The Washington herald., 1921-01-01
NATIONALS TO GET
PITCHER MOGRIDGE
AND LEWIS IN DEAL
No Cash Involved, Says
"0ld Fox" Figures He
Got Best of Swap.
By JACK NYE.

Clark Grifath's determination t.
strengthen the Nationals for tbs
coming American League campaign
became more than a mere New Yeal
resolution last night when the pres,
ident-manager announced that tht
much -talked-of deal with the New
York Yankees was an actual reality
Bobby Roth, Washington right
fielder and champion voyageur oi
the league. has been traded to Man
ager Miller Higgins. for Outfielder
Duffy Lewis. once a teammats OF
Iris Speaker and Harry Hooper in
BostoRs and George Mogridge. south
paw slabber Of the Yankee stan.
II was an out-and-out trade, no
money changing hands. according to
Griaith.
1t has been no secret that Roth
who did not fit into the Grifffth
machine, would not be back on the
payroll next season, and Huggtns
was known to think rather highly
of "Braggo's" ability. By exchang-
ing his outhelder for another
gardener Of ability, despite the fact
that he has reached the veteran
stage, and a fairly capable south
paw. Griff fiatters himself that he
has done a good days work.
Lewis Hits in Pinches-
Duffy Lewis was mo whirlwind
with the Yanks last year; he was
out for a time with a sprained ankle
and participated in but 1O7 games,
Still, he proved that his old fielding
skill had not left him and was a
dangerous pinch hitter.
In slugging the ball the Yankee
.autfielder fell slightly behind Roth.
with an average of .275 as com
pared to .29O for the Washington
man. Roth also had an edge in rap
ping them for extra bases and
showed a lot more speed. on the
bases. Bobby pilfered twentyfour
sacks. while Lewis, falling into the
fat-footed habit of the entire
Yankee team, stole only two.
On the other hand Lewis dispo-
sition will be an Improvement over
that Of Roth and he should prove of
more real value to the Nationals.
His pinch hitting will help a lot
and he can snag the high ones with
as much skill and grace as any man
in the business.
NOErIdge May Help.
Grifith also expects to profit by
the acquisition of Mogridge, who is
a capable southpaw.- even though
his record last season was pothing
sensational. Mogr!dge is a left
handler who IS blessed with control
and his chief worth to the Yanks
last season was as a finisher. There
Is-- : ayh II n
he appeared to have the Indian
sign. Boston. st. Loms and Phila-
deIphia usually had a hard time
beating him.
Mogridge won Ave and lost nine
battles last year. though he took
part in twepty-six games. He was
taken out in eight Of them and was
a relief man in quite few. In the
earned run column his averages was
4.32 a game. which was about on
par with the average of the Ma
tional slabbers.
Keeping the ball over the plate
was one thing the Yankee pitcher
was able to do. He issued but SO
walks in 26 games.
Guess Roth Is TickIed.
Playing for a New York club is
usually the ambition of most play
ers and Roth will probably not be
sorry that he can again become a
teammate OF Babe Ruth, as he was
with the Red Sox in 1919.
Bobby came to the Nationals last
winter in a deal wherein Griffith
traded Mike Menosky, Harry Har-
per and Eddie Foster for Roth and
shannon. shannon failed to be of
much benefit to the Nationals and
was eventually sent to Philadel-
phia for the waiver price. Roth
played through the season, doing
splendid work at times, though his
fielding was never up to par. He
found it hard to go back fast on d
hard hit ball and was also weak
on drives near his shoetops.
This trade is probably not the
last that Griffith will pull OF before
the season starts. He is still on
the lookout for a third sacker and,
as money no longer appears to talk
in baseball, it is probable that the
infelder will be secured by the me-
dium OF a trade. More reinforce
ments for the pitching stan may
also be landed.
With the addition of Lewis and
the strong probability that Bing
Miller will be awarded to the Ma
tionals, the outfield problem no
longer appears to be a complicated
affair.