The Washington times., 1937-06-19
X-Ray Shows
Ais Finger
Is Broken
BY FRANK BUCK" ONEILL

AL Simmons is on the side lines
for the next two weeks, the small
finger of his left hand shattered
by a ball thrown by Oral Hide
brand yesterday. Xray photo
graphs revealed the extent of his
injuries. With Simmons out of &C
ton, his feud with IHildebrand
who was too cautious to fight back
when Simmons took sock at him
and Bill Knickerbocker, who did
fight, blazed today with fiercer in
tenSity.
Simmons accused Hildebrand OF
deliberately throwing at him
Johnny Stone and Joe Kuhel sup
ported the statements of Simmons
declaring that Hildebrand from
time to time had taken shots at
them.
Naturally, those accusations are
denied in entirety by Hildebrand
and the Browns. Simmons how.
ever, has a broken hand. Hide.
brand has only a denial of throw.
ing with intent to injure.
No Appeal Made
No representations will be made
to President Will Harridge by any
one connected with the Washing
ton club, although Simmons init
mated that he would take such
action if Harridge suspended him
for his affair at fisticuffs with
Knickerbocker. It would be i'm
possible to prove that Hildebrand
actually had thrown at Simmons
or anyone else.
If President Harridge, Of the
American League, takes his usual
common sense course in this mat
ter, he will deal lightly with the
fiery players. He probably will re
alize that when second division
clubs manifest sufficient interest
in baseball to fight as Griffs and
Browns fought, they are to be con-
graduated rather than punished.
So far as Knickerbocker is con-
cerned. he simply barged into the
argument. Simmons challenged
Hildebrand at the home plate, but
the Brownie pitcher is paid for
skill, not for bravery. Simmons
went down to first base, and at this
point Bill Knickerbocker stepped
into the affair.
Fought Joe Louis
Simmons was enraged to a point
where he would have fought Joe
Louis with or without a drop of
hat. He jawed Knickerbocker
for a while, and then Cecil Travis
came to bat.
Travis slapped a grounder back
to Hildebrand, who threw to Knick-
erbocker for force play on Sim
mons. The Griff outfieldef leaped
into the air and into Knicker-
booker full force. Knickerbocker
was knocked down, and when he
regained his feet he and Simmons
started to fight. Bill is supposed
to be a handy guy with his fists,
but boxing skill counts for little
in a jam like this.
Simmons swung his right and
the punch took effect upon Knick-
erbocker's head. In trice there
was q fine Donegal fair. Fists flew
and men struggled. The umpires
rushed into the melee. Big Carl
Hubbard lifted the lilliputians up
in handfuls. Finally the local po-
lice came up, asked what was
wrong, and aided in restoring
order.
Can't Afford to Lose
Regardless of the rights or
wrongs in the case, neither Wash
ington nor st. Louis can afford
to lose a regular player at this
time. The Griffs dropped to with
in one and one half games of the
cellar, and Simmons is needed to
help in the battle for life.
The Browns need Knickerbocker
in their attempt to climb out Of
the cellar. HornSby continues to
drive the Mound City warriors
along.
Despite all that you hear of in
ternal discussions, lack OF will
ingnesS to play for the Texan, and
any other reports, you can. bet
that the Browns who fought and
played winning baseball yesterday,
were as effective for day as any
team could be.
st. Louis won by a shut out,
the second of the year hung on
the Griffs. Nothing is more ef-
fective than a shut out.
DeShOng ShelIed
Jimmy DeShong went back to
~
was shelled from the hill. The
Brownies got to him for an early
lead-scored three runs on him,
and then piled on a few more for
good measure. This discontinue,
following closely upon a harrow
ing experience with the Detroit
Tigers, bothered DeShong no
little.
Hildebrand, for all of his wordy
brawl with Simmons, pitched a
sweet game. He allowed one clean
hit, which was made by Al Sim
mons. The other blow off Hide
brand was a scratch by Lewis on
which the official scorer graciouSly
gave Buddy whatever benefits
were to be found in slight doubts.
1t stands to reason that you will
not score many runs on two hits,
and Hildebrand gave only one base
on balls in addition to hitting
Simmons.
Rogers Hornsby played second
base for the Browns after Knick
erbocker got the air from the
empires. Tommy Carey shifted