The Washington times., 1929-04-29

three hits for an average Of .2l4.
Sam West will resume the center
field tomorrow in New York.
BY Kirk Miller
President Clark Griffith to-
day was experiencing some
of the sensations which come
q to those who have diplomatic
jobs to fill, rather than jobs
as presidents of ball clubs.
He was being alternately praised
and criticised for staging ball
game yesterday. Fifty-six hundred
people were drinking toast to
Griff for permitting the game to go
on. for they saw a real game. Prob
ably twice that number who would
have been present had the weather
been better were condemning the
Washington club for attempting a
game under such dreary conditions,
and 1t was the latter who were
venting their feelings today over
telephone. wires leading to the ball
park and to the various newspaper
offices.
In an effort to appease those
Of the latter class who held re.
serve seats for the Sunday game
which the Griffs lost to the
Yankees by z to 2, President
Griffith today announced the
unused reserved seats would be
honored at any other home
game the Griffmen play this
year.
Therefore, all stubs bearing a
reservation for the April % date
may be traded at the boxoffice for
q similar reservation for any local
game the holder desires to witness
during the 1929 season. The club
may not be able to give these ticket.
holders the Identical seats. but they
will receive the choice of what are
unsold at the time of their presenta-
ton.
Much confusion was caused yester.
day because of the inability of in
quirers to reach the ball-club office
by telephone. to determine whether
q game was to be called.
Apparently hundreds of people
were trying to talk to the ball park
at the same time, and, in their
desperation, they turned to the news
paper offices for information as to
the, likelihood of playing a game.
Similarly, newspaper reporters
were equally unable to pene-
trate~ the switchboard at the
ball park, and there was much
confusion.
Meanwhile, at the ball park, Sec
Fetary Eynon and President Grit
fifth were doing all they could TO
make the early arrivals comfort
able. They permitted all comers to
go into the protection of the grand.
stands without showing tickets
until the Washington and New
York officials could come to a de-
cision as to playing the game.
President Griffith today said the
game was never called off, but that
the announcement that it would
positively be played could not be
made until very few minutes be-
fore the contest actually started.
When. at about 3:45 o'clock, it
was decided to play the game, those
who had accepted the shelter ofathe
SIdT1uS were dShGu 10 T6IuTH 10 I1S
turnstiles and show their tickets.
In so doing a jam occurred on the
runways, when the late arrivals
coming through the gates en-.
countered the early arrivals. gcing
back to show their tickets.
The confusion was hastily righted
and when the faithful fans had
settled into their seats they were
rewarded by a ball game which was
far above par in view of the
grounds and atmosphere.
The policy Of the Washington
ball club Is to give the public
q ball game If it is physically
possible to play one. President
Griffith believes the man who
is most disappointed and most
discomfOrted under yesterdays
conditions Is the man who has
taken the trouble to come out
10 the park.
He believes the. people who stay
at home and fret and fume and
stew are the least put out; con-
sequently, when over 5000 people
were on hand to watch the play,
he ordered it played.
And today, acknowledging those
who had tickets reserved and. stayed
away in the belief it was too bad
a day for a game are due some
consideration, President Griffith or
dered his ticket sellers to exchange
all unused reserved seats for April
% for similar privilege to any
future game at Griffith Stadium
this year.
For the future guidance of his
patrons, Mr.. Griffith reiterated to-
day what he has said many times
before-a game will almost inVari-
ably be played when advertised un-
less it is actually raining at 800
o'clock, or, as in the case OF, the
scheduled opener on April 16. so
much rain falls overnight and in the
morning that 1t is ostensibly impos-
Gble TO play.
The infield is sufficiently covered
with canvas to protect the ground
from normal rains, even OF nights
duration, and the outfield Is So
drained that II quickly dries off.
Thus the tendency at Clark Griffith
Stadium will always be to so through
with q scheduled game, rather than
to postpone 1t.
\