The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-07-02
Team Hits
On Road
By FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL

nant race. Nor is it entirely a
miracle. There has been a weld.
ing Of all forces, brotherhood Of
battle that has brought to the
team a renaissance of spirit.
1t is more spirit perhaps, than
anything that has dashed the club
to it's present peak. Since leaving
home the Griffs have played .667
ball. They won eight and lost five
of the tour of the West. They won
a doubleheader here yesterday
that carried them to even terms
with the Boston Red Sox.
Perhaps it would be unwise to
build too great hopes for the fu-
ture. This may be one glorious
interlude that may be followed by
a slump. On the other hand, it
may be that the boys have proved
to themselves that high rating in
the league is entirely within their
capabilities.
Glories Team Spirit
Whatever the cause or the
causes, the day finds Stanley Ray,
mond Harris in an exalted mood
He glories in the spirit of the
team.
This is a team playing for
each other, fighting for each
other" Harris said this morning.
ut would be a treat for you to
sit on the bench during a game
and hear the boys who are OBJ
serving the battle. There is no
such thing as the men actually
playing the game carrying the
burden.
II can cite no better example
than Earl Whitehill to show
just how this club is reacting to
the urge to win. Whitehill has
always been q fighter, but per
hapS he has been something of a
rugged individualist. Now, if
Earl gees something on the field
he fairly bellows advice and
warning to the team. That is
true of Buck NewsOm, or Carl
Reynolds and Cliff Bolton.
eff a pitcher is not masking
his delivery, the others shout
to him or tell him as soon as
he gets to the bench. If fielder
is playing out Of position, he gets
the warning from the men, on
the bench.
81 never saw the Boston
Braves during their drive of
1914, nor the Giants of '21, but
they could not have been much
different from these boys who
are throwing everything they
have into the fight,
BREAKS WENT OTHER WAY
eve came to Decoration Day
playing 500 ball." Bucky con-
tinued. eve hammered around,
fighting for the breaks and
not making any marked prog
reSs. We couldn't get off on
a winning streak that all
teams need. We got hits, and
we got runs. But we couldn't
win consistently.
"Then came the trade that
I hoped we could make, but
never really believed could be
made. We got Ben Chapman.
Baseball history is full Of in
stances in which one man will
set the rest Of the boys going.
Chapman fits this team
like a glove. He likes every
one on the team. Everyone on
the team likes him. Never let
anyone tell you that Chappie
won't play ball every second
of the game.
But don't get the idea that
Chapman has done it all. Look
at that play around second
base. Get out there and see
Red Kress and Ossie Bleuge.
Watch Johnny Stone hammer
that ball. He is blasting the
Jail out OF the lou.
Joe Kuhel is playing the
best ball of his career. He
got five hits yesterday includ.
ing a home run. Buddy Lewis
has snapped out of his hitting
slump. He smashed a ball out
of the lot yesterday and had
five hits for the day. Bud has
played sensational ball, and
don't forget that he started
one of the triple plays that
marked the tour of the West.
BEST YEARS AHEAD
zone Of the most hearteninE
facts in connection with the
Washington club is that for the
most part it is a young team
with its best years before it.
There is not a man who is apt
to burn himself out this season
in the drive we must make to
keep ourselves in the fight.
1--WE are looking forward to
the return of Buddy Myer,"
Harris said. eff Buddy can get
back into action when we return
to the stadium for our next
home stay, we may establish our
selves in second place.
81 know one thing" Harris
said in conclusion. This Is not
just a ball club now playing for
base hits. 1t is a team playing
IN min and II Ia dOinR a mighty