Evening star., 1938-09-12
BY BILL DIsMER, Jr.


may have the paradoxical effect Of
eventually molding the Washington
Redskins Of 1898 into An even stronger
squad than that which won the pro-
fessionaI football championship OF the
world last December.
That was the general opinion Of
those close to the Indians today, fol-
lowing = scant but satisfactory 1878
victory over the Philadelphia Eagles
at Philadelphia yesterday, which set
them of on the right foot as they
started the defense Of their National
League title.
At the end Of the pre-season train
ing period Coach Ray Flaherty had
problem on his hands. Strangely
enough. 1t was not an unpleasant
problem. It WAS simply this: That
an unusually promising group of
rockies left him with surplus OF po-
tential valuable material On his hands
which he didn't know how to begin to
estimate.
Barring the absence Of Clin Battles
Flaherty had the same squad of men
on his hands which was good enough
to win the pro title last season. And
no matter If q whole team full Of all
America college players had been
thrust upon him. 1t is doubtful II Fla-
herty would have violated the axiom
Of never breaking up = winning COM
bination.
Reserves Appear On Hand.
As q matter Of fact, there wasn't
any group Of all-Americas thrust upon
him. but he did come into possession
Of some darn good men who ached for
the chance to make good In the play
for-pay game. There was no place
for them and they were compelled to
await developments. Now, develop
ments have arisen and their chance
has come.
Two weeks ago, come Wednesday,
Quarterback Riley Smith was sent to
the hospital with ruptured leg muscles.
He is recuperating nicely now, but he
won't be available for action until .
week from Sunday. Yesterday Slingin'
Sam Baugh-the man they said the
Redskins could not win without-was
forced out Of competition with torn
ligaments In his shoulder. He will be
lost to the Redskins until they play
the New York Giants at Grif1lth Sta
dium on October .. But he was out Of
yesterdays game before the half ended
and the Redskins won in the second
half.
Ordinarily. the loss Of two such key
players as Smith and Baugh would
be a mortal blow for any team. Hap
ly, the Redskins OF 1898 appear to
be no ordinary team, or 1T least,
their reserve strength Is something
more than ordinary. And such new
comers Is Bill Hartman. Jay Turner,
Andy Farkas. George Karamatic. Jim
Abbitt and Dick Tuckey today have
opportunities rarely created on .
world championship team.
To Get Their Chances Seen.
Any Of the aforementioned rook-
les doubtless could hold his own on
the average big-league football team.
Up until yesterday, or yesterday plus
the night Of the All-star game in
Chicago. 1t seemed IS II they
wouldn't be about to prove that fact
with the Redskins.
They will now. though, for Fla
herty made it known today that every
one Of them would be groomed to fll
important roles in the champions
first two games 1T home, next sun-
day against the Brooklyn Dodgers
and the following Sabbath against
the Cleveland Rams. Given experience.
F1aherty Il convinced that any and
all OF them could make the grade
Experience seemed far away At the
beginning of the season; necessity
has forced 1t upon them now.
And, rounding out perfect sit
uation, when Baugh and Smith are
ready to return to duty. the Red
skins should be blessed with q fine 4
backaeld reserves as any club In the
league. Reserves who will be young,
fresh--and most important-experi-
eced by combat In actual league COM
petition.
Red Guard Scores Touchdown.
As to yesterdays game. it was .
thriller which none of Philadelphia's
record crowd Of $4,000 for profession
al football soon will forget. 1t was
more thrilling. naturally. to the hun
dreds Of Washington fans who saw
the game than the native Philadel-
phians, for the Capitalites saw their
team take 4 lead, lose it and even
tually overcome s-point handicap
to win. The fact that the Redskins
still can win 'em the hard way left
their supporters with the same thrill
they experienced last year when the
Injuns captured the title by doing
1t the only way they could-winning
their last four games.
The pleasant individual surprises