The Washington times., 1933-06-24
AS TRIUMPH
OVER YANKS
B|GHELP
BY GARRETT WATERS
Times Staff Correspondent

CHICAGO, June 24.-The Grift.
men are leading the American
League race today and by virtue
of one of the grandest spurts the
team has experienced since the
year Bucky Harris brought the
first pennant to Washington back
in 1924.
The 1893 Griffmen only lead
the New York Yankees, last years
champions, by half a game but
this is an achievement in itself
when thoughts of how it all has
happened are hashed and re-
hashed from every angle.
Before the actual advancement
of the thing is reviewed, it would
be we'll to say here that Manager
Cronin's team jumped into the
lead by defeating the Chicago
White Sox 7-3, yesterday while
the New York Yankees divided a
double header with the st. Louis
Browns at st. Louis, the Yanks
winning the first game 10-6, the
Browns then coming back to take
the nightcap by score of 5 to A.
The Griffs went into tie for
honors Thursday when they de-
feated tie Chicago White Sox, IL
to 4, while Yanks were toppled by
the Browns in a to 4 game. Yes
terday the two conterders were
still tied several hours after
o'clock because the Griffs had de-
| feated the White Sox and the
Yanks had won from the Browns
in the first game of the double
header at st. Louis.
Heard at ! O'Clock
But soon after 7 o'clock (Chl-
cago time) the Griffs received the
news that they were the new
league leaders as the score OF the
Browns 5-to-4 victory was on
everyone's lips, the Goose thereby
hanging high, so to speak.
Now, whether the Griffs can
hold this advantage for the re-
mainder of the season remains to
be seen. However, the outlook IS
bright. the significance great, as
seldom in the past has a con-
tending team brought to attention
it's latent power as have the Grl11'
men at this late stage OF cam
paign. This brings to mind the
immediate future will have an IN
teresting tale to tell.
But on with the story Of the
Griffs' stride to success. Early
this month. Manager Cronin'S
boys were in the throes OF
terrible slump. The pitching was
on the down grade, the batters
were failing to hit like tney
should in the pinches and tne
Yanks, the despised league lead,
ers. were gaining momentum ana
an imposing advantage as quickly
as every game was being played.
on June 5, the Griffs hit Phlla'
delphia to open up a three-game
series. They came out OF IL
sorely depressed as the AS won
the first two games by terrl1lc
margins and tied the final Is 70
13, after having cut down a Gr1i
1O.run lead which had been galneo
during the early innings.
Move to Boston
On June 8, the Griffs moved
to Boston where a doubleheaoer
was played, opening tour-game
series. Manager Cronin's men
lost the opening contest OF that
twin bill and at the same time
dropped six full games behind
the Yankees for the league lead
But presto-right here Things
began to happen thick and 1aSt'
The Griffs took the next game
of the doubleheader that day ana
the two games following. and 10
their great surprise the AS took
three out of four games from
the Yankees, whom they were
playing at the same time tne
Griffs were meeting the Sox.
This filled Manager CronlnS
"boys" with a new hope as since
| that eventful period games right
and left have been won, While
the Yanks, on the other hand.
have lost game after game, the
entire turn of events moving the
Griffs into the lead they now
hold and dropping the Yanks OUT
of that lead for the first import
ant time since they became the
powerful championship team IN
1882.
Griffmen Elated
The situation, naturally, has
the entire membership OF the
Griffmen elated beyond end to-
day. But as reported several
times before this year, the team
is not letting itself become too
enthusiastic over things" be-
cause of the realization that a
long schedule is still ahead and
that many unforeseen events might
happen, throwing all hopes and
desires into the wind.
However, as events now stand
the team is in first place today
with excellent chances of staying
in that position for many days
to come, particularly in view OF
the fact that the youthful man.
ager, Joe Cronin, has his men
playing their heads off for him
to win, regardless of what team
is the opposition or what noun
tain looms the highest ahead.
All of which brings up the
idea that Manager Joe Cronin
is due for rousing cheer at
this time. Is he going to be
another Bucky Harris. Is he 60
ing to lead the Griffs to another
flag of flags? Folks, let him
have it, as he sure gives every