The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-08-26
Figures Show
New Interest
Over Past
By FRANK BUCK" ONEILL


President Clark Griffith de.
tends the race in the American
League. AS a matter of fact,
Griff does more than defend it.
He says that it's better race than
the National League. come all We,
despite the drive of the Giants
and the fight of the Cardinals.
Locke" pipes Griff, 1--WE have
five clubs that may finished SEQ
Ond. Cleveland may finish first
If the Yankees slip"
"YOu mean II the Yankees
fall over a cliff, do you nOt?"
came the question.
There was trace of annoyance
in the voice Of the Old Fox as he
answered that flippant remark.
1--WE won't go into that" he
stated. Suffice to say that the
public likes our race. Figures
show that the American League
Is almost 33 1-3 per cent ahead
of last year. Even Detroit is
ahead of last year.
I'VE are having a better year
than we had in 1888, when we
won the pennant" said Griff.
"The reports from st. Louis are
encouraging. When you get a
lot Of teams playing 500 ball or
better, and we have five clubs
doing just that, you have a
race"
"Where do you think your
club will finish?" the old timer
was asked.
1--WE going after second place.
and we can easily finish there"
was his very definite answer.
"Hit from the outside in"
roared a golfing bug when Buck
NewSom came to bat in the second
inning. Of course this was very
bad instruction, but it worked all
right. Newsom singled.
When Bob Teller, the 17-year-
old pitcher of the Cleveland In
dams struck out Is of the st.
Louis Browns a few days ago, he
did more than come within one of
the major league record held by
Rube Waddell. He did something
more than equal the greatest feat
in pitching that Walter johnson
ever accomplished in one game.
He turned in the greatest per-
Torrance ever given by a first
year pitcher.
The more you ponder Feller's
feat, the greater it becomes. Here
is a kid who is well advanced
toward major league stardom at
an age when most boys are in
high school, dreaming long
dreams about the glorieS of Dart
mouth, or Wisconsin or wherever
their fancy drifts.
Johnson was a gangling kid of
10 when he dropped his suit case
on the floor of Griff's office and
said that he was the pitcher
Cliff Blankenship sent East. It
was everal years after the big
Trains" debut that he struck out
Is men.
Modern pitching rules and con-
ditions make Feller's achievement
greater than Johnson's, and in
some respects, greater than Wad-
de1l's. In the days of those
grizZled old veteran OF the
mound. ball remained in play
until it was ready to be returned
to the factory for recovering. To
day the umpire throws out a
ball as soon as it becomes rough
ened.
There Is always a danger of
some oVer-ambitiouS m a n ger
wearing out a kid like Teller,
but just as long as Steve O'Neill
is manager Of the Indians there
is no danger of such a develop
ment.
"There's no danger Of our
taking any chances with the
boy" said Steve. pitchers with
his stuff come along all to sell
dom, and you've got to watch
him. He's got a long time be-
fore him."
Feller is a fast ball pitcher
with an easy overland style of
delivery. At times he switches
into a half Side-arm style that
adds to his effectiveness. Teller
gave early corners an exhibition
Of his stuff before the game yes
terday. He banged the ball into
Wallie Schang's glove for 20 min
utes and then retired to the show
ers.