Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-06
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Stan Correspondent.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, July g.
Plagued by the twin evils of injury
and general ineffectiveness, the Mats
today invaded this village to scrib-
BILE one of their chief contributions
in 1889 baseball annals by per-
forming in the first night game in
the history of the Washington club.
The crippled Mats, reduced to
seven pitchers through the tempo
rary loss of Harry Kelley, now at
Hot Springs, Ark, seeking relief for
Inflammation of both knees, may be
minus their last remaining hitter
in the 300 class tonight as they
clash with the Athletics.
A badly bruised left knee threat
ened to clip the club of the serv-
ices of Third-Baseman Buddy Lewis,
who thus would join the injured
George Case, Washingtons only
other player sWatting in fashionable
figures, in decorating the dugout.
Under the brilliant beams of a
gigantic lighting system which
bathes Shibe Park in an expert
imitation of sunshine, the Mats
will present club which hardly
will gaze in awe at the imposing
banks of spotlights. Most of them
are fugitives from minor leagues
where night baseball has been an
accepted item for some time.
Griff to Present Plan Next Week.
OF unusual interest, though, is the
fact that the Mats may play most
of their games under the arcs next
year if Prexy Clark Griffith is able
to persuade other club-owners his
plan to play at night five days a
week during July and August Is
feasible.
Griffith will present his plan to
club owners at an informal meet
ing prior to the all-star game at
New York next week and unless it
is adopted it is unlikely Washing
ton fans will view night baseball.
The Washington owner will refuse
to install lights at Griffith Sta
dunn to play seven night games a
year, the present limit.
Sixth place will be at stake in
the Mats flvegame series with the
Athletics and Washington is in sorry
shape as it prepares to defend
its present position.
With Kelly lost to the club for
at least two weeks, it is probable
the Mats will recall Bucky Jacobs
from Springfield. Mass, to bolster
the woefully weakened mound staff
Bud Thomas was released on waiv-
ers to Detroit, Jimmy De Shong was
picked up by the Yankees for the
waiver price and, with Kelly now
among the missing, the Mats will
be forced to unravel nothing less
than brilliant hurting to get by.
What Manager Bucky Harris is
up against may be revealed in the
Philadelphia series. The Mats will
rest tomorrow. but meet the AS in
successive double-headers on Satur-
day and Sunday while operating
with the major leagues smallest
force of fingers.
Injury May Shelve Lewis Tonight.
Lewis. injured yesterday at New
York as he crashed into the third
base boxes while attempting to
catch frankie Crosettis foul fly,
was nursing a slightly stiff left
knee today and may be replaced to-
night by Charley Colbert. Buddy,
however, is expected to be ready for
action by Saturday.
Meanwhile the Mats were heart
ened by the sudden batting splurge
of Travis. who whacked at a 500
pace in the three-game series with
the Yankees, who captured the
finale. Sd Travis collected a home
run, double and four singles in
12-trips to the plate and performed
brilliantly afield.
Equally gratifying has been the
continued clouting and spectacular
fielding of Outfelder Sammy West.
Sammy is roaming centerfeld with