Evening star., 1924-10-01


right | believe we clinched the Ar
proper time to put US at our best
loahng time to let the fellows get ou
going to be ready for the Giants
Harris attributes the success of the
Nationals to their fighting qualities,
that the club was able to take its
bumps, but never acquired the habit
of getting licked. when the pennant
race became one between the Yankees
and ourselves. we knew We had to
fight all the harder and I think our
record of Il wins against losses
for our final road trip proves We knew
how 10 fight. l have idea the
Nationals will be able to fight even
harder than they did last month when
the Giants are encountered"
Griffs Resume Work Today.
The Nationals relaxed naturally.
after getting firm hold on the flag
Monday, but today they were to re-
sumo serious work. A drill at Clark
Griffith Stadium scheduled for
this afternoon and there will be
others tomorrow and Friday. The
club was nearly tagged out when the
decisive game of the race was played
but it is in fine fettle now and there
is reason to believe it will not
have as stalwart fighting front when
it faces the Giants as it had in it's
supreme moments against the
Yankees in New York.
Generally the determining factor in
these annual inter-league struggles
is pitching and the Nationals corps
that has been staggering a bit lately
does not seem to measure up to the
Giants staff at first consideration
but some surprises may be due in the
series, surprises provided by Harris
hurlers-
Pitchers Showed Strain.
Under intense strain during the
past month, the Nationals mound
staff did not look invincible as it
did in August. Jez Zachary, left
handler, appeared to be the only de-
pendable pitcher of the lot of nine on
the clubs roster Even the great
Walter Johnson had his troubles and
generally had to give way to re-
lief hurler toward the end of game.
Curly Ogdens arm was in poor shape
and George MogTidge seemed tenn
porarily burned out.
Conditions were so serious that
young Fred Marberry, iron man of
the staff, had to be called to the
mound in 10 of the clubs last 20
games, yet, despite the staggering
staff, the Nationals won vast ma
1ority of their games on the final
trip and only once were they de-
feated on two successive days.
The Giants staff, that faltered bad
1y in August came back with a rush
when their clubs lead was threat
ened. The men who had been failing
to produce started to display real
pitching ability. To Hugh McQuil
Ian, Art Nehf, Virgil Barnes and Jack
Bentley, the Giants owe that fourth
successive National League champion
ship. This quartet pitched wonder
full ball in the final drive.
Three Bore Brunt of Work.
Yet. they never were called upon
for the amount of work the Nationals
two main pitchers were asked to do
in the latter part of the campaign.
johnson and Zachary, with Marberry
pinch pitcher, did practically all
of the slabbing for the Nationals in
their intensive drive of the past few
weeks. These men were in many NOR
games than the Giant hurlers during
September and under the circum-
stances their records compare favor
ably with those of the New Workers.
None of the Giants quartet has a
record for the Giants as great as
Johnson's, although Nehf's actual
average is written in larger figures.
But Nehf worked in only Is games,
according to the latest statistics, for
which he was held responsible, while
Johnson was charged with the fate
of his club in 80. Nehf won IA of
his tits and Johnson % of his, giving
the Giant an advantage of IL points
in the averages.
The few days of rest before the
series opens ought to work Won
ders with both Johnson and Zachary.
They are sturdy athletes and should
be fully as fit for the short world
series as they were in August, when
they bowled over the Western clubs
of the American League at the Geor-
gia avenue field.
Ogden Grooming for Work.
With Johnson again in form after
his lay-off of few days and Zachary
benefited by the rest, the Nationals
will have a pair of hurlers probably
as capable as any two the Giants can
put forth for a short series. But
these two dependables will have a
third hurler to share the burden with
them. Curley Ogden's arm is we'll
again and Manager Harris intends
printing the Swarthmore boy for an
early start in the classic.
In the recent crippling of Ogden,
who. a few weeks ago, promised to
be one of the big sensations of the
American League, Harris pitching
staff was hurt seriously. But with
Ogden again in harness for duty with
johnson and Zachary. the Giants are
very apt to find their hurting staff
fairly well matched in the clash for
the base ball championship of the
world.
Subs i'm Final League Game.
Only five national regulars toiled
yesterday in the final game of the
year. Memo Leibold. Early McNeely,
Roger Peckinpaugh, Ossie Bluege and
Muddy Ruel, with a quartet of re-
serves, took the field to start the con-
test, but Leibold and McNeely were
the only regulars to go the full route.
The second string outfit never was
impressive, and was beaten, 13 to 1.
Byron Specie started a game on the
hill for the first time this year, and
was well thumped by the Red Sox,
who were anxious to get out of the
league cellar. Fohls gang hammered
Byron for dozen safeties in his
six sessions on the mound, and was
helped by five National errors. In
the meanwhile, the Bucks did little
against Alec Ferguson, who pitched
the first three frames for the Red
Sox, and his successor. Howard
Ehmke.
Nick Altrock hurled the last two
RADIATORS, TENDERS
made or repaired. New ones. Also bodies