The Washington herald., 1920-08-19

l
Concerted action already has been'
taken by members OF the Detroit
and Boston clubs, who have re-
uuested President johnson to ban
Mays permanently from baseball.
They declare Mays is a dangerous
pitcher. and consequently a menace
TO batters who hit against his de-
livery
Assuming that Mays did not
throw the ball with the intention Of
hitting Ray. say players, II is OBJ
vious that Mays has too little con-
troll of the ball 10 be permitted to
remain in big league baseball.
Grin Thinks Action Due.
Clark Griffith. president Of the
| Washington club and a director Of
the American League, stated today
| that the American League should
take some action in connection with
the death Of Ray Chapman. Grif-
nth said he would not precipitate
any action, but would await action
by Ban Johnson. He would not in
innate the action he believed the
| league would take
Billy Evans and Billy Dineen.
veteran umpires, attack Mays aIibi
Of a roUghened ball vigorously
! They point out that hundreds OF
| balls have been thrown out be
cause OF slightly soiled surfaces
and that ever since the introduction
of the rule barring rough balls, UNI
/ pires have watched the balls in
! play with exceptional care.
Carl Mays gave out a lengthy
| statement today in which he re-
iterated his entire innocence and
/ his intention to stick to major
| league. ball Owners Of the Yam
KEGS have asserted they will back
/ their star as far as they are able.
Mays is a university man. OF an in
| telligence higher than the average,
and analyzes his position very
| clearly.
| Any man who believes a pitcher
/ would deliberately throw a ball at
| another's head in a ball game Is
| foolish" said Mays. Even II such
a thing were done. it is difficult for
me to see how that pitcher could
] believe he would hit the man at
/ whom he was aiming.
! Il know and so does anyone else
who gives the matter thought that
! poor Chapman was killed because
! he didn't get out OF the way Of the
I
! hit him. He crowded the plate.
/ That was expected Of him because
/ there were runners on the bases
and he was doing his best TO score
! them. The ball that hit him was
! a fast one. nOta curve. 4 slight
move would have saved Chapman.
MY grief over the accident is
great, but ii is something which
could not be helped. intend TO
/ remain in baseball and show the
fans that the things which have
been said OF me are either malicious
or ill-adviscd.'
, Veteran fans and baseball experts
J declare thar NAYS is the target for
/ so much attack because Of his un-
/ popularity as a bail player. ANY
, other pitcher would have received
only sympathy from everyone.
Mays widely Unpopular.
Last wear when Mays was mem
her OF the Boston Red SON feeling
between him and the fans became
/ So strained that Mays threw a base
, ball into the grandstand and walked
. of the field. refusing TO pitch for IN"
, Red SoN any more. This episode
prccipitated controversy which
. lasted an entire year.
! Lunts was at shortstop when the
! Cleveland ball team took their posi-
I tions in today's game at the Polo
! Grounds. Players Of both teams
wore black bands on their sleeves
and all flags were half -masted. Scout
Jack McAllister was in charge OF the
] CIevelands in the absence Of Iris
/ Speaker. Jameson was in center
6old 'TIe YanLepS - pmed even more