The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-06-30
GRIF F son
YANKEE
HEELS
By Louis A. DOugher

Today finds the Washington Griff-
men riding along in second place,
1Oh games in the rear Of the pace
setting New York Yankees. They
have fought their way up from sixth
place in a month of in-and-out play
ing that drove their supporters half
crazy with anxiety.
It is frequently said In baseball
that the "pennant-wtnner is leading
July f." but there are plenty OF ex-
ceptions. OF course, the 1914 Boston
Braves, who were in the cellar on the
nations birthday and first in Octo-
Der, offers the greatest incentive to
all teams ever since, but even last
year the Cincinnati Reds led the Ma
tional League on July 4, only to be
beaten out by the st. Louis
Cardinals.
The champion New York
Yankees will be leading the
American League next Monday,
July 4, but they are yet to
slump. A year ago they won
the pennant largely because OF
the Iateness of their slump.
They were slipping sadly in the
concluding weeks of the season,
just barely winning out.
The Yankees have yet to expert
ence any slump, but 1t Is certain to
come If the champions happen to
run into trouble on their coming
tour of the West. the race in this
league will tighten in a hurry and
the Griffmen BY taking advantage
of their present position. may be the
70 nIlfff% nr0fif most
The Yankees have been winning
steadily because of their great hit
ting, especially the hitting of Gehrig
Ruth and Lazzeri. Those three artil-
lerymen have yet to fall off in eff
fectiveness. When they do-and
that is almost a certainty-the team
may suddenly find its road Dit
lumpy.
Beginning with Sundays game
here. the Griffmen are to have an OPP
portunity of gaining at the expense
~ the champions themselves. For
three DAYS they will meet the
Yankees, two games coming on Mon
day. July 4. The Griffmen have won
six out of II games played with the
Yankees and will strain every nerve
to take three out OF the Jour com
ing next week. That would net them
q gain of two games on the ieaoers'
Winning one game from the
AS is not taking the series, how.
ever, and the visitors from Phila-
delphia are still very much alive.
They displayed unexpected
strength in New York while the
Griffs were in Boston and are
now off a bit. But they are play
ing good ball. and, with CODD,
Collins and Wheat back I'm the
lineup, will continue to prove
stubborn foes.
The Mackmen have three more
games TO play here in this series.
tHhev win not again visit the Capital
until August 81, when they have
single contest at the Griffith
Stadium. Their battling Will be
against the Western clubs through
most of the coming two months.
Hollis Thurston has now won
10 games out Of his Is and he ap-
pears certain Of hanging up a rne
record for the season. He weak
ened in the later innings yester'
day. but he had turned in a tine
bit of work against a team that
fought for everything.
Thurston is more than merely
pitcher. He is a good ball player.
His single in the fourth inning
drove in one Of his teams runs.
Up in Boston he practically won
his own game with his stick work.
If the time ever comes when he
decides to play the outfield. he Is
q good enough hitter to gain a
chance and a good enough hychaser
to make good.
Joe. judges return to work
at the initial sack was a com
plete success. The team will
be all the stronger for having
him in the lineup once more.
A single and a triple featured
his work with the bat. His i'm.
fected finger has about com.
pIetely healed and win not
bother him much longer. In
deed, he gave no signs Of any
pain yesterday.
That was a rare bit of fielding
when Goslin was retired in the
third. Bishop raced into the garden
for his pop fly and Simmons came
in on the gallop. The ball bounded
out of Bishops glove and into
Simmons for an out. Simmons got
the putout and Bishop an assist.
Ty Cobb's strained leg prevents
his playing steadily, but he is al
ways available for pinch hitting
duties. Yesterday he came up for
Boley in the seventh and plunked
a single into center field.
Bob Grove may be all his ad.
mirers claim. but he seems par
ticularly ineffective against the
Griffmen. Seldom does he go the
route against Bucky Harris and his
clan and 1t was not surprising to
have him fade out of the picture
yesterday in the seventh. Three
runs on six hits and two passes
was the total off his stuff.
Bob Reeves is today leading
all the American League short
stops at bat with a mark Of
1927. The young infieIder con.
tinues to improve In his work
with the days and should be
one OF the stars of the profess
sion In another year.
Nallin and Dineen, the umpires,
are expected to lease an apart
ment here together for the rest
IF the summer. Apparently 1t is
The intention Of the league head,
whoever he may be, to keep these