Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23
Hark. Hark. It's Clark.

Grantland Rice's designation of Wal
ter johnson as the speediest OF pitch
ers and the only one who made rival
players report "Sick' on days when he
was carded to work is heartily seconded
by Clark Grifith.
HE not only made rival players
duck whenever it was possible to avoid
facing him." Griff observed today in a
tanning bee with some natives, but /
recall on one occasion an American
League manager did bit Of Sidestep-
ping because the one and only Walter
was announced as our pitcher.
1T was in the early part of our
famous winning streak of II straight,
and we hit Chicago with, I believe,
seven straight games to our credit.
Jimmy Callahan and Kid Gleason
ambled over toward our dugout and
commenced playful but inSistent 'razz'
regarding our streak. They opined 1t
was to be gently but firmly shattered
that day, and offered to wager $25
that the White Sox would win.
1.-THE hue and cry against betting by
ball players had not reached the point
in those days where it was deemed
crime Personally, I did not bet, told
them so, and had to stand further
raZzing. Tom Hughes pitched for US,
and we won.
1.-The next day I had Paul Musser
| and Joe Engel as my available pitching
material Callahan and Gleason again
paid me visit, once more endeavored
to prod me into a bet-and again I
refused. Somehow or another MuSser
and Engle, between them, kept our
streak going, and the third game came
around.
/ Griff Finally Yields.
! fsT nj. 49,. l.
when the two White Sox made their
offer to back Chicago against Washing
| ton, finally fell, and the wager was
duly made, and, as every one knows,
won.
THE next day was Walter Johnson's
turn, and when looked around for
Jimmy and the Kid they were not to
be found anywhere. I finally ambled
over to the batting cage-the Sox were
at practice-and when offered to let
'em get even, was firmly, and not too
gently, consigned to a place warmer
! even than Biloxi. Walter won, 10 to O.
Callahan and Gleason were too
shrewd, even though the percentage
was all in favor of Washington losing,
to take a chance when johnson was
pitching, And he was 'right'-and
when Walter was right he was almost
unbeatable.
Why the bare announcement that
johnson was going into the box one
day caused man to faint-this is
gospel truth" Griff continued, in rem
iniscent vein. 1T was in Boston, and
betting there in those days was ram
pant. A big shot on the occasion of
a Washington visit had wagered $4,000
to 81 900 on the Red Sox.
"Bedient was in the box for Boston.
do not remember which Of our pitch
ers was working. In the nth inning
the score was to 0 in favor of the
Red Sox, and the gambler, whose bet
was well known to the Washington
team, was having great time guying
our boys.
Germany Schaefer fred back at
him, Well win this game yet; it's as
good as in These sounded like idle
words, however, until the seventh, when.
With two runs over in Washington
rally and two men on, Schaefer hit the
fence for a double, and the Washing
tons were ahead.
When the side was retired, with sew
eral Washington pitchers in the bull
pen warming up, I motioned to the
bunch, and Johnson pointing to him
self, asked, Me-? nodded, and Walter
started, with that lanky stride, toward
the pitchers box
THAT Boston gambler took one look
ut the approaching player, turned pale,
and then fainted-cold. They carried
him off, and Washington won the
game"
Yeh, Barney Was Fast.
Speaking of speed" Grit added
anent the pitcher who will go down in