Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-14
Will Continue to Support Ban johnson.

the best interests OF base DALI
At,ains Lifetime Ambition.
In obtaining control of the Wash
ington Club Griffith has attained me-
time ambition He said last nlgnt
that he was highly gratified at having
arranged the deal. and pledged MN,
self to do his utmost to give local
fans a team that they would nave
good reason to be proud of.
Griffith has been connected with the
Nationals as the largest individual
stakeholder and manager for the past
eight years He intimated he expect
ed ultimately to retire from actiVe III
rection of the team on the neid: put
that he would continue as pilot lot
the time being. To whom he VIII
fntrust the managerial reirs when ne
gets ready to step out ana oet .;'
himself exclusively to the executlVe
end of the clubs affairs can only De
conjectured. but it is believed that
George Mcbride is the man.
The former star shortstop ana cap
tain of the team. who lately mas wee"
acting as Grifth's field lieutenant. rs
believed TO possess all the Qualltles
reonisite TO a successful team leader
Mcbride is a keen student or human
nature. knows the game from 70
and is thoroughly familiar with 9TH
fith's methods
Outlines Progressive PohcS'
In outlining the new policy wnlcn
mi
said every effort would be made py
the purchase of players ana tne
nromulgation of deals to strengthen
the team and put it up in the race
for the pennant.
..Jt is with regret that J. sever busl-
NESS relations with the men i have
been associated with in the conduct
of the Washington club, Grifhth said
last night My relations with them
always have been most friendly ana
cordial and, I am sure. Will continue
to be I welcome the opportunity OF
being the sole directing head OF the
club however and hope TO conduct
il in such a manner that II Will oe-
serve as we'll as receive the nearly
support of all Washington sport
lovers.
Fans Welcome Change.
There is no question but that the
change in ownership of the Nationals
will meet with the hearty Endorsement
of a great majority of the patrons OF
base ball in Washington. Since COM
Ing to this city in 1912 Griffith mas
displayed a keen interest in It's wei
fare and has been prominently iden-
titled with various movements for It's
civic betterment. He has earned the
respect and good WI of persons in
official and social standing in all
walks of life and enjoys the conf
dence of followers of sports OF all
descriptions. particularly base baii
fans who appreciate the handlcapS
under which he has been compelled to
labor in his efforts to give them
winning team.
A native of Missouri. Crit spent
the better part of his boyhood in
Bloomington, Ill. where he hlled his
first professional engagement as a
pitcher with the team representing
that town in 1887. From there he
went to the Milwaukee team. and in
1891 became member OF the ST
Louis Browns. which Comiskey guild
ed to a pennant in the American AS
ISOLATION. He had trouble with his
arm the following season and drifted
out to the coast. but regained his
form and late in the season of 1893
joined the Chicago Nationals. with
whom he gained the reputation of
being one of the smartest and most
effective pitchers the game ever pro-
duced. He remained with them con-
tinuously until the season of 1901,
when, acting as manager for the
White Sox. he won pennant for
the team Comiskey placed in Chi
reaped a fortune. Upon the invasion
of New York by the American League
in 1902, GriH managed the Highland
ers, as the Yankees then were known,
until the midseason of 1908. The fol-
lowing year saw him at the helm of
the Cincinnati club of the National
League, and after three seasons there
he came to Washington.
Is booster for Capital.
Since taking UP his residence here
Griffith has been stanch booster
for the capital and il was largely due
TO his efforts on at least one occasion
that a movement to deprive Washing
ton of major league base ball was
frustrated. He always has had faith
in this city as a base ball town and is
entitled to great credit for holding the
team here.
incidentally. though fans with short