Evening star., 1938-06-29
MYER INDICATES
H|SP|L0T'SFA|TH
Bounces Back Against Odds
After Off Year-Grjffs
Run Into Rain.
By BURTON HAWKINS,
star Correspondent Of The star.


BOSTON, June 2s.-On the screen
OF their respective imaginations, the
Nationals have visualized themselves
as pennant possibilities and that pos
sibly bloated estimate sooner or later
reflects on the drawing, fiat-nosed
fellow who plays second base and re-
sembles the popular conception Of
what q former world welterweight
champion should look like. At the
start OF the season he was regarded
as the key to Washington's success,
but that was before the pitchers threw
away the lock. The name Is Buddy
Myer.
Buddy probably Is the best behaved
employe on Clark Grifnth's pay roll
and that is important, for Myer OF
Mississippi now is 81 years old. He is
in his 14th season as q bali player
and is preserving the dwindling games
remaining in his system. His extra
curricula activities consist chiefly of
chinning in the hotel lobby until 10
O'Clock, at which time he politely
excuses himself and trudges to bed.
What Is an item Of interest at
present, however, Is the fact that
Buddy is producing. That, you re-
member, was dubious point in regard
to the Washington ball club as they
entered training camp this spring.
Buddy Bounces Back.
The odds were against Myers COM
ing back this season. Mr.. Griflth
deemed Buddy, American League
champion In 1885, valuable enough
to refuse an offer Of Tony Lazzeri and
$780, 900 from the Yankees, but Myers
stomach acted up the following year
and the glory soured.
Buddy played in 100 less games in
1896, winding up with q batting aver
age some 80 points lower and q ter
rible total Of Is runs batted In. He
recaptured some Of that prestige last
year. but still was long hike from
the Myer Of '35. batting q modest .293
Tor 125 games. No less an authority
than Manager Bucky Harris stamped
him as the key man OF the 1888 OUTFIT,
but Harris, of course, couldn't foresee
the misery on the mound.
Myer apparently has what it takes,
for he has bounced back, II only on
q part-time basis. Ossie BlueRe has
relieved him Of his duties about every
third day, but while he Is IN there
Buddy Is performing rather creditably
A .327 batting average, topped only
by Cecil Travis and George Case, would
mirror that.
Mats Clout for Extra Bases.
As 1t has developed. Myer was not
the key man Of the club, but he has
contributed much to the Mats, never.
theless. He was regarded as the man
who would make or break the team.
He has done neither, but the fact
there Is no complaint concerning the
situation at second base is mute tribute
to his improvement over the last two
years.
Myer is an integral part of the
Washington power which Is tied with
Detroit at Oil on a total base count
over the seasons stretch and second
to New York only by one blow in the
matter Of extra-base wallops.
That power. incidentally, was strain
ing at the leash today, but there was
doubt If the Mats would have an op-
portunity to explode base hits even
II they still are poised to rise. Rained
out against the Red Sox yesterday
there was little hope Of playing today,
with Dutch Leonard and Johnny Mar
cum ready for mound duty in case
the skies ceased crying.
The Mats, who adjourned to Suffolk
Downs yesterday, were prepared to re-
trace their steps today, with most Of
them keyed up over the outcome of
the Massachusetts Handicap.