The Washington times., 1937-08-06
GRIFF |NFIELDER
BRINGS MARKS
CLOSER TO .4OO:
Gains on Gehrig,
Nearest Threat
BY FRANK BUCK O'NEILL

cecil Travis, WIN Cnree n1tS IN
five times at bat against the st.
Louis Browns yesterday, gained
four points in his terrific assault
on American League pitchers. and
looms now not only q potential
batting champion of the American
League, but possible 400 hitter.
He is the man whom American
League fans hail as a rival for
Ducky Medwick, the clouting Car.
dinal, in the race for national
honorS.
Travis prepares for action today
against the Detroit Tigers with an
average of 1888. He has been at
bat 275 times and has made LOT
hits.
The Georgian pulled away from
Lou Gehrig of the Yankees, DIES.
pite the fact that "Larrupin' Lou
made two hits in four times at
bat, cracked another homer, and
drove in five runs in that free
scoring battle Of Yankee Stadium
in New York. Travis forged well
ahead of "Joltin'" Joe DiMaggio,
who made only one hit in four
times at bat and neglected to
make that one blast home run.
Most Effective
Travis was most effective with
his hitting. He drove in the
first two Washington runs
against the right-handed pitch.
ing Of Lou Koupal. The law of
averages caught up with Travis
in the ninth, and with the bases
damned and three runs needed
to tie the score. Cecil flied to
Joe Vosmik.
If Travis continues his terrific
hitting streak and achieves a
mark of 400 for the season. he
will be the first Washington
player to compile such record
over Q full season.
He will be the fourth Wash
ington man to lead the Amer
lean League. Away back in 1902
big" Ed Delehanty, one Of the
games immortalS, the only man
ever to lead both the National
and American Leagues in hit
ting, crashed his way through
to the championship. Delehanty
batted 1915.
Goslin Set Pace
There followed a dreary time
before another member Of the
GriffS achieved top rating, but
in 1928 Goose GoSlin set the
pace with an average Of 1873.
In 1885 Buddy Myer snatched
the crown in the last day of the
season, compiling an average of
.349.
AL Simmons, currently with
the Griffs won the batting
championship twice when
member of the Athletics. In
1880 he hit 1871, and the fol-
lowing year batted 800.
Almost forgotten in the wide
spread enthusiasm over Travis
great drive for the championship
and the 400 brackets, is the wild
walioping of the quiet and modest
Buddy Lewis. Lewis set the pace
for the GriffS yesterday with four
hits. two singles, a double and a
triple. He scored two runs him.
self and pushed another into scor'
ing position.
Playing Well
In the series with the Browns,
Lewis hit 1857, and played nice
bali at third base. He is 1mproV-
ing with every game and one OF
these days will be classed with the
real good ones at third base.
Jim Bottomley has worked some
thing with the Browns. They're
no longer a door mat team. 1t
may be that the "Old Sarge"
Gabby Street has inspired some
confidence in the pitchers. What
ever it is, the fact remains that
the club is playing ball. Certainly
it played ball against the Gr1tts'
winning two and carrying the
other into extra innings before
bowling. Even then, a lucky
bounce on Lewis grounder which
might have ended the game, aided
Washington.
1t cannot be said that the Grifts
didn't have a chance or that they
didn't get the breaks. In the three
games the locals got no fewer than
80 hits, and out Of this inspiring
total, managed to score 10 runs.
Lack Of Power
It is the old story Of Washing.
ton baseball. There is a lack OF
space spanning power on the club.
Other clubs, those YankS for ex-
ample, send a man up there with
the bases damned, and "splat" the
ball rides out of the lot.
Let's look at our warriors. In
the game yesterday, three hits in
the sixth inning scored one run:
three more in the seventh scored
one run, and four in the eighth
scored two runs.