Evening star., 1919-04-12
BAD WEATHER INK
ON GR|FF'S TRAIL
Yesterdays Rain Prevented
Game With PhiIIies, May
Block Today's Contest.
GO TO NORFOLK TONIGHT
BY DENMAN THOMSON.

CHARLOTTE, n. c.. April 12.-The
again. 1t rained so hard shortly be-
Iorc noon yesterday that practice was
out of the question, much less a game,
and the prospects for a battle this
afternoon between the Phillies and
though no more moisture descend, of
WhIch there is no assurance. the
grounds are bound to be in bad shape
from the downpour OF yesterday and
rast night. 1t takes a nardy soul to
assert that an exhibition OF the ma
tional pastime Will be possible this
afternoon. Griffith is all of that how
ever, and. by calling on his immense
reserve supply of optimism. he an
nounced at preakfast this morning it
Nouid not be necessary to leave Char
lotte for Norfolk tonight without
having engaged Jack Coombs in one
OF the two clashes originally seed
uied
The Washington club has had
mighty poor luck in the last three
Years in regard to its interleague con-
tests 1t Will be remembered that
year before last when what should
nave proved profitable series with
ram butted in and knocked the plans
galley west and last spring the pre-
season jaunt had it's climax wnen
tne ciuo ran into Il raging snow
Ii IT proves true that rain once
starting in this section at this time
of the year can be counted upon to
continue indefinitely the Nationals
and Giants are going to be out or
luck with the hve games they are
bil3ed 10 hook up in in various Vir-
SInla towns next week and the
leather man Will be running true to
form as far as the Washington cluD
is concerned. There is different story
IN in .rd
and Detroit Tigers. however. Starting
tnelr transforming tour early they
have been coming money. Botn clubs
passed through here on their way to
Greensboro and Managers Stallings
ana Jennings both asserted crowds
nave turned out to every game they
played and paid prices of from 81 up.
Walter Hapgood. the Boston business
manager, who arranged the tour, Sc
iected towns that Christopher CO.
lumbus couldn't discover. but the ma
tives were wild to get a peep at the
grand old game as it is piayed in
select society and fiocked out to the
parks in droves. At this writing the
Braves and Tigers have played nine
games and the smallest gate was
$l.500.
Big league owners evidently were
shortsighted this year in curtailinc
the exhibition schedule. Judged from
the experience of Jennings and STALL
ings, travelling show base ball is more
popular than for years, the fans in
The small towns being eager TO see
some of the big league clubs and will
ing 10 pay real money for the priv
lege- In the last three years there!
was little interest in the sport and the
exhibition games were frosty affairs.
Conditions have changed, however,
and Walter Hapgood was wise enough
to know it. Thus far the clubs have
made $4,000 and before the series is
more. which means the Detroit and
Boston clubs will more than make.
their training expenses.
Members Of the Boston Braves claim
they have another Babe Ruth in Jack
Scott. the big right-handed pitcher:
Scott is six feet two inches tall
weighs close to 200 pounds and can
that he is a good twir1er and ranks
with the best moundsmen on the club.
1t is his tremendous clouting, how
ever, that is making him a valuable
member of the club. In the past week
he has been collecting circuit wallops
and his record is second to none this
spring. In Albany, Ca: he lifted one
over the left field fence. At Atlanta,
on Sunday. he went in as a pinch
hitter and knocked the ball high and
far over the crowd in right field. Last
Monday at Columbia, 8. C.. he hit tne
center field fence, but pulled up at,
third because he was tired. When the
Braves played Detroit in Rockhill, S.
c.. Tuesday, Scott pitched four in
nings. He drew a base on balls the
first time UP, but the second time
ing a run in ahead of him. All of
which is pretty good work for a