The Washington times., 1935-07-02

play out the SCr1ng a1CeF July
l, 1 can't understand why base.
bal doesn't contrive to make it
interesting for the athletes who
must stoOge for the Yankees or
Detroit or Cleveland, or who
ever you like in the run down
the stretch. ed. Note: There
is alwa,'s second. third and
fourth place world series cut to
be attained by the first three
also ranS.)
"Why not get fan referen-
dunn on extra special attractions
for Griffith Stadium. For
instance, an American League
national field day. In each
city # the circuit a team could
hold an elimination meet and
pick the best fungO hitter,
circIing-the-baseS CHI a m p o n,
schedule contests in throwing
for accuracy, pitching for &C
curacy, speed daSheS, place hit
ting, best bunting, slide demon
STATIONS, etc.
"The winners from each Amer
lean League city would compete
in the national field day to be
held annually in the city which
led the second division in the
league standings the previous
year. That would make the top
of the second division mean at
least one good day at the box
office for some team that needs
it.
Little Thanks, at Best
"When such swell ball player
as Buddy Myer goes on a bat
ting spree in June, it ought to
be worth more to him than kind
words from Buck O'Neill and
his presS-bOx pals. A monthly
prize for the best batting would
cover his case.
"In fact, a monthly prize by
the American League for the
best pitching record every month
of the season would help. A re-
ward for the best base stealing
every 30 days, for runs batted
in, for every achievement in
baseball that goes into the rec
ord. Twenty-Five thousand dol
lars invested by the American
League is such prizes would re.
turn fat dividend, in addition
to stimulating interest and SuS-
tanning it for the alsO-ran teams.
They might not be in the race
for the pennant, but they would
all strive for this cash.
81 think, too, the American
League should restore its most
valuable player award, basing it
upon the votes of the fans as
determined by newspaper ballot
in each city and running the
standings each week just as they
do the batting averages.
Those Special Days
''What about special days?
Well, the biggest crowd 1 ever
saw at Fenway Park in Boston
turned out for a pitching duel
between Joe Wood and Walter
johnson. Ask Griff about 1t.
This game was worked up by
the Boston Americans baseball
writer, A. HI. C. Mitchell. and
the Red SOx got the benefit.
"Only last season, Kirk, you
turned Babe Ruth'S Washington
and American League farewell
into a box office and senti.
mental success when everybody
else was disposed to let it slide
into just another late Septem-
Der Sunday game. Tom Kirby
and Bryan Morse packed the
park for the big Walter Johnson
Day here, not the American
League.
81 also enjoyed seeing Bill
Robinson running so yards back
ward against Ben Chapman'S
regulation 100 at Yankee Sta
dunn,
Pardon me for leaping over
the amusement grandStand and
getting on the baseball field.
But I have seen some tough
movies and some very hammy
stage shows ballyhOOed into the
money by a little bit Of what
the amusement industry calls
ShOwmanship."
Baseball is entertainment as
well as the greatest of sport to
watch. Baseball merely Iags in
selling what it has, in helping
out the teams that by the luck
of the game are out Of the pen
nant race.
"Wake the good old cOnserva-
tive American League out Of its
sHumber. Let's have some real
promotion. If Washington can't
win the American League cham
piOnship in 1885, at least we
can have more fun watching 'em
lose it. See you out at the ball
park Friday.
Gas ever,
"YOur critical neighbOr,
HANnv KETYEV q -