Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-23
CRACK BATSMAN
REFUTES GRIFFITH
Nationals Captain Finds
Links Game Keeps His
Muscles Loose.
EY FRANCIS e. STAN,
Stan Correspondent of The Star.

aANAIO' AuSuoU %o'-n oeV VI
golf clubs, the last imple-
ments in the world that
~ would be suspected. is what
converted Capt. Buddy Myer of the
Nationals from a steady 800 hitter
into the biggest batting surprise of
base ball.
Biting the tip off cigar he never
lit, the doughty Griff captain broke
down and confessed all today In
hotel lobby. A sports page news item
was responsible for the revelation
which surprised even the closest Of
Myers teammates.
"I see," remarked Buddy. where
Lawson Little outdrives Babe Ruth by
20 yards on every tee shot. I guess
that Little baby can hit golf ball
300 yards every time"
What d'ya know about golf,
Myer?" jokingly snarled teammate,
who feigned an Ill-get-youfor-t that
attitude because Buddy dropped the
queen of spades on his four-spot of
clubs in yesterdays dressing room
hearts game. "All you can do is plunk
that blankety, blank queen on guy
trying to stay in the game"
It's Griff's Pet Peeve.
"T DON'T know as much about golf
as I'm gonna" shot back Wash
ington's nominee for the American
League batting championship. my
fine, feathered friend" he continued,
borrowing Buck Newsom's special ad-
dress, golf is now my Winter sport
It's done more for me as ball player
than anything I've ever tried"
Kidding ceased abruptly. For years
Uncle Clark Grif1th's No peeve has
been golf shooting during the base
ball season by his ball players. Griff
even begrudged them their brassies
and niblicks between seasons although
the old gentleman, after hauling
hireling on the carpet and lecturing
him Gu the evils of tee and green,
would sneak out himself to Indian
Spring Or Columbia.
And here was Myer, who for 10
years as a ball player never touched
o golf club. talking about shooting
pars and benefting on the ball field.
Here was a man, who tried it for the
first time last Winter and then bobbed
UP with by far his greatest season in
base ball.
mo, I'm not kidding" answered
Buddy. II honestly believe I owe
most Of my good year at the bat to
golf don't say it should be played
during the base ball season but for
years I've done everything else during
the Winter to keep IN good shape.
hunted, f1shed, hiked and all that
stuff. And still I was fatter around
the waist every time I reported to
training camp. Last Winter I tried
golf. I bought some clubs and never
missed playing three or four times
q wee.i. We've got a swell layout at
Laurel. Miss, and, believe me, when
you shoot around that course all
Winter you're IN good shape.
Got Flying Start.
81 THINK it's the best exercise. be-
cause golf kept me swinging all
the time. The muscles in my arms
and shoulders and waist were kept
loose and when I showed up at Biloxi
last Spring I didn't have any trouble
meeting the ball right from the start.
Usually I get of to slow start.
I remember one year was batting
only 1875 on the Fourth Of July and
had to hustle like the devil to make
800. Early this season I knew I was
due for my best year and I knew
why"
'How about your quitting smok-
ingP"
"Well, that helped my wind. I guess,
but playing golf really is responsible
for the batting improvement, think.
BY the way, do you ever throw away
golf clubs or bust em up? BY gosh,
smashed UP brand-new set of woods
last Winter. But finally I'm breaking
100 and my tee shots, ETC."
It Is doubtful If many of his BY
standing teammates heard much of
Buddy's description Of his golf game.
Probably more than one Of the boys
was wondering whether Griff, after
he hears about Myer from Myer, will
buy each Of them bag and a set of
clubs and prescribe golf must" ex-
ercise.
Certainly Grit couldn't be blamed
II he did.