The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-13

/ know this much, shall never
pitch for any other team in the big
leagues but the Washington club.
II Clark Griffith gave me my un-
conditional release today and the
Yankees or the Giants offered me
100000 to sign a contract, would
not accept this offer. That wouldn't
be right. II am to stay in the
majors, III stay with the Wash.
ington club, champions of the
world.
This has been a wonderful expe-
rience to me, / am at last, at the
end Of eighteen years, with worlds
champion club. Nobody knows just
how l have longed for that.
One OF my toughest experiences
came when lost the opening game
of the world series. j know that
everybody expected me TO win. II
felt as strong as l ever did in my
life, yet ] lost.
Then came that second defeat
in New York. It hurt me down
deep when everybody cheered me,
though ] was being hit hard.
felt like throwing my glove away
and calling it off forever. Every.
body wanted me to win, and /
didn't have the stuff.
In the final game I asked Bucky
Harris for one more chance. You
cannot imagine how glad / was
when he said that / was to be his
lace in the whole" There was my
last chance. It was up to me and
nobody else. Bucky was depending
on me to win that deciding game.
When / stepped on that rubber
knew could win. ! had my
speed and my hook. knew that
the Giants could never beat me.
Yes, I had some wonderful support,
every pitcher has 70 have that to
win. but I felt all the time that
was at last going to win game In
the world series.
Well, I've won my game. One VIC
tory in the big series Is enough for
me. / have been in baseball a long
time. know that, while am an
old man in baseball, am just in
middle life and must plan for the
rest of my days.
have been trying to arrange for
the purchase of ball club in the
Pacific Coast League. 1t isn't COM
pleted yet, but / think it will 90
before spring comes.
If can become a part owner
Of a club out there, I can manage
the team and pitch every now
and then when feel like it.
Also, / will be within riding dis
lance Of my home in Reno, New.
1t wouldn't be like playing in the
East and changing my home
every February, and not getting
back until November.
Washington has been good to me
ever since came here, q big kid,
fresh from the bushes. I'll be sorry
not to be with Bucly Harris and
the boys next year when they start
out to win another pennant and a
world championship. But q man
has to look out for himself. I nave
young family growing up. MY
children are reaching school age.
1t is not good for them to be rrav.
cling around the country and losing
their education. That is the real
reason why I am considering my
retirement from the big leagues.
This has been a great year for
me. I have been credited with
twenty.three victories and only
seven defeats. That's fine. I lost
two world series games, but was
lucky enough to be in the game
when the championship was finally
decided.
That's enough glory for an old
man like me. A pitcher can't go
on forever, and am about really
to quit.
Before I leave, though, want to
thank all my friends around the
American League. yes, and in all
the other cities. for their kindness
to me. It has helped me to do nly
best. That Is all any man can do.
! have done my best since I came
to Washington. shall always do
that wherever may be. l don't
know any other way.
Copyright. 1924, by the Christy