Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-11
SAM CREDITS 400
AVERAGE TO LUCK
"JuSt Getting the Breaks
After ID Years." Says
Veteran of GriffS.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.


says Sam Rice, is why he
today is leading the American
League batters with the handsome
average of 400.
1--WE been hitting the ball plenty
ever since I've been with the
Washington club-and joined it
in the Fall of 1915-but," declares
the veteran National outflelder,
this is the first season in which
I've been able to get so many of
my drives just out of the reach of
the fielders.
Call it luck, if you want to. Maybe
It is I'm willing to let the average
speak for itself"
Rice who IS more than 38 years old
quite elderly for a major league ball
player-haS not changed his batting
style this year. His stance at the plate
is the same he has used for years. He
grips the bat no differently nor does he
swing other than he has in the past.
It's the same choppy stroke for Sam.
But he's whacking 'em by and over the
defense in great fashion as his record Of
78 Safeties in 1913 times at bat atteStS.
What's more, all but few of Rice's
hits this season have been sharp and
clean Not many safeties have been
added to his lot by his speed enabling
fact, Sam more often than not has been
the victim of close decisions at first
base in the current campaign.
No Loss of Speed AfOOt.
st don't think I've slowed up to any
great extent" Rice says. Il believe, in
stead that get from the plate to first
base about as fast as I ever did. for
have the knack of starting after hitting
the ball better than did. 1 probably
am making just as many hits out OF IN
field rapS as I should.
I'm not using any new form at the
plate this year. You can't lay my high
hitting mark to any change. AS I said,
I'm simply getting the breaks after a
long wait In other years, l banged
the ball on the nose. Many liners
found hands waiting for them. Many
Rrounders were directly at infielderS.
This season it happens to be different.
1--WE always been up there watching.
Swinging when the good ones come up.
And if you keep swinging you'll meet
'em, some days more than others. But
you can't tell what's going to be IN
Aont of the ball when 1t leaves the bat.
After the ball is hit, where 1t goes
Is pretty much luck" according to Sam,
"and I guess I've had more than my
share this season. Or maybe I'm get
ting what's coming to me after a long
wait"
That's only Rice's modest way OF
speaking of his exceptional batting this
season, of course, but really Rice Is way
I'D there because he's always oeen
good hitter and any good hitter is bound
to get UP there if he Is able TO STICK
around long enough.
Rice went into the present season
with a major league career batting av-
erage of 1922, great career average.
Only Is players now active IN the ma
doris who have been in the pig snow
more than five years have better career
averages and only four others can
match Rice's rating.
The Is long-Service batters ahead OF
Rice are Goslin Combs, Fothergill,
Foxx, Gehrig, Manush, Ruth and Sim
mons of the American League and Bot
tomley, Cuyler, Heilmann, Hornspy'
Sisler. Stephenson and Terry OF Ine
National League. Those matching MS
rating are FriSch and Traynor OF the
National League and Bing Miller and
Joe Sewell of the American League.
OF the 10 players mentioned, only
Ruth, Sisler, Heilmann and Hornsoy
have been on big time as long as the
Washington veteran.
Rice has been 800 hitter 10 times and
one year he did not play. That was 1913
when he was In the United States Ar
ktllery. He's simply continuing tlne
&ecord. Just good hitter.
TTTHILE the postponementS due to
wv rain out this way are by no means
pleasing to Manager johnson, they
are not particularly annoying. WITH
says he, maybe it's just as well we
are getting a day of every now ana
then, OF course, would like to see
the games played as scheduled. But
perhaps we'll be in much better trim
TO play the Tigers and Indians the next
time we come out this way"
The postponement in Cleveland yes.
4erday, the second of the series, raised
to seven the games the Nationals have
to play of. Only two are to be dis
posed of In Griffith Stadium.
JUDGES charley-horsed left leg was
little better today and Jack Hayes
was expected to fill in at first base
rs the three-game series with the White
6ox opened here this afternoon. Judges
injury. though, Is not thought serious
Trainer Mike Martin thinks the regu-
lar first sacker will soon be back on the
Job, and at present Johnson has nc
Idea Of recalling Harley Boss, under
study to Judge, who was tarmed u
Jersey City.
TONES gland affection troubled hin
to such an extent he was ordered u
Washington yesterday for treatment
and the pitcher will be missing from
the club for the remainder Of the West
ern trip. 1t is believed Sam will b.
IN trim for service when the Nationals
get home next week.
THERE was a great chance tina
l. Manager Johnson and Manage
Bush might talk trade today. John
son has his eye on White Sox playe
who might be of much help to tn
Nationals, and, it is reported, he Is will
ing to make bargain with the clu
here.
johnson viii say nothing about tn
matter and, of course, all he could d
in any event would be the rigging u
of a deal for President Grifith's ap
proval. If Walter recommends dea
though, in all likelihood the Washing
ton club prexy will make every eftor
to put it through.
NEETIMH NE NNDC