Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-24
GR|FF ONCE MORE
AFTER 0U7F|ELDER
Name Withheld, But Man
May Join Nationals Here
Wednesday.
HARPER TO PITCH TODAY
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

ST. LOUIS, May 24.-Announcement
Of acquisition by the Nationals of an
outfielder of sufficient ability to be-
come regular from the outset may
be made within few days. A deal
for the player in question, who is
young and can hit, now is in forma-
tive stage, and unless some unforeseen
difficulties crop up to block Regotia-
tions they should be completed by the
time the club gets home next We'd
nesday.
Who the athlete in question is or
where he halls from has not been
divulged. 1t never will be If the
transaction is not contaminated, for
Clark Griffith makes it a rule never
to discuss proba or might
have beens. the only time a projected
deal involving Washington ever is
given any publicity being when the
intelligence emanates from some other
quarter. as in the Davey Robertson
case. The manager admits he has an
iron in the fire, however. and asserts
it does not involve the st. Louis club.
All chance of obtaining Baby DolP'
Jacobson from the Browns has evapo-
rated with the terrific clouting the
and Griffith denies there is any chance
of Earl Smith. the local utility out
fielder, being taken on.
What we want is player who
primarily can hit, but also has a
future" the pilot said today. at
would gain us nothing to pick up man
who is only a $3.50 player and now
is on the verge'of being shipped back
to the minors. There are lots Of this
class that other teams are only too
anxious to unload. I'd rather go along
with my present lineup than stock
up with mediocre material We have
hopes of landing man who will help
our club, not only this season, but
for years to come. 1t will be known
within a few days whether he can be
landed"
Postponement of yesterdays SEIZED
total of games cancelled this season
up to ten. Two of the battles pre-
vented by cold weather. rain or wet
grounds were at Washington, the
other eight being distributed around
the, circuit, one to city. except for
New York. where none of the, three
contests listed could be played to a
decision. the two attempts made end
ing in draws. Chicago is yet to be
visited by the Griffmen this season
but regardless of whether one or more
of the three games listed there is
cancelled the array of double headers
the Nationals must go through with
on their next road trip already il
sufficiently large to occasion some
| managerial worry in the juggling OF
pitchers to meet the contingency.
A crowd, not large as crowds go
but twice the size of that which
| turned out for either of the two
games played here, was on hand al
game time yesterday and impa tiently
waited for three-quarters of an hour
when. while it was still raining. the
umpires announced the game was of
on account of wet grounds. Interes,
| In the Browns is picking up rapidly
due to their recent squirt, in which
| they have won six out Of seven games
and attained fourth place. and with
good weather today it would be nc
surprise. to see a turn out up near
10000 mark. Harper was the logica
contender to pitch for the Griffs yes.
terday and he remains the choice TO,
this afternoon. but il the grounds are
| heavy and the ball slippery Ayers
will get the call. OF the Washington
/ hurlers the doctors record agains,
the Browns is next best to that oil
Johnson. During his career in the
league Ayers has won thirteen of the
twenty three games he has pitched
against ST. Louis. All the other Grif
twirlers are on the wrong side of the
500 mark in competition against
Mound Citv outfits