The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-04-09
HAD
EN- DIZZY

A few days hence baseball viii
swing into its fifty-first season as
a major sport. Somewhere within
the sixteen clubs that comprise the
two great circuits there is a sur
prise team, as somewhere in the
sixteen clubs there has always been
a surprise team. One cannot recall
but few seasons under the Big Top
when some baseball club. unherald-
ed, unprecedented, did not rush Tor
ward to upset prediction and shame
prophecy.
Fourteen years ago one OF the
greatest Of these upsets was the
hectic progress of the Washington
Americans. Twice, in 1910 and 1911
the Athletics, conceded to be one Of
the greatest, if not the best base
bail club in the history of the sport,
had gone triumphantly to two PEN
nants and two world champion
ships.
NATURALLY, the Mackmen were
chosen on all sides as the presump-
tive winners of the 1912 flag. A
subsequent triumph in the world
series was taken as a matter OF
course. But that great troupe that
had marched steadily forward to
the pinnacle Of baseball for two
years in succession fell down In
the breach.
The Boston Red SOxs won the
American League pennant, to
emerge triumphant from the duel
for the world title pitted against
the New York Giants.
The world series, in many re-
wpects, was the most remarkable
ever waged between the two leagues
with the possible exception of last
years battle between the Pirates
and Senators. It even extended to
eight games, one more than the al
lotted number. But while the dual
triumph OF the Bostonians was a
surprise, the startling feature Of
that season was the spectacular
manner In which Washington went
forward.
The Griffmen that season had
a splendidly balanced team and
q pitching staff comprised Of eff
fective veterans. Walter Johnson
was in his prime. So were Dolly
Gray, Bob Groom, Long Tom
Hughes and several others.
They knew how 30 pitch. they
were steady and cool under fire,
cunning and alert on the field
Of battle. Little attention was
paid to the Senators, then under
the management Of Clark Griffith,
now president Of the club.
The Red Sox, Athletics and
Washington were closely punched,
but so certain were the fans that
Connie Mack's men would repeat
that they gave scant considera-
ton to Washington. But on the
second Western trip Of the grandees
arrayed in the toga everybody sas
up and took notice of the Griff-
men.
For they swung around the
circuit Of the West and WON
. straight run Of SIXTEEN
A FOREIGN FIELD.
Naturally Washington, which had
been down in the ruck for so
many years that the memory Of
the oldest inhabitant ran not to
the contrary, became widely in
famed The Potomac was even
ablaze with enthusiasm and frenzy.
the inhabitants of the District
OF Columbia went nladly insane.
No club in the history Of base
ball had ever taken a Western
trip and won every game. So
when the Washington club met
the Athletics at Shibe Park, on
the first return game, as we re.
call, the country was stirred to
O wondrous enthusiasm.
Unless our memory is faulty,
Washington grabbed the first
game Of a dOuble-header, max.
ing the count IL straight, and
lost the second, Frank Baker,
with q home run, wrecIxing .
pitching duel between johnson
and the lamented and immortal
Eddie Plank.
That Washington team did not
fulfill expectations by winning q
pennant, but it certainly owned
the spotlight as the real surprise
club of that season.