Evening star., 1925-10-14
Pittsburgh in for Siege of Bad
Weather, According to
Forecaster.
BOTH CLUBS PITCHERS
WILL BENEFIT BY REST
Johnson and Aldridge Were
Scheduled to Meet in Deciding
Clash Today.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
Sports Editor, Washington Star.

FORBES FIELD, PlttSburSh, Octo'
ber 14-Rain forced postDonement OF
the deciding clash between Washing
ton and Pittsburgh for the world
championship here this afternoon.
Commissioner LandiS waited until
2:32 pm. before deciding that the
continued precipitation would pre-
clude play.
With several days of bad weather
predicted by the official Government
forecaster for this section. the pros
pect was for long delay before
the 1925 world series could be decided
The delay was regarded as likely
to prove beneficial to both clubs. as
1T would give the rival pitching STATS
additional time for recuperation from
their earlier efforts.
A half hour before starting time
intermittent drops of moisture IN
dicated that it was only ques'
ton Of time before rain III sufficient
quantity to prevent play might SET
In. Ten minutes later the downfall
had assumed the proportions OF
light drizzle with a brisk breeze from
the southwest driving storm-laden
clouds toward the battlefield. Many
spectators. prepared for just such an
emergency, sat in their seats with
umbrellas raised, but some 500 news
paper men and telegraph operators
along with The thousands of fans In
the uncovered stands, faced the pros
pect of a good drenching-
Champions Practice in Rain.
Preparation by the athletes for play
went on as usual, but with only 20
minutes left before the starting hour,
the Pittsburgh ground crew made prep
arationS to spread the huge canvas
tarpaulin over the infleld. AlthouSh n
Commissioner Landis, whose word is
final in everything pertaining to world
series, let 1t be known that he planned
to have the game started regardless
of prevailing conditions, the precipisa-
ton by this time. 15 minutes before
the barrier was due to be sprung. had
increased in intensity, but the Wash
ington players trotted out for the usual
fielding practice.
The expected announcement that
johnson would make his third start
in an effort to record as many vic
tories was forthcoming from Manager
Stanley Harris, despite the fact that
Barney had had but two days of rest
and was suffering with a lame leg.
At this point, 10 minutes before
game time. although the drtzzle had
decreased slightly, the covering was
spread over the infield, with the UNI
pires gathered at the home plate mark
ing time. At the zero hour no word
had been forthcoming from Commis-
sioner Lands, who sat in his unpro-
. tected front seat vigorously putting
at cigar. This indicated the COM
missioner had determined to await
developments in the weather. 1t still
was driZzling steadily. At five min
utes past two. Manager Mckechnie of
the Pirates crossed the field to Mr..
Lands box, as the rain descended
steadily, and after a five-minute con-
ference Judge Lands sent word to
the press to "sit tight for a while" "
The rain by this time had slackened
q trifle, constituting a steady drizzle.
Comedians Go Swimming.
Some 10 minutes later the fans be-
gan yelling. Call it off, came from
those in the unprotected seats and
"Play!" from the spectators protected
from the elements. Promptly at 2:20
pm. the umpires made pilgrimage
from the Pirates bench, where they
had sought shelter, to Commissioner
Lands box as Nick Altrock and Al
Schacht provoked merriment by start
ing out to the diamond wearing hip
boots and carrying agyly-covered um-
brellas. Seated on the tarpaul1n, the
comedians put on their we'll known
fishing stunt, in which they fall out of
the boat and SChacht swims to the
rescue of Altrock as the crowd roared
with merriment. Commissioner Lands
then sent further word to the press
to "sit tight for 10 minutes as AL
trock amused the throng by taking
running dives on the ground. A slight
sign of clearing skies caused the CEN
terrified bleacherites to raise cheer
at this point.
Then came the official announce
ment that the game was off.