The Washington times., 1929-05-01
BABE SAYS
GOOSE IS
IMPROVED !.
BY Bob Thayer

BY Bob Thayer
NEW YORK, May 1.-Mr.
Babe Ruth thinks that Goose
Goslin, the 1923 American
League batting leader, has
failed to receive the apprecia-
ton due him.
Furthermore, Mr.. Ruth, accord
ing to his own confession, believes
that the big sun fielder must this
year be seriously considered when
q vote is taken on his circuits most
valuable player
Walter johnson and Roger Peck
inpaugh, former Washington play
ers, already have been accorded
this distinction and Goslin himself
undoubtedly would have been like
wise honored last year had he not
been Handicapped with a crippled
throwing arm.
Its going to take good
man to beat out Goose for the
1929 call" the blushing BRIDE
groom today declared while
chinning around his lobby.
"That big bozo can hit that ball
with anybody in baseball, and he's
scrapping all the time. He's a
bang.up money player who knows
what it's all about.
II took shine to the kid the
minute met him, and / didn't go
wrong. He's far and away the most
improved player in the American
League right now, and he's getting
better all the time
Ruth. who showed the Goose
thing or two about getting power
behind his drives when he first
crashed the big time, is particularly
impressed with his pupils improve
ment in the outfield.
when Goslin first hit the deck,
he observes, "he skated on ice
every time he went after fly
bah. Now he takes his time and
hauls down everything coming his
way as if he was tailor-made for
the job" ~
more than that he's developed
into smart base runner who gets
the most out of every hit, l can't
see why his home town fans don't
get az bigger kick out of him
than they do.
Reaching for the soap after
pushing Tony Lazzeri aside, the
go0d-natured fence buster re-
sumed his conversation.
''I wasn't fooled a Bit" he COM
mented when the big boy headed
the league in hitting last season.
The only surprise to me was that
he hadn't pulled that trick before.
Goose takes a nice, solid cut
ct the ball and when he hits it, it
goes. If he led the American League
with lame pegging wing year
ago what's he going to do now
that everything's okay?"
Rubbing himself thoroughly with
rough towel, the Babe made a
pass at a couple Of tantaliZing
mates before concluding his talk.
IF Goslin were with pennant
winning club you'd hear loads about
him he reasoned. "As it is he's
breaking into copy a lot but he
rates a lot more credit than he gets.
II know pitchers on my own
club always think twice when
they bump up against Goose.
He can sock Just about every
thing they put over and he
usually connects when Il hurts"
Reminded that the Salem Boy
has been unfortunate in getting his
hits when the paths We're empty
this season. Ruth volunteered an
other opinion.
who's to blame if there's no
one on when YOU hit?" he asks.
"Goslin is batting in third place.
Any man who hits around 400 in
that position is doing his share. If
his teams in slump that's some
thing else again.
II know what it is to get started
when the rest of my team is going
: bad and / can appreciate just what
] Goslin is up against"
The Babe while GOslin
booster of the first water, is not
overly impressed with the GCitfs
as a ball club. ~
/ "I'd certainly like to see Waiter
! johnson step out with a. wiphing
combination, he remarked, while
putting on the finishing touches of
his wardrobe.
ut looks, though. like he's rounded
up team that's. gone stale. T.
heard plenty about the Washington
club during spring training; but now
that the actual battling has started
his lineup doesn't seem to click,
II guess tn goSs for the Yankees,
too. But we're bound to get going
Higgins right now has club that's
better, if anything, than his Clam
pionship teams of the pr t three
years, and once we get started we'lI
kick up plenty of fuss, you can
gamble on that"