Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-08
GREAT VALUE SEEN
IN AGE|NG NATIONAL
Nearly 40, but Sam Should
Be Helpful Next Season,
Prexy Insists.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

cause it's his ball club
Edgar G. Rice will be seen
in the Nationals outfield many
times next season. And that
despite the 40 Winters and
as many Summers that will have
slipped by since Edgar C.-yes,
that's Sam-bobbed up in this
world.
Time has exacted little toll of
Sam and the "young-old" man
will be of great service to the
Washington ball club in 1882, its
president insists.
Ask Griffith about Rice's worth to the
Nationals next season and he has
plenty to say. sam ready to fold up?
Huh He's along in years as ball players
90. but I say there's more to MN now
than to many younger ball players !
could name, which l will not Ano
Griffith is just starting to tell you now
much good he thinks remains In Rlce
as ball player.
That's a fellow who can do about
everything one could ask OF ball
player" the Washington preXy rants
on. Hes good fiy-chaser, he can throw
well and intelligently. too; he can run
and he can hit. What's more, sam is one
of those rare ball players who after a
long period of idleness on the bench
can step out and give you as GOOD
game as though he had been in there
regularly. -,
"He may be 40 years old, or will be
next February to be exact, but ne sui
11a H.yil hal II T.
" next season. You can bet on that,
Grif1th emphasizes. Bet just what he
doesn't say Maybe a hat, some golf
balls or nice, mild cigars, that the
Washington chieftian greatly enjoys.
"Ill say the Washington club is lucky
TO have a player of Rices type around,
even though he Is near the 4O-year
mark" Griffith goes along. Wash
he a great. help to the club this year?
IN answer for you. Yes Played in all
three outfield positions and played well
in each. Always ready and always will
ing to go. That's Rice.
twill he mean something to us next
wear? Don't ask foolish questions,
Grifith shoots at the interviewer leav-
ing the presidents Office firmly con-
WINGED Sam Rice-40 years and all
will be seen plenty in Washingtons
lineup in 1882.
THERE'S good reason for Griffith S
i warm praise of Rice and hi defense
of the player when some misguided
individual intimates that perhaps Sam
has about worn out his base ball use
iuiness. Cold figures show Sam to have
been fine ball player ever since he be-
Ean toiling regularly as an outneloer
FOR the Nationals in 1917, two years
after he came up to the big show from
Petersburg club of the old Virginia
League. And cold figures also show
that the past season was not Sam
poorest with the Nationals by long
way.
For his Is seasons of service under
the big top Rice shows the handsome
times in those 16 seasons has he failed
to bat in the 800 class. His poorest
season was in 1922 and then he hit for
.295. His best was in 1925 when he
batted for $50. And he has had six
seasons in which he made more than
200 hits.
Rice was in and out of the game
often this year. participating in but III
of the Nationals 156 engagements. Yet
each time he returned to action after
warming the bench for a spell he
clouted in fine style and finished the
1881 campaign with an unofficial bat
ting mark of .30S. Only Sam West and
Dave Harris were higher in the Ma
tionals batting lists.
In the past campaign Rice helped
himself to 1877 hits in Az times at bat
according to the best records available
Included in his hits were 81 doubles, 10
triples and a homer. But three Ma
tionals, and they played much more
regularly than Rice eXcelled the veteran
at seeking three-baggers. West and
Joe Cronin led the club at making this
type of hit, each slamming ID triples
Heinie Manush hit IL.
And Sam looked good afield, too. He
roamed at different times in right, CEN
ter and left and ran down many long
drives He also stepped along at
lively rate on the base paths. Rice was
not SO fast as in other seasons, but al
that he could shake a swifter foot thar
many another in the circuit.
Rice was no broken-down veteran In
action this year. Nor was he break
ing veteran by any means. And there
is good ground for believing he will bt
considerable aid to the Nationals again
Seems that Griffith is right once
more.
THE death Friday, from heart disease
i Of Jack Chesbro, at his home, al
Conway, Mass, marked the pass
ing not only of one OF the greatest
DlICleIS DdSe Dali ever pIOuuCcO, Dul
one who established record that never
has been approached in the modern
history of the game and probably never
will be.
News stories of Chesbro's demise
made mention of the fact the spitball
manipulation led the National League
pitchers, while with the Pittsburgh Pr
rates in 1901, when he won 81 and lost
for a percentage of 700, and again
the following season, when he grabbed
20 verdicts as against only six SetbackS
for a mark of 1924, but either skimpeo
over or missed entirely the greatest feat
he achieved.
This consisted in the bagging of Al
victories for the New York Americans
in 1904, one year after he had switched
over from the National League, when
as a result of his almost superhumar
efforts in the box the Gotham outh
missed capturing the pennant by th'
uarrowest possible margin.
Chesbro's average that year-.774-
was considerably under his 1902 mark
due to the fact he was beaten on al
even dozen occasions, and was far in
ferior to the 1856 figures set by Left.
Grove this year, but when 1t is con
sidered that the Mackian ace, Will
losing only four decisions, elicite'
laudatory comment from all sides TO
bagging 81 wins this year and tina
CheSbro exceeded that number by 1C
the latter's real proves as hurler cal
be better appreciated