Evening star., 1924-10-09

OF asking for relief. And withop+
appeal from the master. young B1Cky
Harris would not move He did no,
want the records to show that John
son, In the parlance of the game
had been Knocked out of the box. In
that fatal eighth, Johnson's heart
was no heavier than his hand He did
not have even the skin Of his first
start. All day there were but three
men who permitted three fast ones
to go by them. Johnson tried a slow
curve frequently. but it was of no
avail. The Giants hit everything.
'Cheered by Crowd
If johnson had been taken out Of
the game, if he had been compelled
to tramp alone to the club house be
fore that crowd of 50.0 900 fans. il
would not have been the humiliating
spectacle which many supposed. In
stead. it would have been an ovation
Every time the crowd had chance
TO applaud Walter the demonstration
stirred the deep echoes Of park
which never before had heard such
a tribute. AS the game ended. John
son was still on the bench and then
was swallowed up in the throne.
The crowd had no opportunity to
voice its final devotion.
Looking at JohnSons ancient pen
nant as it was being dipped to the
newer generation of ball players were
a few old fellows who had seen him
make his debut in the American
League. one OF these is member of
the Washington team-Cncle Nick AL
trock. but Uncle Nick has been clown
ing it for a number of years There
was Clark Griffith. president of the
Nationals. looking on from the stands.
and Hughey Jennings OF the Giants
looking on from the coaching box
From the press box out gazed old Ty
Cobb. still going strong. Babe Ruth
looked on with kindly eyes, but he
was nowhere when Johnson was in
his prime. The players in the league
who We're there when Johnson came
in from the sage brush country can
be counted upon the fingers of one
hand The old marathon runner, clean
thinking. clean living, always faith
full to his duties and his club, had
outlasted them all. But when his
great opportunity came, although Civ
ing his best. il was not enough
Washington had expected johnson
to win two games of the series. The
Nationals felt they could contrive to
put the other two over. This they did
but Johnson failed. If he had won
his two starts there would have been
no need for a sixth or possibly u
seventh game.
Gets No Backing.
1t always has been Johnson's fate
to have weak hitting behind him.
His world series experience was no
exception to the rule. His team
mates could not go ont and get Kim
any runs. If on either enc of his
starts, Washington could have piled
up lead of two or three runs, the
story might have been different.
johnson would have had a chance TO
ease up. But they kept him fghting
from behind. Two or three runs
would have given him confidence and
put a winning spirit in his mates.
In the old days. Johnson used to have
to shutout the enemy in order TO win.
Even then. it was necessary to 60
II or y innings before Washington
could put a tally across the plate
So the blame for the two world
series defeats must not be placed en-
tirely upon the aging shoulders OF
the veteran ace. He held the Clan
batters, with all their power, to two
runs in seven innings at New York.
He held them to two runs in IL
innings at Washington. With no sup
port sufficient to overcomes such a
brief lead. Johnson at the end OF
both games broke down.