Evening star., 1952-08-31
Griffith Receives Roar
|0f Welcome as Yanks
Honor 0Id-Timers
BY q Stoff Correspondent Of The Ssar


NEW YORK, Aug. 30-The old
est Of the Yankees old-timers, 81
year-old Clark Griffith, stepped up
to home plate today, misty-eyed
and quivering q bit with excite
ment. to be honored as manager
of the 1903 Highlanders, the
first New York club in the Ameri-
can League.
The president of the Mats, who
insisted that Mrs. Griffith ac-
company him to the field. received
a throaty roar of welcome from
the Yankee Stadium crowd which
previously had exploded emotion
ally with the introduction Of such
former New York Stars as Joe Di
Maggie, Lefty Gomez, Red Ruff
fling, Charley Keller. Bill Dickey
and Tommy Heinrich.
Introduces 1903 Players.
Griffith, presented a scroll by
Will Harridge. president of the
American League, spoke briefly
before introducing five members
Of his 1903 club. He thanked the
Yankees for their hospitality and
said, II am proud to have been the
first baseball manager in New
York." ignoring the New York
Giants of the National League who
proceeded the Yankees by quite a
few years.
F1anking Griffith at the micro
phone were some members of his
1908 club who launched the Yam
KEGS rich baseball history. They
were First Baseman John Camel.
II: Pitchers. Jesse Tannehill. 78,
and Elmer Bliss.77: Third Base
man vii Conroy, younster of the
group at "A. and Outfielder Fred
Fultz. n.
Connie Mack, 89-year old presi-
dent Of the Athletics. was on hand
to honor Griffith and later sat
next to him as they watched a
pair Of creaky teams made up of
former Yankee stars play a
comedy-accented two-inning game
as q preliminary to the Mats
Yankees contest.
Gehrig's Mother Present.
It was a scene saturated with
baseball memories, for present,
too, were the mother and widow
Of Lou Gehrig. all-time Yankee
first baseman. Also introduced was
Ed Barrow, former general man
ager of the Yankees and a prime
figure in their success; Mrs. John
McGraw, widow or the fiery man
ager of the Giants, and Mrs.
Babe Ruth, widow Of the slugger
who was the most famous of all
the Yankees.
Five all-time Yankees were on
a team that defeated another set
Of old-timers, 80. in the abbrev-
lated game which demonstrated
that age treats postmen and
ballplayerS alike. It was akin to
a choose-up game at a picnic
with once marvellous muscles fail
ing to respond to still keen minds.
Red Rolfe, DiMaggio, Dickey
Rufing and Gomez were on the
winning team. They also are
members of the all-time Yankee
team, selected by sports writer's
along with Bob Meusel, Gehrig
Ruth, Tony Lazzeri and Phil Riz.
zuto, current shortstop of the
Yankees who didn't play because
of later business with the Mats
Gomez Plays Outfield.
The all-time team also hae
frankie Crosetti at shortstop, Jot
Gordon at second base, Ear
Combs in rightf1eld and Wall,
Pipp at first base. They wert
opposed by such former stars a!
Whitley Witt. Joe Dugan, Keller
Heinrich. Lyn Larry, Wally Schang
Roger Peckingpaugh, Bob Shaw.
key and Waite Hoyt.
Rufing pitched both innings a.
Gomez played leftfield. The onl,
hit of Red was Henrich's singl,
to center in the second inning
Shawkey was nicked for two
runs in the first inning on singles
|by Crosetti and Rolfe. DiMaggioi
lily to left which scored Crosett
from third base. and singles b!
.lDickey and Combs which 60
} Rolfe around. Hoyt yielded th'
lother run in the second innini
when Crosetti was safe on Peck
Iinpaugh's tumble, took second OF
Ia'wild pitch and scored on Rolfe'
5lsingle to right.