Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-15
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
Sports Editor. The Star.

n YEW YORK, December 15.-But
for one fact, the acquisition OF
NJ George Sisler would place
i Washington in the top flight
of aspirants for the 1928 pen
nant That fact is the presence in the
American League of the New YORK
Club.
Forced to contend against team
that was good enough to waltz away
with the championship by margin OF
IS or 20 games last year and when
figures to be every bit as strong next
season, the Nationals would need con-
siderably more strength than they
gained by obtaining St. Louis star
first baseman in order to be conceded
an even chance with the Yankees.
Keen judges regard the Nationals,
now that their most gaping hole has
been plugged. as the most formidable
outfit in the circuit. next to the world
title holders, however. and most likely
to slim into the world series picture
next Fall in case Ruth, Gehrig & Co.
figure in train wreck or the Hugmen
are the victims of some other unlocked
for misfortune.
MOriarty Likes Griff Hurlers.
No less an authority than Manager
George Moriarty of Detroit, which
WIFI 1nltdUSlililid IlS OtSS do tIiS AAOSb
prominent contender the Nationals
will have in the battle to overthrow
the Yanks, asserts that Washington
has by far the strongest pitching staff
in the league. Then, with the wealth
of material on hand for the as yet
snpbtful assignments-one at short
STOP and another in the outfield-there
seems TO be plenty of justification for
the belief that the Griffmen stand an
exceIient chance of battling in the
runner-up berth for the opportunity
to slip to the front.
In Sisler. the Nationals have shared
something the team has lacked for
many years-a durable first baseman.
There was a time when the Univer-
Sity of Michigan product was the best
vestibule guardian in all base ball. In
1922, for instance, when Sisler won
the award as the most valuable play
er to his club in the circuit, he also
led the league in batting with mark
of APO. which still stands second to
the .43S that Hugh Duffey achieved
with the Boston Nationals in 1894.
In that same season Sisler estab-
lished a run of Al consecutive hitting
games which has been topped only
by Willie Keeler's A made with the
old Baltimore Orioles in 1897. and Bill
Dahlen's az with the Chicago Colts in
1894.
Sisler Started Well.
Just two years prior to that biggest
of all seasons for him. in 1920. Sisler
also climbed above the 400 mark in
hitting by n margin of seven points
and also set the existing record for
the most base-hits in a season, achiev-
ing total of PSI bingles for assorted
distances that year.
1t was after the close Of the 1922
campaign that Sisler was stricken
with the sinus trouble that so serious
ly impaired his vision that he was
compelled to loaf for an entire season
and when he returned to duty in 1924
it was with the added burden of man.
agerial cares and he never since has
known the heights that formerly were
his.
Sisler generally is rated as ranking
with the greatest first basemen Of ali
time. Born in Manchester, Ohio, on
March "a, 1898, which means that he
will be 80 years old next Spring, Sis
Ter first attracted attention as a south
paw pitcher with the high school team
of Akron and signed his first profes-
sional contract with the club repre-
senting that city in the old Ohio and
Pennsylvania League in 1911, al
though he never played with it,