Evening star., 1941-07-14
By BURTON HAWKINS.
Star San CorreSpondent.

ST. LOUIS, July l4-It rapidly
is becoming no far-fetched notion
among the Mats that Wee Willie
Keelers supposedly imperishable
achievement of hitting safely in
a straight games may be sur
passed twice in the same season. The
Yankees Joe Di Maggie is contlnu-
ing to compile his own spectacular
streak, leaving little or no publicity
for the still modest string OF Wasn-
ingtons Cecil Travis.
Travis now has swatted safely IN
% games but not for two weeks Is
that consecutive clouting chain CAL
culated to be taken seriously If. OF
course. it remains intact over that
span. BY then Travis would be ap-
preaching the Keeler mark frac-
tured by Di Maggie.
The Mats angular shortstop
already is aware of the significance
of his streak, but if the daily, Nice
going, Cece. keep it up" comment
of his mates is disturbing him 1t
isn't being reflected in his chores. In
his last Ave games he has obtained
TWO or more hits in each engage
ment.
There would be an ironical touch
il Travis succeeded in topping
Keeler's record for the glory already
has been dished out TO Dl Maggie,
who now is month ahead OF
Travis with his hits in SO straight
games. There may be no CATCH
ing Di Maggie but some OF the
Mats are beinnging to like Travis
chances Of becoming the second
player to surprass Wee Wlllles
mark.
Personal Accomplishment.
Travis accomplishment would be
an anti-climax. No shrleKlng
citizens would be likely to jam
various stadia as he neared the goal
already reached and crushed into
oblivion by Di Maggie Cecil's only
opportunity in that direction Is 70
defeat Di Maggie at his own game
and Travis best friends aren't will
ing to concede that chance at the
moment.
Di Maggio's feat has figured
prominently in boosting the Yankees
into commanding league lead.
Travis crime consists OF being with
a team that isn't going anywhere.
His personal record thus far has
been restricted merely to a per-
sonaI accomplishment. for his
streak started with the Mats IN
seventh place and Washington re-
gained that position only by sweep
ing a doubleheader with the Browns,
7-3 and 6-5, here yesterday.
Cecil though, isn't likely to be
belittled by the conduct of his mates,
for it is a respectable pace he has
been setting these past three weeks
or so. During his streak he has
batted at .406 clip and boosted his
average for the season some II
points to 1863.
Now that your streak is getting
along you ought to beat out bunt
here and there" Coach Benny Ben
cough was saying to Travis today.
Blunt. H." snorted Travis. in
one of his rare emphatic expressions,
III hit"
Approximately half way to the
Keeler mark. Travis was seeking TO
prolong his streak here today as the
Mats pursued fourth straight VIC
tory. Ken Chase was ticketed to
face the Browns. with John Nigel
ing due to toss for St. Louis. WASH
ington will be idle tomorrow. OPEN
ing a three-game series against the
Tigers at Detroit on Wednesday.
Although hampered by wildness,
Steve Sundra checked the Browns
with seven hits to capture yester-
days first game as the Mats pounded
Johnny Allen, George Caster and
Bill Trotter for IA hits, including
three each by Sundra and Mickey
Vernon.
Washington constructed a SO lead
in that opener. but the Browns
sliced the Mats margin to So with
single runs in the fifth and sixth
innings before Washington manu-
factured two runs in the eighth.
The Mats weren't allowed to coast
with that 10 lead, though. for Sum-
dra walked the first two men to
face him in the ninth and Alexandra