Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-24
CrOUder-CrOue Battle Likely
As Griffs Face Macks Today

THEY'RE here today, the world
champions, and 1t looks as
thought Lefty Grove, Connie
Macks prize smoke ball artist,
and AL Crowder will fight 1t out on
the hill this afternoon in Grifith Sta
dunn. Manager Walter johnson al
ready has declared Crowder will go for
the Nationals. Grove Is in line as
pitcher for the AS.
A win for the Nationals this after
noon would be especially priced by
them. 1t would be the first time this
year for them to hand Grove trim
ming. and what's more it would even
their series with the Philadelphia club.
The AS have licked the Nationals nine
times this season, while the Nationals
have licked the AS but eight times.
Incidentally, it would cut to seven
and one-half games the advantage the
leading Athletics hold over the second
place Nationals. But why worry about
thatp Better say 1t would keep the
Nationals fairly well ahead OF the third
place Yankees.
THIS afternoons engagement opens
l. three-day stand against the world
champions by the Nationals. TO.
morrow morning the johnson bano Will
move to Philadelphia for Monday and
Tuesday tits with the Mackmen In
Shibe Park.
johnson plans to employ Sam Jones
and Bump Hadley against the hard
hitters in the two Philadelphia games.
Probably Mack will counter with his
two Georges, Walberg and EarnshaW.
That ought to keep the Nationals busy.
The Washington outfit Is prepared to
send its strongest array Of talent
against the AS in the three games. All
regulars now are back on the job and
appear in fine fettle. There should be
plenty action in this tussling between
Nationals and Athletics.
COME time ago Clark Griffith, presi-
- dent Of the Nationals, picked up
from Hagerstown of the Blue Ridge
League young pitcher by name OF
Mike Nicola, and sent him to the Wash
ington farm at Chattanooga Mike was
not quite ready for the Southern Asso-
citation brand of base ball, so he was
shifted TO Montgomery of the South
eastern League. Now come glowing re-
ports of Mixes pitching in that circuit.
AAO oCOAAAo IcotAAlCO W NC Vic 6AOuOCcO
strikeout performer in the history OF
the Southeastern League. He is the
leading strikeout pitcher of all time in
the league, in fact, over a period OF
441a consecutive innings, which repre-
sent the complete time he has labored
in the cause of the Lions on home soil.
In the 44h innings he has toiled,
Mike has struck out So batsmen. His
feat was performed at the expense OF
| every rival Of Montgomerys in the
league, though his browning achieve
ment of IA strikeouts In a regulation
game was chalked up at the expense Of
Columbus August IL.
And Nicola has yielded an average OF
only five hits per nine innings.
THEY play night base ball in the
l. Southeastern circuit and argu-
ments have been advanced that
artificial light has favored Nicola in
his strikeout streak. There is q slight
edge, perhaps, in favor of the pitcher
In night base ball game. But those
praising Mike have rebuttal to this
argument They point out that other
pitchers in the league such as Ferebee
and NemitZ, rated as fine fast-ball
hurlers and credited with excellent
strikeout performances at times, have
not been whining batters with such
startling regularity as has Mike.
According to Montgomery fans Mixes
the berries and they insist the Ma