Evening star., 1926-10-02

Probably Jim Gould, who writes
base ball for a St. Louis daily. was
the first to sense this leaning of the
followers of the Nationals during an
American League championship race
toward the Mount City club that will
carry the shield Of the National
League in this years base ball classic.
Although Jim is n native New Yorker.
he has been in St. Louis long enough
to realize just what civic spirit means
and this realization was enough to
enable him to understand how the
Wa ashington folk here feel about the
series.
New York is a great town." Jim
says. You can't get away from that.
But it's too big for such a thing as
world series. 1t simply does not
and cannot enthuSe over ii as would
town where the man knows some
thing about the fellow living next
door to him. That's the kind of a
town Washington is. 1t showed that
in 1924 after the Nationals took the
measure of the Giants in the mem
orable series of that year. And
that's the kind of town st. Louis is.
j showed that the day the Cardinals
cinched the pennant. The series
games here will be merely exhibitions.
but the series games in St. Louis will
! be struggles grippir : in dramatic in
tensity. despite the manner in which
they may be played"
Discuss New Players
About the only thing in which the
Washington contingent here was in
terested in this morning was the out
come of the big league draft that was
accomplished yesterday. That the
Nationals drew a couple of battery
men in the trio of players that came
their way was particularly gratifying
to the Washington club officials here.
According to Scout Joe Engel of the
Nationals. the club has been awarded
fine pitching prospect in Burke, who
will come to the erstwhile champions
from Little Rock. Joe declares Burke
is a SouthpaW with much natural
ability and, with a little training.
ought to develop into a worthwhile
slabman. Engel says Burke is but
10 years old and rather siZable for his
age.
Berger. the catcher drawn from
New Haven of the Eastern Associa-
tion. has been seen in action by Engel.
The scout is of the opinion that he
will be good man for the Nationals
TO keep string on for season. at
least. Like Burke, Berger is young
fellow with plenty of time to develop
into something useful to a big league
organization.
Bernie Neis, the remaining draftee.
is no newcomer to the big show. He
has played in the Outfield for some
years. For some while he was on
the Brooklyn roster, but the Nation
ais drew him from Buffalo. If NeiS is
not strong enough to stage a come
back in the ma jors. he, at least, ought
10 be good trading material
Many of the Washingtonians here
last night sought out Vic Keen. only
member of the Cardinals who makes
his home in Washington. Before tax
ing up residence in the National Capt.
tai. Keen. who is a Philadelphian bv
birth, attended the University of Mary
land. where he was star pitcher of
the nine for several years. He went
from the varsity diamond to the Cubs
and last Winter was sent to the Cards
In a trade.
Keen is not eXpectd to do anything
in the series. however. Although
sturdy pitcher for the st. Louis outfit
In the early part of the season, he de
veloped arm trouble in June and since
has been ineffective. He is To go to
Rochester. y. Y. this Winter to be
treated by the same surgeon who
worked such wonders with Dutch
Ruether's salary wing last May and
believes he will be able to ilurl in his