Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-28

era, washington, first In war.
FIRST In peace and last in the
American League" Griffith con-
lferred with Washington stock
holders and was told he was ex-
pected to buy into the club.
Put City ON Baseball Map.
The friendly cooperation Of
Tom Noyes made 1t possible for
Grifith to put Washington on
1.-THE baseball map. Moves was
chief stockholder Of the Senators
and a good friend Of Griffith. It
was Noyes who brought him to
Washington and 1t was Noyes
who srmoothed the way for Grit
fifth to buy 10000 shares Of stock.
making him one-tenth owner.
Griffith was Of to a poor start
lin 1912, but the Washington club
finished the season with a -four
lish. That was the year Walter
johnson won 16 games in a row
land 80 for the season. That year
1.-THE Senators won II straight
victories, l6 on q Western trip,
land no Washington club since
has eclipsed that record. The
team had left for the road tour
lin eighth place and 1t returned
lin second, climbing out Of the
second division for the first time
jim IL years.
/ Washington finished second In
1913, too, winding up behind
the Philadelphia Athletics. II
twas in August Of that year that
IGrifiith offered to buy Outfieldel
ITy Cobb from the Detroit Tigers
The manager Of the Senators
Offered $1,000 for Cobb. which
then was a fabulous price for q
lball player.
/ Griffith had neither the money
nor the authority to make the
Ideal, but he propositioned Frank
Navin. owner Of the Tigers
INavin professed interest and
Griffith rendered a check fol-
100000. promising to raise the
money in two weeks. Washing
| toms other nine stockholders
objected. but 1t was Navin, not
Griffith who held up the deal
He refused to part with Cobb
Years later Griffth revealed he
Ehad hoped to raise $100, 900 in q
/ door-to-door campaign by re-
Iquesting one dollar from every
Washington citizen approached
4 In 1914 Grifiith. as well as the
American League. was confronted
with q serious problem. Walter
/ Johnson. the games greatest
pitcher, was lured to the newly
formed Federal League. johnson
lpeeyed at the Washington stock.
holders after having won 81
games in 1919 and So In 1918
agreed to Jump the league and
join the Feds.
/ Got $4,000 From Comiskey.
| It was a devastating blow Il
Griffith, as manager Of thu
Senators. He tried in vain tt
wrench $4,000 from the Amer.
'lican League to reclaim johnson
who had accepted that amount
from the Federals for jumping
In desperation Griffith turned K
i Owner Comiskey Of the Whit
ISox.
Griffith pointed out that John.
lson would play in Chicago and
Ioffer competition to the White
Sox, who had just spent SIS, 00(
for Second Baseman Eddie Col.
Ilins. The shrewd Comiskey agreed
with Grffdth's logic, wrote out
Ia check for $40, 900 and Grifdtf
lgot johnson back into the fold
4 The Federal League passed out
of existence q year or SO later
but Comiskey never got his
SIC. 900 back and Griffith Away.
maintained that he wasn't en-.
TITLED to a refund. ut was fol
the good Of the American
League" explained Griffith.
Years that followed weren't
!, too prosperous. Griffith decided
] to dismantle his veteran clut
and reconstruct with youngsters
The stockholders were dis.
Igruntled. Grifith's hands wert
tied by the close-fisted attitude
they took. He looked AROUND
for a new partner and founs
,Ihim in William Richardson O.