Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-07

great day for the Nationals in
4 Col. Jake Ruppert's big sta
dunn in the metropolis. That
was the day they showed their mettle
by rallying CALAMITY in the eighth
inning to score a signal victory IN the
first Of series of four games. And
they went on to take three of the
four contests and battle their way to
Washington's first major league
pennant.
A fighting team. that was. At the
end of the seventh inning of the
game on August %, 1924, the score
was to against the Nationals
That did not worry them one whit.
They stepped out in the eighth TO
hammer eight runs across the plate,
and finished the struggle with an
11-to.G count in their favor. And it
was that lighting spirit that got them
the fiag.
How different now In 1924. and
often in 1925 when another pennant
was won, the Nationals fought gal
lantly to overcome carly LEADS plleo
nm bv the opposition. but this year
thev are frequently being beaten off
before the fans are comfortably
settled in ter seats. And 'nce the
nnnosing team has a lead, the Ma
1ionals seem to roll over ana play
dead. There's no kick in them now.
Rally Only Seven Times.
Buckv Harris bunch has played Al
games this season. all but one of them
10 decision. An in these "A games
only seven times have the Nationals
overhauled the opposition and carried
on to victory. That's not the record
of a spirited. fighting club.
1t has been remarked often that the
Nationals apparently do not thlhk
there is any other club in the league
10 fight than the New York club. Ana
their record of games in which they
have rallied to win seems to bear this
ont Of the seven games in winch
thev have overcome opposing leads 10
triumph. four have been with the
Yankees. The two victories scored
over the Browns were won in TINS
way. and once they licked the Tigers
nv a late rally. That's all they can
show this year in the way OF fght'
ing spirit
nleasinc to the fans. They do nor
expect the Nationals TO win all Oh
the time. of course. No CLUB Is SO
good that it does not have Its OH
DAYS. But all days appear TO De OH
DAYS for the Nationals.
They are not getting the best Oh
pitching. true, but they are getting
as good pitching as some clubs thaI
are winning more games. so the lack
OF success cannot be attributed to a
weak nitching staff. Some sound hit
ting hack of their hurting would help
them considerably. But so far this
wear the Nationals have not forced
fielders of the opposition to take any
great amount of exercise.
Pit Little Effort Into Play.
What has hurt the club more than
ANYTHING else, however. has been Its
lack of hustle. Most of the players
have performed as though pay day
was the only thing to he concerned
about. They may not have been LOAF
ing deliberately, but most OF them
certainly have not been putting any
great effort into their play. The club
got into the habit of side-stepping hard
work while playing exhibitions during
the training season and it has never
rid itself of the habit since the cham
pionship campaign got under way.
This do-about -as-you please bust
ness naturally is not going to get the
Nationals anywhere that will be ap-
preciated by the fans. While base
ball followers everywhere are always
ready to hand a loser the raspberry,
they do so in a left-handed manner If
they believe the club is doing its ut
most to get ahead. But they have little
use for an outfit that lacks fire and
fight. And that can't be held against
them.
It's just about time for the Ma
tionals to snap into the game if they
would make any kind Of showing over
the season. Two or three of the
players on the squad have been work
ing hard all Spring. But two or three
players cannot carry along a score of
others who simply are going through
the motions of playing base ball. The
Nationals may not be able to win, but
they are able to put more pepper into
their efforts if they care to do so.
And il they are wise, they will care.
Reeves Gets Rigney's Job.
This lack of spirit has Manager
Stanley Harris greatly worried. He
has been toiling hard and is at loss
to understand why most of his play
ers have not been doing so. Now he
Is ready to resort to severe disciplinary
measures. His first move is the
benching Of Topper Rigney, who re-
Gently has ben putting up miserable
game at shortstop after getting away
to a fair start in that position follow
ing his transfer from the Red SOx to
the Nationals. Rigney's job has been
handed over to young Bob Reeves.
who has ben sticking around the club
as utility player since last May.
Reeves was TO get into action this