The Washington times., 1937-06-14
Locals Battle
Phi|Iies In
First Tilt
By FRANK BUCK ONEILL

14.-The Griffs arrived here to-
day, pitching their tent flgura-
lively, in the encampment OF
Mercy army. They will partlcl'
pate in a baseball carnival for the
benefit of a tuberculosis home to
be constructed in the hills outside
of Charleston. Federal coopera-
ton has been asked by the State
of West Virginia, and every re-
source of Charleston will be de-
voted toward making the drive a
success.
The Philadelphia Athletics and
Washington will represent the
American League. The PhilieS,
playing the Griffs, and the Gin
cinnati Reds mingling with the
Athletics, will represent the Ma
tional League. That's fair pas
sci of second division baseball, to
be sure, but the fans have thrown
their money into the pot in
major league style. Each OF the
big league clubs receives a guaran'
tee of $500, or barely enough to
cover expenses for the trip. There
will be a night game between two
teams in the Middle Atlantic
League, which is represented IN
Charleston. This triple-header
will serve to give the boys and
girls of the community about all
the baseball they can stand in one
day.
Big Prices
The prices for the benefit carni'
val are scaled from $2.20 for seats
to $3.50 for reserved boxes. At a
special auction held a few days
ago, boxes sold for 5000 or more.
The western invasion which
closed in Chicago yesterday rushed
successive stages Of defeat, diSap-
.pointment, disgrace and debacle.
Out of II games played, only
three were won. One was taken by
Yves Terrell, obtained in trade
from the Boston Red SoX few
days ago. The 'GriefS won one
game and lost two in Detroit.
They cut the same caper IN CleVe-
land. They lost only one game in
st. Louis because that was all
they played. Different in Chicago;
they played four which gave them
greater opportunities. They capt.
talized upon chance and the
schedule, blowing three out OF
four.
It is easy to review some Of the
games and see how they might
have been won. Especially easy is
this ghoulish task in relation to
Yesterdays affairs. Putting 1t
briefly, you can't play the Chinese
baseball that Harris played yes
terday and land anywhere but be-
hind the eight ball.
In this case, the eight ball is
sixth place, and there we find
Harris and the GriffS.
In the first game Appleton would |
have pulled out Of the disastrous |
eighth inning when leading 3 to |
/ If Washington had protected the |
lead and crowded in on the grass.
But with Chicago men on second |
and third and none out, Harris
played his infield back, Spotting |
Chicago a run; clearing the way
for an advance to third in the |
event Of a grounder.
The grounder came all right,
and the advance from third to
plate and from second to third de-
veloped in time. 1t wasn't long be-
fore the Sox had the game in the
bag.
1t may be commended that Harris
was guarding against a weak hit |
sneaking through. That would be
fine except for the fact that first |
base was open, and that nothing
but caught line drive would de.
velop into a double play. A slow
roller meant a run with all hands
back. Likewise it meant the tying
run on third base.
Take Chances
You can't criticize Travis for
booting an easy grounder. except
that he apparently took his eyes
off the ball. I still say that with
good baseball, Appleton might
easily have pulled out of the in.
ming and the Griffs might have
won the game.
Less criticism attaches to the
second game when Harris gambled
on a big inning rather than the
safer course Of one run. In the
ninth inning Stone doubled and
up came AL Simmons.
Would you bunt and play for a
tie, or would you hit for the big
inning?
Harris chose the latter alterna-
tive and Simmons struck out.
Travis then singled to right, and
the great axiom of baseball that
winners can do no wrong mani
tested itself then and there.
Dixie walkers arm is not strong,
and Stone tried to score from sec
ond. He might have made it,
But Zeke Bonura cut off the
fading peg, wheeled and threw to
Mervin Shea behind the plate.
Stone was tagged out. Myer then
flied out and the game was over.
I'll say this for the GriffS, they
got a bad break from the umpireS
when Red Ormsby called Stratton
safe at second on Lewis throw to
yer. The runner was out by a
step, but Ormsby missed the play.
From that break the Sox went on
and fashioned their three runs,
which were enough to win the
game and sent the GriffS out talk