Evening star., 1929-09-01

n YEW YORK, August 31-After
wandering about the country
the greater part Of August, the
1 Nationals will usher in their
September schedule on their
home lot, Sunday, against the Athletics,
leaders of~the league.
The AS have made punching bag
of the Washington club thus far, having
licked it 16 times in 18 starts. How
ever, the Nationals are playing much
faster base ball now than when they
last faced the circuit pace-setters and
the Sunday engagement in Griffith
Stadium is apt to prove tussle.
Sam Jones, who has been pitching
wonderfully well since he returned to
the game after having sore hlnging
wing treated for two weeks, Is slated
to take the slab for the Nationals. He
is apt to be opposed by the left-handed
Rube Walberg, who has trimmed the
Washington club five times this year.
The only victory the Nationals have over
Walberg was scored against him in the
thinning game that opened the season
In Philadelphia.
Jol1nson's charges will be home for a
day only. Shortly after the TIT with
train for Boston where they are sched-
uled for q four-game series with the
Red Sox. The set will be opened on
Monday, Labor day, with double
header, single games to follow on
Tuesday and Wednesday. 1t will be
the Nationals last visit to BeantoWn
this year.
Following the Red Sox series. the
Griffmen will return to washington ana
spend the remainder of September on
their own lot.
These days the Athletics appear to
be suffering with blind Staggers, but
they seem in no danger Of losing the
leadership in the American League
race. Should Connie Mack's men win
half of their remaining games the
Yankees would have to take every con-
test left on their schedule to finish
in front, and one can't visualize the
Yankees doing anything like that.
Evidently the Athletics have become
stale from forcing the pace well be-
yond their natural speed since early IN
the campaign. Soon, however, they
will be able to loaf along, and with
few weeks of easy going should oe III
fine fettle for the world series.
A glowing tribute to Muddy Ruel Is
paid by Frank Graham, writing IN tne
New York Sun, who feels that mentlon
of Muddy as manager OF the Browns
next year is "a harbinger OF tne emo
of the playing days of one OF the great
est little catchers the game ever mas
known"
saws Graham, "Rue1 was the last
of a string of notable catchers, includ-
inr Gabby Street, Sam Agnew, John
Henry and Eddie Ainsmith, to handle
the pitching of Walter johnson. john
sons fire-ball pitching helped to wear
the, others down, but Ruel, still
youngster when he joined the Ma
tionals, has outlasted the big sling by
two years.
"AS a catcher, Ruel will be remem-
bered longest by Higgins. Once this
writer. impressed by the almost un-
canny skill with which Higgins judges
Young ball players, asked him II ne
had ever allowed good one to slip
away from him-forgetting Ruel Tor
the moment.
promptly, Muddy Ruel. always had
great personal liking for Muddy, believ-
ing him to be one of the finest young
men I have ever known, in or out OF
base ball, but simply could not see him
as a catcher. So let him CO.. 1t
wasn't very long thereafter realized
how badly mistaken had been. NOW
every time I'm tempted to pass snap
Judgment on youngster I think OF
Muddy-and I wait while!"
Ruel merely smiles and says nothing
when asked about the likelihood OF be
coming manager of the Browns, but the
r,mor has a very plausible ring Muddy
is a native of st. Louis. he still makes
his home there, and is immensely popu-
lar with the Mound City citizenry. And
he should make good as manager, too.
He has crowded a deal of big league
base ball into his life, yet is still young
man compared with others at the helms
of the major outfits. He has learned
much bv actual experience and has had
the benefit Of training by men Of the
| type Of GeorNe Mcbride. Stanley Harris