The Washington times., 1936-12-26
CHAPMAN TRADE TONIC FOR GR|FF 4Th PLACE TEAM
Yankees Win,
Harris Work,
Top Year
BY FRANK BUCK O'NEILL

The baseball world halls the
New York Yankees, champions Of
the world, as one of the super
outfits of the world. And there
is much to be said in support Of
such a contention. The Yankees
either broke or tied records dur.
ing the year; captured the pen.
nant by almost 20 games, and
proved their greatness by knock
ing off each challenge as 1t came
along. None but the slashing
teams win their victories in such
manner.
Conceding the outstanding quail.
ity of the Yankees, baseball men
are pretty well agreed that one
of the great feats of the 1886
season was performed by Bucky
Harris, who took the washington
ball club, a team that on paper
rated second division rating and
landed it in the first four.
Bucky Does Wonders
Harris did more than that. He
missed finishing third by .0005 in
the percentage column, and the
last game scheduled by the Chi.
cago White Sox. who finished
third, was rained out. If Harris
had finished in the first three
with the Griffmen of '36, he would
have been worthy of a niche in
Cooperstown's baseball shrine.
The turning point in the 1885
pennant race was reached when
President Clark Griffith and
Bucky Harris made the deal that
brought Ben Chapman here from
the Yankees. Chappie, thor
oughly unhappy in New York,
and chained to the bench by a
.266 batting average, found him
self again when he joined the
Griffs.
Chapman bloSsomed out as a
full-fledged hitter down here,
humping the fences and raising
his average for the year to .3l5.
Chappie hit around 1896 while
with Washington.
The Yankees scored their
fourth consecutive world series
victory, feat never before &C
complished by any other team.
The Yankees took the Giants
over the jumps, winning four out
Of six games. The Yankees had
won the series of 1927, 1928 and
1882 without the loss of a single
game. incidentally. this was the
fourth all New York series. The
previous clashes of Pop Knicker.
bocker's clubs took place in 1921,
1922 and 1928.
COchrane's Absence Hurts
Detroit's Tigers were hand1-
capped by the loss of Mickey
Cochrane, their manager and
catcher. Mickey's health broke
down in mid-season. and he was
not able to lead the team into
action. During his absence it is
reported, two factions divided the
team. This, however, has been
denied. Hank Greenberg was lost
to the Tigers in April when Jake
Powell, traded to the Yankees by
the GriffS, ran into Greenberg's
left arm and broke his wrist.
The flop of the year without any
argument, was the Boston Red
Sox. Tom Yawkey was accused
Of buying the pennant, but he
never came close to winning. In
fact, he finished in sixth place,
just below the Cleveland Indians,
who were highly touted at the
start of the season.
The individual sensation Of the
American League was young Bob
Feller, the Van Meter school boy
who won fame as Strikeout artist
in his first year.
Tony LaZzeri twice hitting home
runs with the bases loaded in a
single game, was one of the out
standing athletes of the year.
Lazzeri broke other home-run
marks. hitting seven homers in
four consecutive games, and nick
ing six homers in three consecutive
games. Tony also made five home
runs in two consecutive games.
Joe DiMaggio made two home
runs in one inning and tied a
major league record.
Ossie Bluege, the veteran In
fielder Of the Washington club.
again stood forth defenSively. He
led the second and third baSemen
and also the third basemen. His
average for the three positions was
.988, and that will serve until a
finer performance is given by