The Washington times., 1931-12-26
THIRD PLACE
! TEAM 'SRANK
At TEND
BY GARRETT WATERS

local standpoint first, the Wash
ington Griffmen did not win the
pennant in the American League.
Next, Philadelphia AS exhibited
COO much power to be we'll liked,
drawing away shortly after August,
while finally. the st. Louis Cardi-
nails made their brother clubs in
the National League take a back
seat-all in the general idea that
winning a pennant was one OF the
easiest thing imaginable.
In other words, there was not
enough interest in the two races
after the pair of powerful clubs
introduced the runaway state OF
affairs. Still plenty of credit must
be handed Manager Connie Mack
of the AS and Gabby Street OF
the Cards, for the fine work put
up by their teams in showing the
baseball populace that their re-
spective league titles were not to
be denied them.
Griffs Make Effort
The Washington Griffmen
made a gallant effort to overhaul
the AS for the greater part Of
the American League campaign.
But the team failed, and was
overhauled itself in September
battle for second place with the
New York Yankees.
The New York Giants and Chi
cago Cubs we're, the st. Louis
Cardinals chief opponents in the
Mound City teams battle for Ma
tional League supremacy. Quite
like the AS in the American
League, the Cards demonstrated
their superiority. and won going
away in the last few weeks.
A decided lack of punch just
when that same said purch was
needed, coupled with disastrous
work by the teams pitching staff,
spoiled the Washington clubs
chances Of doing anything of
great merit in the American
League. The Griffmen, as they
are known, came within one game
of tying the AS for the lead while
on their second western trip in
June, but this was as close as
they were able to get during the
entire season, as failure hit them
on this occasion just as II MT
them on every other one With the
coveted glory in sight.
This much can be said about
Manager Walter Johnson's men,
however. They carried the fight
for the greatest of whiles ana
made the season interesting where
it would not have been had the
AS drawn away earlier than Au-
gust. At that, the battle between
the Griffs and Yanks for second
place was interesting If for no
other reason than that it gave
the fans something to read, talk
and think about in the dull late
days. of the campaign.
.Yanks Imposing Threat
The. Yanks, by their powerful
playing in these late days,
stamped themselves as an impos-
ing threat for next years race.
The team, as it finished, looked
to have both pitching and hit
ting strength, which seems to be
all that is needed the way the
game is played at the present
time.
Big Fred Marberry and Alvin
Crowder were the best pitchers
for the Griffmen during the sea-
son. Marberry won Is games
while losing only four. while
Crowder's record was 18 games
won against II lost.
The General finished up IN
powerful fashion by winning nine
games in a row. His early sea-
SON work was definitely discour'
aging before this streak, however
Crowder won a $500 bonus
for totahng Is victories for the
season. The streak proved to be
the Generals savior.
Bobby Burke and Carl Fischer
turned in several good pitching
performances during the year
Burke's best, Of course, was nus
no-hit, no-run game against the
Boston Red Sox on August g.
while Fischer's greatest turns
were during the early months
when he ran UP a record of nine
victories before being stopped.
Carl fell off his stride shortly
after this and became so poor
in his work that Manager John
son had to withdraw him from
q game in Cleveland one day
after the youngster had pitched
to only one batter.
So enraged was Fischer ovel
his failure and Johnson's mis-
trust in him, that he threw thu
ball into centerfield, thereby get
ting himself fined 500 by John
son for his childish act.
-. Carl in Comeback
Fischer made a comeback late
and finished the season in prett!
good style. His lack of effective
ness came at a time when tn
team needed his pitching most
however.
A trade which brought Car
Reynolds, right.handed hittinl
outfielder, and Johnny Kerr
''punchy'' second baseman of tn
Chicago White Sox, here in eS
change for Bump Hadley. JACKIE
Hayes and Sam Jones, was a re
cent highlight of the hot-stov
league season.
You Uncle Clark Griffith. pres
dent Of the Washington club, b
making the trade finally sec,1ret