Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-20
SLY OLD FOX OF
BASE BALL HAS
HIT HOME PLATE
In Becoming Part Owner Of
Senators" Griffith Real
ICES the Ambition of His
Lifetime.
BY JACK VEIOCK.
International n News SporttpK Editor,

New York, Jan. lo.-Clark Grit
hth, the peppery Old Fox of base
ball, has realized the ambition of a
lifetime.
His ascension to the presidency
and ownership of the Washington
Americans marks the climax of a
long career in the national game, for
"Griff' is today a full-fedged mag
nate.
Rising from the ranks of the
pitching fraternity-and "Griff' was
one of the best and headiest hurlers
of his day-he graduated to the
managerial strata. He owes much of
his success to Ban Johnson, for it
was Big Ban who secured for Grit
fifth the position as manager of the
Yankees when they first began to
play ball in New York. Little won
der. then, that Griffith is stringing
with Johnson in the factional fight
that is going on in the junior major.
Then to Manage Reds.
When the Yankees and the Old
Fox came to the parting of the
ways Griffith went to Cincinnati to
manage the Reds. landing the berth
partly because of a strong recon-
mendation from Johnson. Later
when Grifith's time came to leave
the Cincinnati club he found the
pathway open TO step into the man
agership at Washington and has
been there ever since.
\ With a free rein to conduct the
affairs Of the Senators as he sees
fit, Griffith will undoubtedly give the
fans in the NATIONAL capital the
STRONGEST team they have ever been
asked to support. Star players are
scarce, it is true, but there is al
ways way to strengthen ball club
and "Griff' can be depended upon
to put new life into the team.
With Sunday base ball legalized
in the District of Columbia and
also in New York, the outlook for
American league teams playing in
the east is much brighter than il
has ever been, for base ball is going
to settle down to its normal level
next season and business will be
good. The Senators, despite the
fact that they were not among the
leading contenders for the 1919
pennant, played to big crowds at
home during the past season, and
il the Old Fox can build up a viii
ncr around Walter Johnson and a
few OF his best players they will be
sure to make money next year.
One Of But Four.
Griffith is one of four retired
players who have become major
league magnates. Charley Comis-
key, Connie Mack and John Nc
Graw rose from the playing ranks
to the heights in base ball and all
have been highly successful.
The player who possesses the ag-
gressiveness to rise to the position
of an owner is certainly better
equipped than the layNlan to direct
the affairs OF bali club. Griffith
is keen base ball man in every
sense of the word. During his play
ing days he attained success by us
ing his head rather than his arm.
What's more, he is shrewd busi-
ness man and has always ranked
among those who have constructive
ideas in base ball.
That he will succeed as president
Of the Senator's if a foregone con-
clusion. He realizes that the pub
lie loves a winner, and that if it is
impossible for an owner to win
pennants he can at least hold the
confidence of 'his public" by doing
everything within, his means to put
team in the field than can deliver
first 'class brand of base ball.