The Washington times., 1938-04-25
Good PitChinQ
Helps Mats
KeepPdce
BATTLE RED S0X
Bonura's dumb" PLAY
Beats Griffmen in
Yankee Game
BY FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL

their spikes imbedded in their
native heath. They fight the Bos-
ton Red Sox, tied with them for
second place in the American
League pennant race.
The Red Sox bowed to the
Philadelphia Athletics yesterday
and the Nationals did little sa-
laaming-not slamming- the
Yankees. Cleveland, to keep the
record straight, beat the fangless
Detroit Tigers to lead the Ameri-
can League.
CLEVELAND STRONG
Form in the American League
has been true in the first week
of the race. The Cleveland IN
dams, with Bob Teller and Johnny
Allen starting the year, were
rated as strong contenders. They
have established themselves as
such beyond all argument.
The Nationals, if they got fair
pitching, were regarded as a
match for most teams in the
league. They battled the Yankees
to a finish, even if they lost two
games.
The Boston Red Sox were rated
as dark horses, possible winners
if their pitching improved over
last year. Their pitching has been
uniformly good, and they are up
in the battle. Maybe just a flash
in the pan, but probably a result
Of strong baseball.
BERG VALUABLE
The best ball game I saw in the
South was played between the
Boston Red Sox and the Brooklyn
Dodgers. Before the game started
Joe Cronin said: Watch this kid
Jim Bagby. I'm counting on him
this season. He may win 20
games. I think he's a cinch to
win IS games"
Bagby showed plenty that day
in Sarasota. He showed plenty
against the New York Yankees
in the opening game. In fact, he
won the games and the respect of
the Rupert forces.
Washington fans will get a vi
carious thrill out of any success
the Red Sox achieve this year, for
not only is Joe Cronin manager,
but Moe Berg is the chief de-
veloper of young pitchers, and Ben
Chapman is playing a swell ele-
CANT game in the outfield.
Figures do not tell the whole
truth on Moe Berg and his value
to the Boston Red Sox. He is
one Of the top receivers of the
game, and one of the Smartest
ball players who ever crouched
behind batter. This is as it
should be, for Moe Berg is per.
haps the ranking intellectual of
all time in baseball.
YANKS GET BREAKS
Berg is a trial lawyer of note.
and here's something that per
haps you didn't know. When a
noted columniSt whose stuff is
printed is two-score papers across
the country visited Washington to
do special article on the Su-
preme Court, his technical adviser
was Moe Berg, of the Boston Red
Sox.
The wheel of fortune turned
swiftly against the Nationals in
New York yesterday in the last
half OF the eighth inning. With
Hoag on first, Rick Terrell tipped
Gordon's bat as the latter splashcd
a grounder to Travis, and, instead
OF a force play at second, Hoag
was ruled safe and Gordon allowed
to go to first on interference.
Chase and DeShong elaborated
in passing Ruffing, which filled
the bases. Dahlgren ran for the
Yankee pitcher, and then Gro
setti grounded into what Bonura
thought should have been ruled a
double play. He argued and
screamed and held the ball as
Gordon ran all the way home from
second base with the winning run.
1t was the dumbeSt play of the
season.
GOSLIN DELIVERS
The drama of the battle Of the
House that Ruth built by the
Harlem River was supplied by the
venerable Goose GoSlin. The
Goose stepped into the game in
the seventh inning to bat in place
Of Weaver. Simmons was on base
at the time and the Yankees were
leading by two runs. Goslin ham,
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