The Washington times., 1924-10-04

finds the American League title
Here's the situation az it faces
the average baseball fan:
The Giants enter the series with
out the services Of their veteran
thirdsacker. Heinie Groh.
The Giants enter the series with
their captain ana star second
sacker, frankie Frisch. nursing q
fractured finger on his throwing
hand.
The Giants enter the series more
or less Under the shadow Of the
explosion set OFF by Judge Lands.
II there is anything Ii the
theory that the winner Of the
first game Immediately obtains :
tremendous advantage, then
again the Giants are handicapped.
They are playing before an In
tensely partisan crowd and
against the most popular base
ball club In either league.
The reaction upon the Giants Of
the O'Connell-Do lan scandal q
noticeable. When the National
League champions, left the metro.
polls Thursday night, they did e
quietly, each man lodging the
hmelight as much as possible. On
then, arrival in the Capital, again
It was noticeable that the members
OF the New York club lacked all
the cOekiness displayed for years
by q McGraw-handled bah club.
Opposed to the rather dispirited
Giants are the fighting Griffs, win
ners over a bitter struggle lasting
Tor three months, or one half ok q
season. They have witnessed hos
tile crowds turn about and support
them. They know, every man Jack
of them, that the entire United
States is backing them against tho
New York club.
There are no injured players IN
today's Washington lineup. Re1u-
lars and substitutes are In perfect
condition. Bucky Harris has
ball club ready for all opposition.
The attitude of the crowd todPy
may have certain effect upon the
Giants. Baseball fans everywhere
like to razz the enemy and wash
ington crowd today has much am
munition to hurl at McGraW and his
Giants. If the Giants crack under
1t, they will be but human. II they
buck up and fight their way over
the line q winner, they win prove
themselves truly great team that
can overcome such tremendous han.
dicaps as those facing them. They
win be entitled to all praise.
Bucky Harris Is In doubt Of but
one position In his lineup, center.
field. He has Earl McNeely. n
speedy yOungster with batting
average Of more than 800 and
Memo LeibOId, q slower veteran
with q batting mark OF almost
800. Both have played the posi-.
tion this season and with entire
success.
McNeely has one weakness. He
does not know how to do his hest
in q sunfield. That weakness.
caused his removal in favor Of
Leibold, who knows every little
thing there is to know about play.
ing a ball in the sun.
McNeeley Is q righthand hitter, 3
big asset to the Griffs who have
three southpaws as their leadinR
clouters. The young Californian e
about as fast as Sam Rice on the
bases and has all the daring cour.
age needed in the big show. II
there is no sun to bother him, he
may start today againAt the Giants
Leibold has experienced two worlc
series while with the Chicago White
Sox. A southpaw hitter Of consid
cradle ability, his small stature
makes him difficult man for
pitcher to face unless that pitcher's
control is perfect. Memo runs bases
well, using first-class Judgment IL
tight places. He has quite as much
lighting spirit as any other mar
on the ball club.
No other position is in doubi
among the fighting Griffs. Only IA 4
Jury can remove any OF the regu
airs. Muddy Ruel win catch every
game In the series and Ossie Rluege
VIII hold down third base every day
until the world title has been settIec
once and for all. \.
With Captain Frisch IN The
game, George Kelly win 70 70
center 'fleld: He Is 3 first base
man by trade, but he used % BE-
an 'OGtfielder and has. done well
there recently. with him m the
garden, Bill Terry will play first
base. which means two hard hit
tiers coming up against the Wash. ,
ingt0n Fingers.
McGraw switches HIS left flelders
irish Meusel and Hack Wilson, ths
former facing southpaws ana thu