely that patrons of the sport in th'
| capital want base ball on the res
day of the week This would hav
| given the Athletics the privilege o
| meeting the Yanks in New York mex
| Sunday. The Yanks wanted the Re-
| Sox booked to play them in their frs
! Sunday game, but Manager Grif1tl
would not consent to returning hom
F., to play the Mackmen. as he figure'
! Washington fans were entitled to tn
best attraction possible. and betweel
the Philadelphia and Boston club
there is but one choice. Griffith tool
steps last Friday to arrange for play
| ing the Red Sox at Washington mex
| Sunday. but action in the matter wa
so delayed by the officials having !
| in hand that up to last night no an
nouncement could be made, SO tn
| boss of the Nationals has given
i out that he will stand by his right
and play next Sunday in New York
where his team also is scheduled t
perform tomorrow, Saturday and Mon
I, day.
| Eddie Foster did not know until h
read the Boston papers yesterday tha
| he posse ssed a consecutive hitting
! record for eleven games-aIl tn
| Griffs have played to date. He doesn'
watch things like that very closely
! Some of the more superstitious mem
| bers of the club feel certain no,
! that Eddie will fiiyver in his game
| But they forget he hung up a mar
! of twenty-one straight last seaso
| and received plenty of notice-of wha
i Il l.