Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-18
Ted Average
Falls 10 $40 in
.7-GaIr,e Slump
MeDermott, Kelly
Will Bottle Tonight;
Sullivan Wins 10th
By Burton Howkins

80
Ted Williams. the gifted slug
ger who takes fierce pride in his
work. is having such q hard time
Oh it against lefthanded pitch
ing that he's expected to make
good on his threat to call it q
career after this season.
Ted's friends, followers and
American League clubowners
probably have been hoping for
spectacular finish by the loose
,jointed, colorful hitter. They
have envisioned a flashy finish
as a wedge which could get Will
liams to change his mind, but
Ted has been an .087 hitter in
his last seven games, with only
two hits in % tries.
Tom Yawkey, Red Sox owner
and a firm friend of Williams.
probably won't attempt to In
fiuence Ted. but other club
owners will be sorry to see him
go. He's one Of the few players
in the league who can get fans to
spend their money.
Disappoints Crowd.
A respectable crowd of 1920
turned out at Griffith Stadium
last night and Williams was the
fellow who pulled most Of them.
But Ted disappointed. striking
out twice and failing to get the
ball out of the infleld on two
other occasions as Boston beat
the Senators, 4-3.
Williams was a 1867 hitter sew
eral days ago, but now he's down
to $40. seven points behind Irv
Noren, the official leader. Since
ripping of five straight hits
against Washington pitching at
Boston last week. Ted has been
in a slump, with lefthanders fig-
uring prominently in the decline.
With 80 games to go. Williams
has $50 at-batS and may not
reach the 400 mark. required for
eligibility In the batting race.
Ted's remarks after slamming
two home runs against Connie
Marrero last week led some OBJ
servers to believe he'd hang
around another year. Asked
about it. Ted seemed to give it
a thought when he said. Lets
see If ! can get through this sea-
son in one hunk before worry
ing about next year."
Faces McDermott Tonight.
Williams has been an .O59 hit
ter against the Senator'S left
handlers this year, with one hit in
II tries. and Manager Bucky
Harris isn't inclined to let I'D on
him.
Bucky plans to fire Maury Nc
Dermott against the Red Sox to-
night and win use another left
handler, Dean Stone, tomorrow.
Leo Kiely will pitch for the Red
S0x tonight. with Mel Parnell
due to work tomorrow.
Williams could break out with
a rash of hits. Of course. and
prove that his skid is strictly
temporary, but some veteran OBJ
servers among the Senators don't
believe he'll squirt against left
handlers.
1--we never seen him look SO
bad against lefthanders," said
one Of the Senators last night.
"Ted's not even taking q decent
cut at the ball"
Stobbs Yields Is Hits.
Ted was hitless last night, but
other Red Sox weren't. They
pounded Chuck Stobbs for Is
hits while Frank Sullivan and
Sid Hudson limited the Senators
to seven.
Sullivan, who leveled his rec
ord at 1910 with his second VIC
tory in six days against the Sem
ators. carried a "A lead into the
ninth but was in trouble when
Mickey Vernon and Jim Busby
singled successfully with none
out. Roy Sievers' deep fiy to left
scored Vernon and enabled Bus
by to tag up and take second
base.
Tom Wright flied deep to
Jackie Jensen In center and at
that point Manager Lou Bou-
(See SENATORS, Page C-2.)
Die n. ca .