The Washington times., 1930-01-22
SAM RICE IN
.GR|FF FOLD
FOR 80
BY BOB THAYER

AHe washington GEuImen neeQ
only two more signatures to bs
sure Of having a baseball team
on the diamond when the 1880
season gets under way. Sam
Rice, Scintilatting outfielder, the
seventh Griffman to put his name
to q 1880 contract, performed
that ceremony today in the pres
ence of President Clark Griffith,
Secretary Eddie Eynon, Uncle
Billy Smith,, keeper of the pea
nuts and hot dogs; Trainer Mike
Martin and the office cat.
Hardly had President Griffith
got fixed in his swivel chair
this morning when the door
creeked open and in crept Sir
Samuel, with his hat in his hand
and guilty look upon his face.
Guilty because he had no fault
to find with the terms quoted
in his contract and creeping
stealthy lest he should startle
his boss and scare him into
changing his mind about the
satisfying figure.
Anyway, Rice is Gin" Tor
the sixteenth season, he hav.
ing first shown here in 1915.
Only Waiter Johnson and
Nick AltrOck, Of the present
personnel Of the team, ante
date Rice.
Judge was here also in 1915,
but did a trick later with Buff
falo, and even Walter johnson
has been absent from the team
for a year to manage Newark.
The grand old man Of the
Washington club, Sam Rice, has
been a credit and a blessing to
the game. For consistency, not
even Speaker or Cobb had any.
thing on Rice over span Of
years, although they compiled in
dividual records which Sammy
hasn't reached. Smooth, steady,
sincere, smart and industrious,
Sam has played truly great ball
for Washington and managed to
prolong his baseball life far be-
yond the normal span given to
players Of the sport.
President Griffith stated today
he is anticipating no trouble get
ting every last one Of his players
in line. Contrary to the impress
sion which seems to be general,
he has not cut his men to the
bone. He has offered them what
he believes in his long experience
to be fair salaries and has made
additional inducements in the way
Of bonuses here and there in case
the players are able to do better
than what might ordinarily be
expected Of them.
incidentally, Griffith, too
old and smart in the game to
be a braggard, is really san
guine as to the outlook for
the OnruShing season. He
knows baseball Is about 50
per cent breaks and he re-
alizeS Washington didn't get
many good ones during the
first half Of last season and
he has no apology to offer
for their. showing toward the
latter half.
He knows the law Of averages
will not ease the Griffmen Q
similar deal two years in row
and he believes many Of the boys,
like Goslin and Braxton, are not
likely to have two off seasons
in succession. Griff is confident
he has material which will de-,
velop and sees just as much fu'
ture in many of his present
youngsters as he does in the pos
Sibility of bringing in a lot OF
unknownS and gambling with
them. He prefers to gamble with
what he has.
The Washington president IS
anxious to get all his sheep into
the fold between now and the
first of February, so that he may
dismiss business from his mind
for q few weeks and 80 to Flor.
ida with his family for some
golf, bridge and sunshine. Eddie
Enyon will also take o fling at
the southern divots, now that
winter seems to have set in mere
and with snow covering the f1ir.
ways and green's.
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