Evening star., 1924-09-30

3
There was not a happier man in
the world at the conclusion of yes
terday's game than Griffith, when
Bucky Harris grabbed Denny Will
lamS grounder, stepped on second
base to force out Danny Clark, then
tossed to Joe Judge at first to COM
pete double play ending the con-
test. Griffith's heart must have filled
with JOY. 1t was his day. the day he
had been striving for since he as
sumed charge of the Nationals in 1912
Griffith'S great aim since he went
to Washington has been to give the
city its first major league pennant.
And it has taken him IL years to get
it for the National Capital. He
neared the goal in 1912 and again in
1913, but the club in these years was
not quite strong enough to make the
grade and each time finished a poor
second But Griffith stuck to his self
appointed task with grim determina-
tion-and the Nationals are in first
place to stay in this American League
campaign.
Victory Is Tribute to Harris.
Tie success of the club is n sterling
tribute to the magnetic young mana
ger, Bucky Harris. The base ball
world was startled last winter to
hear of Harris appointment to the
field leadership of the Nationals. He
was too young. too inexperienced.
base ball wiSeacres cried, to be
given such an important post. But
Harris jumped into his work with
both hands and feet. spurred his team
into action and now as a winning
manager his first year out. the 81
year-old athlete, who has in man.
ner revolutionized base ball. has all
the former critics doffinG their hats
to him.
How sweet is the triumph to
many of the Nationals. Walter john
son, long recognized as base balls
greatest pitcher, after a wait of II
seasons. gets an opportunity to flash
his genius in a world series. Roger
Peckingpaugh, virtually east aside
by pennantwinning club. gets the
thrill that comes with champion
ship after three years, and an added
kick with the knowledge that the
club beaten out by the Nationals
this year was the one that tagged
him Through" after 1921.
George Mogridge, Allen Russell and
Harold Ruel also were with the Yam
KEGS at one time, but not long enough
to. get a taste of pennant winning.
Joe Judge and Sam Rice have star
red for number of seasons with the
Nationals. but have had to wait pa
tiently for their laurels. All others OF
the club, too, well deserve the honor
that is theirs.
Will Help Entire Game.
Base ball undoubtedly will benefit
greatly from the Nationals victory.
Too long has the New York incubus
threatened to throttle the game. OF
course. New York teams have just
much right as teams of other
cities to win pennants. But the New
York clubs of both leagues. with re-
sources much greater than those of
teams in other cities, were able to
build playing machines that for a
time crushed all opposition. Theirs
were hollow victories and for time
dulled interest in the national game.
But when the Nationals unexpec-
tedly developed championship strength
early this season interest in the sport
was intensified, for the public at least
recognized a flag contender that
might have a chance to overthrow the
Yankees and thus prevent another
intracity series in the suise of a
world championship. AS the Mats
went along at the top or thereabout,
fans over all the country rallied to
their cause. Even New Workers have
gotten a real kick" out of the rise
The race for the American League
laurels this year has been one of the
greatest in the history of organized
base ball. So keen was the competi-
tion that at times there was less than
two games difference between the
first and fourth place clubs in the
league.
Defeated Strongest Opposition.
The Nationals bagged the pennant
by being able to fight off the pair of
teams rated highly in public estima-
tion before the campaign got under
way-the Yankees and the Tigers.
Twice the Nationals, in second place,
invaded the New Workers. stronghold
and each time left with a clear claim
to first position, and when the Ty-
gers, who hung around the top of
the ladder persistently, despite the
thrashing from the Nationals, threat
ened to get firm hold they were
showed down, never to rise again, by
Harris scrappy crew.
The Nationals were slow starters
in the race to the pennant, but once
they got going set pace too furious
for most of the other clubs to try to
follow. In the first week of the sea-
son the Bucks got winning average