Evening star., 1926-04-27


/ know none of our pitchers uses resin
while on the slab" President Clark
Griffith of the Nationals declared.
Il voted against the adoption OF the
rule permitting it's use in the Ameri-
can League" he added, land I intend
to see to it that none of our players
violates the code. l stand ready TO
punish the player who does"
johnson Never Used Dust.
That Johnson was mentioned in tho
reports of tho Athletics contention
that hurlers of the champions were
not observing the American League
ban on the powdered resin particular
ly annoyed President Griffith. Il know
more of Johnson's career as a pitcher
than any one excepting Walter him
self" Griffith asserted, "and i know
that no never has resorted to the use
of resin or any other substance barred
by league rules to assist him In his
pitching.
He always has done his work hon
cstly and that he still is the greatest
pitcher in the game Is due solely TO
native skill and ability. it is an insult
20 such a fine pitcher and man as
Walter Johnson to say that after all
his years Of brilliant effort he would
stoop to trickery and rule Violation in
his work.
"And Ruether is not using the resin
bag. We don't have the powder on or
around our bench and there would be
no way for him to get it. don't know
whether Dutch used the powder before
he came into tho American League,
'ut 1 am positive he has not used it
since. Like Johnson, he does not need
It. Such q charge by the Athletics If
thcy made H. is silly, and l am more
than surprised that reports virtually
questioning the honesty and integrity
Of Johnson and Ruether i'll base ball
should be circulated"
While Griffith was expressing him
self SO emphatically, President Robert
Quinn of the Red Sox was at hand,
and he fired u few verbal shots at
those impugning the honesty Of Amer
lean League pitchers in so far as the
resin ball WAS concerned. II know
that none of the pitchers on my club
uses the resin bag. l would not toler-
ate ii for minute if l discovered any
one did SO. And don't believe others
are violating the rule generally. In
fact, good pitcher doesn't need to
employ the dust. It's only tho alibi
boys who would clamor for it."
johnson always has said that he
could not understand how resin could
benefit a pitcher 1--WE never used it
and never felt that l needed to-" the
Big Train states. II believe it bene-
fits those addicted to its use only
mentally. There may be some pitchers
who imagine it increases their effec-
tiveness and are mentally handicapped
at least If they have no powder on
their hands"
''On what do they base their conten-
tioM?" Ruether asked, when told that
it was alleged the AS had charged
him with using the resin bail. IF
were employing the dust as an aid the
umpires certainly would know about
it as we'll as the Athletics. And the
umpires rule the American League
with an iron hand. Pitchers are not
putting anything over on them. Such
a charge coming from the players is
foolish on the face of it,
Walter johnson was TO oppose the
Red SoX this afternoon, and, as, usual.
was to work without any resin. 1t
must be admitted, however, that fire.
quently the big fellow gets as much
on the ball as any National Lacquer
or American Lacquer. if any-addict-
ed to the use of the powder, if not
more. His trusty right arm often
makes an afternoon quite interesting
for opposing batsmen.
Jim Lyle, righthand pitcher. who
came to the Nationals from the Au-
gusta club of the South Atlantic
League late last Fall, has been re-
leased under option to Birmingham of
the Southern Association and was to
leave today for his new post. Early
in the training season Lyle, who has
a deceptive delivery. promised to get
q regular lob with the Nationals, but
it was soon discovered that the tall
Southerner needed to learn much more
about pitching when there ware men
on the bases. EIe ought to get good
schooling at Bi~r,joeham, and ap-
1as q splendid chance of be
ign recalled to The dig show before
long.
All the Nationals and Trainer Mike
Martin soon will be sporting new blue
serge suits. An admirer of the club,