The Washington times., 1931-06-24
SAYS CRON|N
SPARKPLUG
Of TEAM
BY BABE RUTH

washington Ddu GedH certainly
has fooled lot of ople. And
I am free to confess that I am
among those who didn't figure
that the Senators would be as
powerful as they are proving
themselves to be. Many believed
that the unexpected performance
of Walter Johnson's team last
year was -omething of a flash
3n-,the, ,pan. and could not. Gerry
on. guess by now that every
body is convinced otherwise.
Last sea III Sam Rice and Joe
Judge were hitting up with the
leaders a good oart of the way,
and they had much to do with
the success of the club. But this
year Judge has been out of the
lineup for a long time as a result
of an operation, and Rice is not
hitting as he did last year. But
the team stays up there just the
same.
In a recent article I discussed
how much one player meant to
a team, pointing out that Geh-
ringers loss was the real start
Of Detroit's trip on the tobog-
gan down to last place. Now I
can point out the same import
ance of one player but from
another angle. Where do you sup
pose the Washington club would
be today without Joe Cronin?
Don't misunderstand me as
taking anything from the other
members of Walter JOhnsOn's
hustIing team. 1t takes nine
men at least to win any ball
game in the majors, and no one
player can do the work alone.
But when a club gets young
steT who is so capable in every
angle of the game then he is
bound to be a big factor in any
success that club gains.
Cronin has come along bril-
nantly in the past two seasons
ano today there is not a better
ball player in our league, or the
National League either. He can
hit. he can run, he can throw, ne
loves to play ball and he puts pep
and spirit in his own play and
also in that of his team. Watch
him in a ball game. He is nerv-
Gus and jumpy, but he is always
looking for a chance to pull
quick or smart play.
CrOnin Is Dangerous
The Washington club picked up
a prize in this fellow and you are
going to hear lot more about
him in thu next few years.
Cronin was the spark plug that
started the Senators on their way
last year and he is keeping them
going this year. There are sew
eral other high-class players on
that team, but it wouldn't look to
be anything like the ball club it
is if Cronin were out of it.
When we were in Washington
for a series recently one of the
home players was telling me
about Joe.
"He is a good hitter with the
bases empty" this player re-
marked, but put him up at the
plate with runners on the bases
and a run or two needed to tie
the score and how that boy can
hit. When the pitcher is work.
ing the hardest to get him out
Joe Is at his best"
That's quite a compliment for
any player. And the figures for
runs driven across the plate
prove that this player was Civ
ing a good line on Cronin and
his worth to the ball club.
Bluege is another player who
has been doing lot to keep the
Senators up in the race. 1 men,
ton him particularly because
there was a time when Ossie
seemed to be one of the weak
cogS in the machine. He is a
quiet, easy-going fellow who does
not flash to any extent but he
surely can play that third base,
and now he is getting to be very
troublesome at the bat.
johnson is getting some good
pitching Arom youngsters like
Brown and Fischer, and of course
those veterans-Jones, Crowder,
Marberry and Hadley-are tough.
1t was the toughest team in the
league to score against last year
and added confidence in last sea-
sons success has made it a bet
ter club this season.
The pennant fever still runs
high among the Senators. They
admit nothing about the AS ex-
cept that Mack's team won the
pennant and the world series last
year, These Sensto talk about
the coming world series as if they
really believed all they are saying
about being in it | guess they
do, They have pep and conf
dence and they are hustling their
heads off for Walter johnson.
These things make them a great
team.
Copyright, 1891, by the Christy
Walsh SyndiCate)
n KeI