Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-22

still is doing we'll at third and help
ing with the stick, with the result
that the Nationals have regained con-
fidence, which is half of the battle
Stan Harris will join the team when
it gets back home still further
STRENGTHENING it.
shannon has been playing great
ball at second and hitting so hard
and opportunity that he may sup
plant O'Neill at short when Harris
returns to the lineup. Jimmy has
been fielding beautifully, but has
gone back in his stick work and may
draw lay-off. Neither Shannon nor
O'Neili can play third well enough
or the other will get the loafng job:
Griff remarked recently that ONeiii
and Shannon would have to fight it
out for the shortstop job. Both boys
are of that caliber that either will
congratulate the other on obtaining
the assignment.
Eddie Ainsmith and Doc Ayers were
callers at the hotel last night. shaking
hands with the Griffmen. Both had to
stand for. a lot of joshing, but they
took it all in good hsmor.
Grif After Pitcher AcOsta.
There is a right-handed pitcher in
the International League by the name
of Acosta whom Griff has been casting
envious eyes on for some time. AS
his name implies. he is Cuban, but is
no relation to the little fellow who
used TO play with the Nationals. Griff
saw the youngster pitch for the Cuban
team that played the Nationals at
Tampa last spring. Griff admired
Acosta's work then. but the Cuban
was under reservation to the Roch-
ester team and could not be ap-
preached. Acosta's present owner
wants a small fortune for him and
will not do business until after the
International season closes. Grin ad-
mitted that he is afraid John NC
Graw, with his big roll, will outbld
him for Acosta. but he is going after
him just the same.
Young Olsen, the Cornell University
pitcher. who was supposed to have join
ed the Nationals in Chicago. put In his
appearance last night. He was accom-
panied by George Ellsworth, VINO mas
been a star in the outfield of the tina
cans for three years Both were recon-
mended by John Henry, former Wash
ington catcher. and will be Inspected by
Griffith before being placed in the
minors for experience.
Gambling Rampant in West.
The officials and magnates of the
two big leagues did not take cogni-
zance of the gambling evil IN base
ball a minute too soon. With the ex-
ception of New York, the fans of the
eastern cities do not realize TO what
extent betting on ball games is car
ried on in the west The average east
ern fam sitting in the stands or down
town before the game. may bet quar-
tiers and dollars on outcome of games,
but out in this wild and woolly west 1t is
no uncommon thing to see hundred,
two hundred. five hundred and ire
ouently a thousand dollars bet on a
game. Everybody appears to be loaded
to the neck with money and an unoreak-
able desire to bet on any old thing.
Base ball appeals to these new-ricn,
as they are only betting one-two-
that is. against one cnntender--whlie
in horse racing they would have TO
nick the winner from field of SIX
or >more 1t is the old-time bettors
who are handling the rolls and let
ting their customers do the guessing
In st. Louis. Chicago and Cleve-
land. betting on the games is ram
pant and conditions here as equally bad.
The league officials, of course can
do little toward stopping this evil,
but when they employed a corps of
detectives they did SO with the iuli
that the average big
bettor loves nothing better than an
ace in the hole. and are therefore
seeing to it that he does not secure
mis- advantage by tampering with the
players.