The Washington times., 1921-01-18

away and sign with me without
costing me my ball club. may
talk business. But l can't be held
up in this matter"
So Baker. II he Is sincere about
joining the Washington club. may
now be in Communication with the
Yankees. seeking to get away and
Join the Griffmen. This may ex-
plain the r,Imors trickling out OF
the Metropolis that he may return
10 the Yanks.
No, it Is impossible to pin Presi-
dent Griffith down to any definite
facts concerning Baker. But the
aforesaid dope should come close TO
being the low-do on the situation.
YANKs DON'T NEED HIN.
Whether or not the Yank1 put
stumbling blocks in the way OF
Bakers coming to Washington, 1t is
reasonable to say that they don't
need him. Aaron Wards apectacu-
lar performances a, Third base last
season have cincned his grip on the
job and. even If Baker did report. he
would be but q :Inch-hitter. WARDS
superior speed and greater youth
would keep him In he lineup.
Furthermore, Bakers drawing
powers in New York have been sadly
shattered by the appearance OF the
new "Home-Run King" Babe Ruth.
in the New York clubs lineup. In
deed, If compelled to measure his
smuggling ability against that of the
Bambino, Baker would most certainly
suffer In the estimation of the fans.
Possibly. because OF this very stu
alton and the generally known good
r. n ha In 70
the Yankees may not make it too
difficult for Baker to get away from
the Yankees and sign with the Griff-
men. President GriffithS trading
Bobby Roth for Mogridge and Lewis
may be taken as sign that there
is some friendship between the Wash
ington and New York clubs, but
whether II goes to lengthe that would
send Baker here remains to he seen.
HITTING DOESN'T WIN.
Bakers hitting, even though he
were to measure up to his ancient
form, would not guarantee any PEN
nant for the Grffs. II he were to
field like another Jimmy Collins
which is an impossibility-even that
would not make the pennant a GER
tainty.
The long and short of It is that
mere hitting never has won any pen
nants. Babe Ruth murdered all past
records in 1920, but Cleveland won
the pennant. The Detroit Tigers led
the American League for years when
it came to clouting. but the pennant
went to Boston and Philadelphia and
Chicago. 1t takes far more than
mere hitting to win a pennant. Both
st. Louis clubs were batting leaders
in 1920, but the pennants went else
where.
However-now get this-if Frank
Baker closed bad hole in the infield.
and that hole was the only one in the
team, the Griffmen would be more
likely to get somewhere than they
would without him. And when you've
said this, there's nothing more to say.
absolutely nothing.
The most important department for
ball club is its pitching staff. In
1906 the Chicago White Sox. without
single 300 hitter in it's entire line
up, won the American League title
and the worlds championship. The
Cubs won the National League hon
ors that year. Harry Steinfeldt hit
for 1927, Artie Hoffman for $3.50.
Frank Chance for .319, and Johnny
King for .312. But the weak hitting
Sox won the worlds title because, in
Nick Altrock, Doc White and Ed
Walsh. they had the pitchers
GRIFF-s 1921 CHANCES.
Without knowing just what Presi-
dent Griffith may do in the way OF
deals before the curtain rolls up on
the 1921 season. we would say that
the Washington clubs chances of
high rank next October hang largely
op what Walter Johnson does. Sec
ondarily, Jim Shaws performances
should be important. With Johnson
and Shaw winning thirty-five games
between them, and this is not too
large number. but fiftyfive games
would have to be won by the rest OF
the gang to ensure the Griffmen OF a
high rank, II not supreme honors.
SO much luck figures in all pennant
victories that II is grossly unfair to
expect a club to win the flag at any
time before Labor Day. Clark Crit
fith's club should have won the
American League pennant In 1912. Had
1t not been for accidents to Ray Nor
gan, Zeb Milan, and Chick Gandil IL
is our earnest belief that Washing
toms long wished for dream would
have come true and Harry Rapley
would have faced the trial of his life
finding tickets for all his friends at
the worlds series.
What will the Griffmen do in 1921 ?
II knew. I'd borrow up TO my limit
and make fortune. SO would you,
each and every one OF the readers
OF this junk.
hut don't lot this Baker stuff kid
YOU into believing that just because
he is playing third base-Nf no is
that the Grlffs VIII win the pennant
1t requires an all-around ball club
to win pcnnant, and then only
when gifted with a largo amount OF
tuck. II the Griffs get the pitching
and tho luck, they may win tho flag
without Frank BAKER