Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-06
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV BY FRANCIS STANN
He Is Griff's Man

THE OLD FOX WOULD have concurred heartily and
enthusiastically with the Touchdown Clubs selection of Theo
dore Samuel Williams the winner of the first annual
Clark Griffith Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding
contribution to baseball 1855 Indeed, If Griffith could
have chosen the recipient himself there notion that he
would have fingered Williams without hesitation And for
more than
Grff didn't respect namby- pamby ball players any
highly than he did the drunkardS and billiards There
many-but still not enough-hourS spent with the
Old Fox not to know what he wanted in performer First
ability Second individuality. And, thirdly, leadership
Williams epitomized Griffith player although the Old
fortunate enough to outfeder good
AT his peak that is Briefly Grif owned Iris Speaker and
Simmons and while both the HILL he treated them
with a Difference he felt they deserved.
Until his DEATH Griffith rabd fan of Williams. AS
an pitcher-good enough to be voted into the Hall Of
Fame-Grf naturally leaned toward his kind but he never
forgot that took catchers nelders and hitters to win
Once Bucky Harris openly commented that Williams SWING
the best he'd More cautious Gri dssented
"But you'd go to shoeess Joe Jackson" he
pacihed Bucky. ito find one any better"
ARGUE IF YOU WISH but most baseball men-American
National League-wl agree that at 81 and with
two bitches in the Marine Corps air behind him. Williams
still is the most stylish and most feared hitter in the business
AS in the instance of Others notably Bob Feer there is
telling how records Ted would have set had not
interfered.
to George Ke higher mathematics in 1949 1t remains fol
the Touchdown Club tomorrow to honor him. not much for
those achievements in the prime of his for the last
two
Leave us go back bit The time Williams went into
the armed forces two-time American League bat
ting champion This 1943 He Is old and had
Just showed wherein hit 406 and
1856.
sprung for the 1916 season, batting ,s42 Next
two he 33 and 1863 for his third and
fourth titles.
1T WAS IN MAY of 1852 that Ted hitting AGO. got notice
that his flying services required by Uncle Sam in Korea
Earlier in the Red Sox clubhouse in Sarasota he said to
Coumnist John Carmichael and other:
We'll guess that's all the baseball for I'm s4-wi
be 36 when get out hell hate to sure won't
be able to play after get out"
But he went and he flew jets and although he got out
early 1885, he in shape for baseball that
He played in only 81 games and batted 407.
That not only good, it sensational. But 1t was
only 81 games The question became Could he do 1t over
season?
Well Williams led the American League in "a, far
the Touchdown Club concerned and he led again
Not either campaign variety of
did he manage appear at bat 400 times So Bobby Ava
of Cleveland and Al Kaline of Detroit became the nominal
champions, although Teds averages topped BOTH
Avila never saw the day he will rank with Williams as
hitter and Kaline good prospect he appears will have
to prove membership over long period of years.
IT is NICE gesture the Touchdowners are making
tomorrow but hardly charitable The best hitter in baseball
is Williams Don't forget nobody purposely walked like
Theodore He diskes mention of his dongs but there
S nothing he do to prevent it.
Ted never namby ball player, to get back
% that topic and to the late Mr.. Griffith
The entered baseball youngster who wanted
go his way. Undoubtedly he will leave with the
feeling That's the way Gr came and left Ability?
No question. individuality? How others in baseball
today draw many customers Williams? Willie Mays
AL Kalne-Ted Kluszewski? Hardly.
There apparently hidden virtues connected with
Williams which, left unsaid make for better friendship
Grif knew sensed, them Maybe could suspect
for his loyalty when he recently quoted Ted that
he'd quit baseball if traded by the Red sox.
That is what best remembered, however by who
had the privilege of knowing Clark Griffith He said
"Any man who goes fishing, gyng the fish break has
gJt to be a nice guy. don't cale who he Isl