Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-07

came the crashing artillery of 49,
600 human voices in one of the
widest vocal frenzies anyone ever
heard Hats went into the air.
Cushions sailed out upon the field.
Fans from tie centerfield bleachers.
no longer human, rushed out upon
the grass to embrace one another
Here was baseball at it's highest
point, here was conclusive proof
that the game must he preserved
against all enemies and still held as
part of the nations life and recrea-
ton.
No Soraid Ownership
There was no sordid club owner
ship here. There was no PLAYERS
SrCcd for more gold. There was
the enthusiasm of the thousands
who for the moment were dipped
into bliss that does not come too
often to the muItitudcs. Washing
ton had come from behind and tied
the score. Washington was going
to win. What else mattered? 1t
looked that way in the tenth, when
with one out, Harris and Rice both
! singled. Johnson at last was within
one lone hit of the 18-year-old dream.
| GOslin whipped a terrific drive over
first that brought on an uproarious
cheer, until it finally curved q foul
far down the line, by less than two
feet. Then Goslin passed out. Judge
started another .Outburst when he
also slammed Il line drive over first
| that curved foul by less than a
stride. Here was the break of bat
| tie and the fortunes of war. Either
! blow might just as we'll have been
a clean hit, But raw fate has no
| thought of what might happen on
/ beyond. Judges line blow curved
| foul and then he, too, passed on
and out Here was q great chance
gone. Johnson finally rolled up II
strikeouts, but when he passed Hank
| GOWdy, always fighting to the last
ditch, after Hank had drawn two
strikes, the guillotine was ready to
descend. He had two strikes on
Nehf when the star Giant pitcher
chopped a short blow to center. Nc
! Nicely covered the ball, caught it,
! held it for a moment, but finally
dropped it as his knee hit the turf
! Even then he might have nailed
! GowdN at second, but he lost the
! ball, fumbled it upon: recovery, and
! then threw wild past second, while
| GoWdy raced to third and Nehf to
second. This was the final thrust
that finally brought the brilliant
Johnson down.
No Armor Against Fate
There is no .armor against fate.
NO human is impervious to the as
Saults of unfaVorable destiny. Both
men scored later on. 1t was after
this that. Washington game and
savage rally came within a breath
of tying the score, and despite Sam
1Gce>s poor judgment in racing to
second, only. a brilliant stop and
throw by. Kelly at second saved the
day. Here was a game where John
son and Nehf shared the honors
Either team might have won. But
it was written in the books just one
way. Genius can be neglected too
long. Eighteen years is no brief in
terval in the human span. John
son. pitched his soul out to win that
first worlds series start. But in
spite of tanning II Giants, he lacked
the break of the game to carry him
through. He did his part. No single
defeat could weaken for a moment
his imposing prestige among Wash
irgton fans, who were roofing for
johnson more than they were for
victory. They were stepped in the
desire to see this stalWart of the
game come safely through. to port.
But when it is written otherwise in
the book of chance. there is moth
ing more to be said or done. John
son did his share. He was as great
in defeat as any one could have been
in victory. And as the $4,000 just
at the edge of twilight filed from
the crowded park. there was just
one expression and Just one thought
it was tough luck for Walter But
he'll pitch again.