The Washington times., 1930-07-02
PRICE ASKED.
OOH|GH:FOR
OLDFOX

BomeClmeS.
Step into the sumptuous office
Of Clark Griffith, president OF
the Washington Griffmen, shove
all the papers off his desk, stare
sullenly into his eyes for a few
moments and, with a sweeping
flourish, snarl: Lopez
This will be enough. Wait not
for Mr.. Griffith's answer. 1t is
by custom bound to be Identical
with the first few words that
greeted you. viz: Even a tox
makes mistakes sometimes"
For Mr.. Griffith at one time
was afforded an excellent oppor-
tunity to make Brooklyn's Al
Lopez Washington Griffman
for the rather tiny sum OF
$4,000. But Mr.. Griffith, the
sage. had no more than half that
Jingle to toss away for a br1et
young fellow like AL Lopez. A
man who is accustomed to eX-
changing Goslins for Manushes
and Crowders isn't the sort who
would risk hundredth of a mil
lion dollars on promising back
stop material, it seems, so today
Mr.. Griffith will tender you the
plea about the "fox" when you
heckle his faux pas.
At Is, when most chaps his
age are trying to figure just
why their geometry inStruc-
tors were ever born, Lopez
tripped over the sandlOtS to
the Tampa team Of the
Florida State League where
he served as regular catcher.
This was in 1925 when he hit
.27O. {,
During 1925 Lopez hit .317 with
Tampa. Jacksonville had him
drafted their way at the termlna-
ton of the season for only $3.50.
With them AL slumped to a bat
ting average of .280 but his back
stopping rated backSlapping as
the Brooklyn Robins sent their
man after him and for the $1O,-
900 Griffith had deemed for
tune, secured his services.
Like an acrobat switched sud
denly from a fifth rate Oshkosh
showhouse to the Palace in New
York, Lopez didn't know what all
the shooting was about. True,
he had promise, but he was ignor-
ant as yet how to capitalize upon
it in big time. Uncle Robbie
came to his rescue, though, and
shipped him south again where
they iron out a player so methodi-
cally it seems, he forgetS how to
play minor league ball.
From Macon to Atlanta was Lo-
pezs route. In the latter location
AL hit 1927 in 1923 and thought
this was such jolly slugging that
he deliberately hit for the same
average the following year.
Today Lopez is something
of a sensation with Brook
lyn, which hooked him for
good after he started playing
with those impressive 800
figures. Not alone is AL the
most youthful regular mask
manipulation in the big
leagues; he is one of the best.
These premature achievements
seemed forthcoming to him for
he cannot remember the day he
wasn't connected with baseball
in some way. Originally pitcher
of his high school team in
Tampa, Fla. AL was converted
into a catcher by pure fate.
1t happened that everybody on
that team had a determination to
avoid hospitals at all costs so
they demurred when offered the
chance to catch Lopez's steam
ball" Finally in desperation, Al
dug his cleats into the soil be-
hind home plate and became a
catcher for originality's sake. And
today he's evidently still trying to
be original.
Being the son of Spanish
parents, Lopez forms with Adol-
pho Luque the lone Spanish
speaking battery in the majors.
AL understood all about Spanish
before he was taught a thing
about English even though he
first saw the rising sun in Tampa.
Besides Al there are four broth
erS, his mother, and two sisters
in the family at present.
Lopez, who will be 22 in
August, was spotted by Uncle
Robbie as a conner the instant
the veteran Brooklyn pilot
cast OrbS upon him.
Although short and dark, that
flaShy combination, Lopez is
rather a quiet fellow, preferring
to impress observers by his be-
havior behind the bat with his
natural alacrity, caustic throw
ing arm and hitting ability.
Lopez, however, doesn't always
attend strictly to business. His
fetching smile. personality and
warm-bloodedness reveal them
selves while he is on the playing
field and while these attributes
do not make a better player of
him, they aid considerably from
a box-office standpoint.
BAUSERMANS CUNNING
Bauserman nine is seeking an
TIL