Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-15
CRIFFS LOOK FORMIDABLE
WITH EX.BROWN ALIGNED
Stellar First Stacker, Plugging Most Gaping Hole in
Lineup, Expected to Make Club Strong Rival
of World Champion Yankees.

/ During the Springs of 1912, 10. II
and Is he performed sensationally IN
! the box and as a hitter with the Uni.
versity of Michigan Varsity team.
! After being assigned to, although
| never playing with, the Columbus
! Club of the American Association fol-
! lowing his first term at college, ne ne
came a bone of contention in organ
lied base ball in battle between the
Pittsburgh Pirates and ST. LOUIS
Browns for his services which result
cd in Sisler being declared ineligible
during the 1913 and 1914 seasons when
he played independent ball with the
Barherton. Ohio, team.
In 1915 he was awarded to St. Louis
over the vehement protest OF President
Drevfus of the Pirates in decision
rendered by the old national commits
sion and which caused a diplomatic
split between Garry Hermann, its
chairman. and Dreyfuss, which en-
dured for many a year.
Opening the season of 1915 with the
Browns, Sisler performed for cou-
pie of years in the triple capacity OF
pitcher, outfielder and first baseman.
So impressive was his sticking ability
that he was relieved of box work
altogether in 1917. dividing his time
between first base and the garden, and
with the advent of 1918 he was in
stalled at the initial corner perma-
nently.
Hit AGO i'm 1922.
From a batting mark of .2S5 in
his first season with the Browns, when
his duties were multifarious, Sisler
climbed with succeeding seasons, first
to .305 and then to .353. In 1918 he
dropped off bit to .341, then came
along with a 1852 figure in 1919 and
achieved his .407 average the follow
ing year.
The season of 1921 found Sisler with
a .S71 mark, only to soar to .420 the
season after. Following his enforced
idleness in 1923. Sisler bettered the
800 mark by but five points, but he
climbed to .345 in 1925, and, after
slumping to .2S9 in 1926, his final sea-
son as manager of the Browns, came
back last Summer with an average of
1927.
Sisler, of course, no longer is the
super star he once was, but his record
for 1927 discloses that he missed less
than half a dozen of the 154 games
on the Browns schedule, and although
there was nothing startling in his 33
doubles, eight triples and five home
runs, it is significant that his total
of col hits tops the number credited
to Harry Heilmann, the leagues bat
ting champion, and was exceeded only
by two players in the league, and that
his record of 2S stolen bases stands
as the best for the year. Meusel of
the Yankees. with %, being his near.
est rival.
May Cost $4,000.
Although no price was announced
in the Sisler sale, it can be stated
authoritatively that the figure was
$4,000. and it is likely that before
he makes his first appearance in
Washington uniform he will repre-
sent an investment of just double that
sum.
Sisters contract with the Browns
expired at the close of last season,
when he is said to have drawn SIS 900,
and it may be regarded as doubtful
that he will be willing to play for
less. 1t may be that he will try to
raise the ante or exact a bonus for
signing, but this is a matter that
Clark Griffith is confident he can
handle satisfactorily.
In the meanwhile he and Harris are
of the opinion that with Sisler aligned
the Nationals will present a far
stronger front than they did last year,
regardless Of whether any other deals
can be consumated, and there is lit
tie question but that fandom In the
Capital agree with them.