The Washington times., 1933-07-25
PICKS
JACKFOR]OB
At BILOXI
BY GARRETT WATERS
Times Staff Correspondent


Cronin, youthful manager, had
many problems to settle in his
mind when he took over the reins
Of the Griffs for the first time
down in Biloxi, Miss, last spring.
A most important problem was
finding a relief finger to take the
place Of the departed Fred Mar.
berry, who before his shift to the
Detroit Tigers for Earl Whitehill,
held the honor and renown as
chief Of rescue man in the Ameri"
can League.
Cronin looked over his crop Of
pitchers the first two weeks at
Biloxi with the important idea in
mind of finding that relief hurler
to take Fred Marberry's place.
No sooner had the drills been
more than a day or two old, his
eyes planted themselves on Jack
Russell, new member in camp,
but pithcer of parts as per his
past record as big Lacquer.
"I'H make him my rescue
man." Joe unused.
And relief pitcher extraordinary
Russell became, although at that
time the young pitcher hardly
gave the idea thought.
Scene Shifts
The scene has shifted since
those conditioning day at Biloxi.
The Griffs have battled them
selves towards many a victory,
while right at the current moment
they lead the league because Of
their untiring efforts.
It's been pitching that's aided
a great deal in this drive. And
not only good pitching from those
known as starters, but good pitch
ing from those known as rescue
men.
Here is where Jack Russell
comes in. This lad has been a
great relief performer for the
Griffs this year, even though
many may have overlooked the
thought. He's been in and out
many and many a game and has
winning record of seven VIC
tories as against only two losses
as result of his efforts. He has
only started two games, but this
is because he has been so much
more valuable to Cronin and the
GriffS as a relief hurler instead.
Shows to Advantage.
Yesterday in that ouble-header
against the Philadelphia AS, Rus
sell showed to his best advantage
as reScuer. He rushed into ac-
tion in both contests and as the
story will tell, proved just the
right man in the pinch as game
saver for mates who had faltered
because Of the intense heat.
He started the day by being
Bob Burke's rescue man in the
first game. In this instance he
pitched from the sixth inning on
and proceeded to keep the AS at
bay while the Griffs won out,
5 to 2, while in the second en-
counter he took the mound in the
ninth to stop a dangerous rally
which had already seen five
Philadelphia runs across the plate
as a result Of a five-hit barrage
off the Slants OF Bill McAfee,
teammate.
Help Win Both
The Griffs won both games be,
cause Of Russell's expert work,
And it's really a shame that the
scoring rules prevent him from
getting credit for both victories,
so hard did he work and 50
earnestly and effectually. In the
first game he struck out the side
IN the ninth to make victory
certain for the Griffs. Those
who famed were Foxx, Coleman
and johnson. The Griffs beat
Lefty Grove S to 2 in that first
game for the first time since
April, 1882. Eleven hits turned
the trick while ii were gained
against Earnshaw, Coombs and
Freitas for that 1O-to-6 victory
IN the nightcap. A pair of sween
victories, even though the AS
smacked McAfee right handily
IN a ninth inning uprising in
the second contest. Crowder was
the winning pitcher in this in.
stance and the triumph marked
me fourteenth Of the campaign