Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-09-18
G Fate May Be Sealed ST. Louis OushadonS AN Second
Battling Bucks Big Boss Real Veteran in Base Ball
l-CLARK CALVIN GRIFFITH.
I ESSE JAMES and his hard-rid.

I@ccL I'M I'D Gho uIS hdIuilu-
ing desperados started Clark
~ Calvin Griffith toward his pres
ent lob as president of the Wash
ington club of the American League
Griffith was born at sStringtown.
near Nevada Mo-. on November 70
1869, and might have been living on
the cd farm now but for the wild
deeds of the James gang.
The outlaws so terrorized peace
loving Missourians that the Griffith
amily migrated to Normal, ILL.,, when
Clark was l3 years old. and gave the
little fellow his first chance to see
some base, ball.
He took to the game as duck does
70 water. and soon had young teams
about Normal bidding for his serv-
ICES. Iriifith thought so much of base
ball that when .springtime came
around he could not concentrate upon
his studies But he always was SO
clever with his school work during
winters that teachers, perceiving his
mood. would readily excuse him from
classes that he might rush to the
totwn lot for a few innings.
Gr'ffith was both catcher and pitch
ar ION the sandlots. but when he
entered professional ranks, at the
age of II years, he>-decided to stick
to the mound job. His first contract
was with the Bloomington, H.. club
If the old Interstate League, and he
I'D so well with that outfit that the
next year, 1883, found him with Mil
waukee Of the Western Association.
Lake most young pitchers. Griff was
Will when he went to the Brewers.
bu' by pitching for hours at a time
~ Nj L ar,.li of 1aH h..
terce for target he perfected his
ire ttest asset boxman--contro1-
md in three seasons there ne earned
l greet reputation as Il hurler, ant
was made a member of the St. Louis
Browns by Charley Comiskey in 1891
Later that year. he was sent to Bos-
ton of the American Associa ion anC
helped that club win the pennant
The American Association and Ma
tional Lea"ue of those DAYS had been
engag d in bitter controversy for
ioms while but a truce was declared
IN the winter of 1SH1-2. and later the
circuits cons olidated Many players
cost their jobs, and Griffith was one
OF them.
He had to go for another Job get
ting il with ne Tacoma club of the
Northern Pacific l. .aeue. That cir
cult wen to pieces in midseason. So
Griffith moved on to Missoula. Mont.
for the remainder of the 1892 season.
"" started the next year with the
Oakland team of the California
League. TIL club was too good for
the others in the circuit though. and
" inch"d the pennant so early that
July again found Griffith ont of work
II" was called TO the Chicago Ma
.innal LEAGUE tenn, however, and
played with il through eight cam
paien:. Bv that time Griffith had be-
come most important figure in big
'eaGuo base halo important that
Ban Johnson called upon him to as
list in the elevation of the American
League t. a ma ior standard.
So Griffith in 1901 cast his lot with
Johnson and Charley Comiskey
heed organize the National Leagues
rival and assumed the mana-em mt
If the Chicago club. HIS outfit won
the pennant that year and finished
ieCond the next. Johnson then Sc
iscted him to organize an American
'cacue club in New York. and Their
he was in charge from 1893 until jun
# l90S
From 1909 until 1911 he was with
he National League "a: manager o,
the Cincinnati club. but he came back
10 the younger circuit in 1912 as
Washington manager, and few
years later became part owner and
president of the Nationals.
1t took him just 43 years to clint
from Springtown to the National Cap
ital. Now nothing but go.f match
Ean drag him from han game.
t7his is the fist of a series OF
sketches about the Nationals. uhose
sensational luork has been the Outstand-
ing feature OF the 1923 seasonD
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.
indianapolis. 64: Kansas CITY. - SECOND
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