The Washington times., 1922-05-10

Hdluc AT O.OO U ClOCk.
have noted a strange apathy among
fans Of all sorts and degrees. They
can't seem to work up any enthusi-
asm this spring.
"Oh, are the Yanks here today"
said one fan in New York He didn't
even know the first pennant ever
won by an American League club in
the metropolis was to be raised that
day. mo, I'm not going out till the
Babes back in the game. / go out
to see him sock it. Oh ] suppose the
Ianks will be slow to start, but
they'll win the pennant again,
especially with the Babe in there"
In Philadelphia a young man riding
in the same street car with us said
he wasn't going to the game that
day because Ruth wasn't playing
yet" He didn't even know that
Washington, and not New York. was
playing at Shibe Park
A man in Boston, standing on the
steps Of the Hotel Brunswick. and
watching the heavy rain pelting
down upon the just and unjust.
wanted to know what team that was
staying in the hotel. We informed
him and he replied:
Il don't take any interest in base
ball any more, though I used 70 go
out three or four times a week. II
got too much for me. In the old
days we fans here took a lot Of in
terest in the Boston team-that was
the old National League team
and got to know every one OF the
players. But now they keep SELL
ing or trading all the good men.
and we don't get accustomed to one
before he goes to New York. Every
year the papers are full OF hold
outs. 1t wasn't that way with the
old Boston Nationals when Kid
man Long were in the lineup"
Another fan in the Hub said he
didn't go to the games any more
because the races are all fixed for
New York to win" He admitted
he followed the Braves rather than
the Red Sox, being one OF the reb-
els against the American League.
but he was convinced that the
Braves had no chance when ut was
fixed for the Giants to win"
There Is a far healthier cOndi
ton here in Washington. Only
the worst OF dumbbells wOnld
argue that Clark Griffith is weak.
ening his ball club to strengthen
any other. and probably on that
account Washington fans are
strong for the Griffmen, even
when they are going at their
worst.
We were talking with Billy Rich.
ardson. the vice president OF the
Washington club. over in Phila-
delphia last week. He was down.
cast because Milan's team was go
ing so poorly and wanted to know
the cause OF II. We told him II was
largely a case Of poor and most un-
steady pitching.
well, / don't know where we can
get any pitchers" said he. but II
Griff can find any he can get them,
no matter how much they'll cost.
All we want ia a winning ball club. |"
Hot air Is cheap. We would not
especially place much credence in
Richardson's words were II not for Il
fact that the entire course followed
by Clark Griffith since coming here
has been steadily toward strength
ening the team. Now and then he
has let players go only to have
them make good for other clubs,
but that is true Of every club.
Many players offer a big gamble
to their managers.
There is no certainty that the
Yankees will win the 1922 pennant
Indeed. the American League will
he greatly benefited II that allstar
team in the metropolis goes to
pieces and finishes as low as third
or fourth. something not likely to
be seen. But TO have st. Louis,
for instance, win this years pen
nant would be to kill much OF the
belief among fans in general that
the New York club is being
strengthened purposely in order to
have the whole league share in the
immense profits at the Polo
Grounds.
1t is undoubtedly true that many
fans reason that way. 1t Is on that
account that the attendances are
falling off everywhere. Cold
weather may have had its effect.
but this underlying belief in the
planned one.sidedness OF the pen.
nant races Is far more to blame.
However, every fan Of any ex.
perience knows that In difficult