The Washington times., 1924-09-13

smCoChneSS and the even balance [
on paper the Senators appear D,
teams that are at each others thu
OF course, Walter johnson is a
star if there ever was one, but we
weren't considering pitchers in the
above statement. Johnson works at
the most every four or five days
while the charges of "Bucky" Harris
the child leader, consistently win
behind the other pitchers Of the
staff. And the fact that there are
no outstanding performers at other
positions but good players every
where is the reason for the success.
Yet perhaps some Of the players
are moderated and really deserve
more notice than they get.
Take for instance Edgar Samuel
Rice. Sam, as everybody calls him,
is a most important cog in the
Washington machine. Scarcely any
one thinks of him as a veteran, yet
Rice has played in the Washington
outfield for seven years, skipping
1918, when he was in the service
Of Uncle Sam. And in his career
Sam has performed a number Of
feats that have brought him more
than passing notice.
Rice was born i'm 1892 af Mo.
rocco, Ind, and, like a number
OF OutfielderS, Is a reformed pitcher.
Sam came up all the way to the
big leagues as a pitcher, and it
was Clark Griffith who first saw
possibilities of him making good
out among the daisies.
His first year with Washington
was 1916. when, in 81 games, he
batted for an, average of .299. The
next season he was regular gar.
dener and played in the entire SEIZED
ule-155 games. He hit for an
average, of 1902, and for the first
time began to devote part of his
time to stealing bases. He swiped
So from under the noses of the op.
position that year
After the war Rice came back,
and in his first year again showed
Improvement. He batted 1921 in
1919 in 141 games, stealing twenty
six bases in the meanwhile. But
It was the next ear-1920-Which
was Rice's big season. That year
he was without doubt one of the
real stars of baseball. Yet at the
time Babe Ruth and his new home
run record were in the public eye
and nobody gave Rice and his truly
remarkable performance much
notice.
Sam batted 1888 that season in
1853 games. He made 211 hits and
scored eighty-one runs. He led the
league in stolen bases with the
high total of sixty-two, and set a
new major league record in field
ing his position. Sam accepted ATS
total chances that year, smashing
the old mark to bits. Since that
time Max Carey has equaled that
mark, but never has it been sur
passed. OF the Ats chances, Asa
were caught flies and that record
10 unequalled except by Tanglefoot,
Grand Rapids.
The next season Rice neglected
to do any great amount OF base
stealing. He played in ten less
games than he did the year prev1-
Ously and thus did not approach
his total chances Of the year be-
fore. Still, his batting mark for
143 games was $3.50 and he,
doubtless, was invaluable to the
team.
Rice slumped sadly in 1922 and
for the first time since his first
year in the big leagues, his batting
mark slipped under 800. He hit
1896, an average Unfortunately high
for some players but not so good
for Sam Rice. Consequently, the
report started that Rice was about
through. He came back quite g
bit, however, in 1923, when he hi
SIG in 1874 games and this season
his rejuvenation is complete.
So far, according to the last
semi-official marks, Sam was club
bling the ball to the extent Of a
1914 batting average. He bats third
in the Senator lineup, and with
Goose" Goslin, the cleanup man
makes up a combination to strike
terror into the hearts of opposing
pitchers. For Rice. a .S44 hitter
and one of the very best baserun
ners in the league, often gets or
the sacks, and is almost as otter
driven home by the explosive GosIir
bat.
Rice's speed tells in the field a.
we'll as on the base paths. He |,
one Of the fastest and most eff
fIcjent outfielders in baseball--evel
better than Goslin, who has provid
ed the sensation of the year will
his unexpected improvement II
left field. Rice, experienced. fas
and possessing sure pair of hands
cuts off any number of hits durinI
q game or a series and his wortl
In the field cannot be gagged.
Sam at his best, and lie seems
60 be ut his best now, can do
anything that Speaker ever could
do. Yet we have never heard
anyone mention Rice and the
wonderful Texan who has long
passed the peak OF bis career in
the same breath.
The explanation for this seeming
injustice to Rice is purely u mattcl
Of personality. Rice is not a par
ticularly colorful pllver, though hi
record would so Indicate. Sam Il
quiet and unassunning, goes abou
his work with a lack OF waste mo
ton and grandstan I'd flourish anC
makes everything look easy. Hi
tendency in this resnoct increase,
his value to the team, bur unfor
tunately it does rot enhance hi
reputation among the fans.
= a. II