The Washington herald., 1920-05-25
GROUND CONDITION. CAUSES
POSTPONEMENT OF BALL GAME
NJ JACK NYE.

Jim Bagby. star Cleveland pitcher,
lost his chance to try and add an
other win TO his unbroken- strtns
OF Victories yesterday when too
much rain caused the postponement
Of the first game OF the Indian-Na-
tIonal series.
This afternoon. hawevsr. Tris
Speakers hurIiss ace win oppose
the Grifmen IA battle with wal
ter Johnson. II President Grihith's 9
big box star Is right II ought to De
a great pitching battle.
Manager Speaker Is too wise
bird TO make any pennant preolc.
tlons at this stage Of the game out
II Is no secret that he hopes to bet
ter the standing of his team during
the stay in Washington. In addl-
tion to Bagby. -Coveleskie Is going
great guns even though the Atm
lstics did take his number In sun
days fraeas in Cleveland. The In
dians also claim the leading hitter
of the circuit in DOC" Johnston
who is holding down first base In
a very eficient manner. The rest
of the inner works. composed of
wambsganss. Chapman and Gard
ner. is a lightning fast combina-
tion which is doing more than It's
share with the bat. Speaker has
had no occasion TO worry about the
work of his outer defences and Is
ready to meet all comers with the
crew that. has already forged to the
front in the pennant free-for-an.
pfs.h.r. poar
Despite the fast pace Of the vis-
itors, President Griffith is not with
out hope. provided his hurlers live
up to what is expected Of them.
For the greater part of the year
the local boss has devoted most OF
his time and attention to niolding
an efficient infield. The young blood
that has been infused into that part
of the National machine Is begin
ming to show that President Grif-
fith is quite skilled baseball me-
chanic.
With Judge exhibiting the proper
amount of class and eclat, the other
performers around the inner works
are displaying speed. class, and pep
in equal proportions. AS the sea-
son develops these boys ought to
turn the tide in many a sizzling
setto.
Satisfied that his infield is going
to deliver the goods. the president
manager can be counted on to de-
vote quite a bit of time to his slab
men in the future. He will call
upon all of his experience and
knowledge to bring them up to
their best form. realizing that good
pitching is now the one thing most
needed to start the machine hitting
on six cylinders again.
Though both the Nationals and
Indians have an OF day Thursday,
the postponed game of yesterday
will not be staged until July s,
when q double bill will be on the
.card. Grif's men had already sched-
uled an exhibition game in Rich
mond for Thursday, and the Indians
were slated to appear in a like per-
formance in Pittsburg. 1t was
agreed that the fans in those two
cities should not be disappointed.
Doe Johnson's Hitting.
Doc" Johnston is not only lit
ting like a demon. but his fielding
around first is all that could be
expected He established a seasons
/.
the Athlstics when he had siA as
siSts at the first corner. This is
within one assist of the record for
that position.
On two occasions first basemen
have been credited with sever as
sists. The first man to accomplish
the feat was Joe C"Kitty"D Brans-
held. Of the Pitfsburg club: in
game against Chicago on May J:
1904. George Stovall. while playing
first base for the Browns. duplicat-
ed the stunt on August :. 1912
Here is how StovalI made his rec
ord:
FIRST irning-Threw out Oldring
On a sacrifice. Pratt covering first.
Second inning-Threw Barry's
gIounder to Wallace. who covered
second. forcing Coombs: P'aycd the
at the plate on Collins tap to Pratt,
and. on Barry trying to score from
second. George caught him by a
fast play.
Fourth inninG-GOt CoOmbs' roll
er and threw him out at first, Pitch
cr Raumgardner covering the base.
Fifth innins-Got McInnis' sacIi-
fee and threw 10 Pratt. forcing the
runner.
Seventh inuins-Got Shctton's re-
lay from the ouifieId. and by a fast
,rcIay to Pratt caught Baker OF
second.
Eighth inniEg-Threw out Lord,
10 Pratt at second.