The Washington times., 1936-09-07
Griffin en-
Fighter
Second
By FRANK BUCK O'NEILL

They tied for fourth place,
these Griffs of ours, or maybe
you prefer to say that they're
tied for fifth place. But they're
only half a game from second
place. And you know, of course,
that baseball tradition places
the teams at the finish as they
stand today.
The American League race be-
ing what it is, with teams scram-
bling for position in one of the
merrieSt dog fights of recent
years, anything can happen.
Just a few days ago Cleveland
was holding down second place,
but the Tigers said the Injuns
couldn't maintain the pace. Now
the Tigers and White Sox are
deadlocked and each is putting
the finger on the other.
Some Of the rival leaders
laughed when Bucky Harris said
that he'd be among the top
notchers in a little while, but
S'help me, Bob; the Brighter is
neck and neck, eye and eye with
the Indians.
Now here comes Boston, the Gold
FlopS of '36, into town for a hon-
day double-header that will close
the home stand of the Griffs. Bos-
ton is two and one-haf games be-
hind the Griffs, so nothing that
they do here will put them ahead
Of Harris men. That thought is
comforting, regardless Of what
might happen to the other clubs
in the scramble.
Boston in Town
The GriffS have focused their
eyes on second place in the pen
nant race, but they're keeping a
sly glance or two on the Bostonese.
The Gold Flops are the selected
foes of the GriffS. BEAT Boston
and we've had a great season" is
the watch word Of the Griffs. And
it looks right now as if they'll beat
them.
The Gold FlopS were anything
but a soft touch for the Yankees
in the series that just closed on
Fenway Park. Over the weekend
the Gold Flops trimmed the Yam
KEGS three times in four games and
had a tie in there to add a little
spice
In winning yesterday the Red
Sox fired their two heaviest guns.
West Terrell scored easily over the
Yankees in the first game, and
Lefty Grove trimmed them easily
in the second.
Well, that should help the
Griffs today, for the rest of the
hurlers on the Red SoX staff do
not figure to offer the same quail
ity of opposition for the Griffs
that these starting aces might
have. Perhaps Cronin is making
the gesture Of contempt for the
local lights in firing his heaviest
artillery against the Yankees.
Cronin may find, however, that
Jimmy DeShong and Buck New
som will have enough on the ball
today to stop his noble athletes.
Newsom has pitched some good
games against the Red Sox and,
Of course, he admits he will be
right in the pink for the fray.
Washington climbed to within
half a game of second place by
plaStering the Athletics for the
sixteenth time this season. The
schedule between the teams is
completed and the Athletics man
aged to win just six games.
Years ago Ben Chapman used
to watch Earl Whitehill pitch for
the Birmingham Barons in the
Southern Association. At that
time the 'Bama Arrow was just
starting to dream about major
league fame. He never thought
that he would make one of the
great plays of his career support
ing Whitehill's pitching.
Chapman Stars
That is exactly what developed
in that first game yesterday. With
Finney on third base, Dean hit
line drive to center field. The ball
was well hit, but Chapman went
into position, made the catch and
shot a perfect throw to the plate to
complete a double play that de-
served a setting in a more impor-
tant game.
Ray Phebus, the confident young
man from Albany, started the sec
ond game, but blew lead of four
runs and was removed. Monte
Weaver relieved him and received
credit for winning. Chapman was
an earnest worker on behalf of
his hurting staff, making five put
outs in the second battle.
Johnny Mihalic continued his
nifty hitting throughout the after
noon. He got three hits in the
course of the battles. This young
man not only is hitting the ball
nicely, but he is putting lot of
zip into his play. He had the
reputation of being a fighter in
the Southern Association, and the
boys made no mistake in their