The Washington times., 1935-05-02

telligence and - AAi@
a bility, the Frank Buck" o.Neiu
Griffmen might RANK DUCK Ne"'
make lot of trouble indeed, they
might win the pennant.
But Washington has to have a
right-handed pitcher who can
stand out there and win the same
game he starts. Washington has
to have a right-handed outfielder
who combines fielding skill with
intelligence and batting prowess.
The lack of punch thus far is
shown in the scores of the sea.
son. The Griffs have played 10
games. They've been shut out
three times. Their non-scoring
average is .231.
1t may or may not mean a
thing that Whitley Wiltshire, south
paw of the Athletics, and Lefty
Gomez of the Yankees, plastered
Whitewash over our noble athletes.
It may not mean a thing be-
You'd mere circumstances. that
Wiltshire let them down with two
hits and that Gomez allowed
four hits. Six hits in two full
games against good southpaw
pitching.
LeftHanded Hitters
On the other hand it may mean
that the left-handed hitters of
the Washington club never could
win from a good lefty. Not even
Kress and Bluege could help
against Gomez.
1t is worthy Of note here, for
purposes of comparison, that the
New York Yankees played two
full years without being shut out.
They went from August 2, 1881,
to August 3, 1888, before they
failed to get a runner over the
plate. The Yankees did not win
in 1881, nor in 1888 either, de-
spite their scoring ability. But
just figure out where this in
ability to produce runs will land
the Griffmen if continued.
Of course, there is little chance
of such woeful record being con-
tinued, but the figures stand on
this day and date.
Although there is somewhat
more power in the Western half
of the American League than in
the Eastern division, we saw
some of the best ball players in
the league right on the Atlantic
Seaboard.
Boston has one of the best of
the young outfielders in Mel
Armada. Not little attention
has been directed to the deeds Of
Armada in this space. 1t will be
only a short while before all
hands jump on the band wagon
and proclaim this youth tops in
the juveniles.
Shines Afield
Armada is hitting well right
now, but I'm not considering his
hitting. Not yet, at any rate. He
fields fly balls with the skill of
a Speaker. He can cross over In
the alleys and cut down extra
base hits with a glove that holds
the dizziness Of an infielder. l
almost said with the skill OF a
Hans Wagner, but some of the
old-timers might object.
He can throw, too, this young
Cuban. I saw him wheel and
uncork couple heaveS in that
Boston series, and forthwith went
into a huddle with Eddie Collins,
general manager of the Red Sox.
Collins is cold and uncompromis-
ing in his appraisalS OF ball play
ers. For that reason his opinions
carry extra values.
eyes, he can throw well"
said Collins, "but the greatest
thrOwer I ever saw was Happy
FelSch. FelSch was q combined
Outfielder and infielder. He
had a good arm, and great con-
fidence in his ability to come
charging in and scoop up
grounders. He would take Is
or 20 yards off a hit by charg-
ing the ball. He never was
guilty of the common fault of
OutfieIders. He never let a ball
play him.
"Felsch figured in Is double
plays in the season of 1919,
when the White Sox won the
pennant," continued Collins.
This is the major league rec
ord. Iris Speaker was the
greatest center fielder and made
three unassisted double plays in
his life. Speaker could go back
better than any other man who
ever played ball. Against GER
tain hitters he would crowd
second base. He played so close
that twice in his life he led the
league in making assists. In
1oOo and aOain in 1912 he made