Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-27
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTAhN
Good While 1t Lasted

JAMES ALoYsIUS SHAW, neighbor in Arlington
had come home from his Government job eaten supper
and sitting his shady porch talking baseball and
how it 40 and As years Jim Shaw? He pitched
nine in the majors all with Washington In fact
Jim stands No. 10 among the Senator'S all-tme game
winners with 50.
IT probably should have jumped to the Federal
League" Jim was saying after the talk veered to the new
Continental League 81 let Grif CLARK Grith) talk
into staying with the Senators but shucks wasn't max
ing very much money"
what If you were pitching today and just
fringe player with American National League
cub?" Jim was asked. Would you ump-that is, if you
coud2"
The old highlander, now &c. shrugged "of course
a player can't jump to the Continental League, the way
it's set up he said Anyway, don't think the league
will make it. There aren't enough ball players let's
face it."
THINGS WERE DIFFERENT when the Feds tried to
form third major league Jim thinks. "Balplayers
undersaaried," Shaw pointed out. II Is games for
Washington in 1914-my first full season-and paid
$4,000 E"
His daughter Jane, who lives with him. gave low
whistle.
Gee. Pop" she said. chats only Government
graded salary"
There fellow representing the indianapolis
club of the Federal League following the Senators around
the circuit" Jim continued 81 guess he's the fellow who
offered Walter Johnson that $4,000 bonus to Jump the
Feds Johnson was talked out of it by Grif.
"I1l be frank about it, thought of jumping They'd
have doubled my salary But listened to Gr who kept
saying that if player jumped he might be barred from
baseball for life"
Jim grunted. "when the Feds finally gave up in 1916
the American and National League clubs only didn't
bar any jumpers but they staged oran trying to
sign EN-"
SHAW CAME OFF the semi-pro lots of Pittsburgh in
1918, when he wasn't 20 years old The old White Sox
pitcher Frank Smith, also out of Pittsburgh apparently
recommended Jim to Griffith.
Il don't know for sure how Grif came to hear of
me-" Jim smiled "but day got wire from him:
State lowest terms. wired back: $4,000 year. Then
Gri signed and went to WikesBarre to start the
1918 season.
Joe Mccarthy was the manager and second base
of Wilkes-Barre real hard loser Mccarthy. One
day after lost a game I laughed in the team bus
Mccarthy sad Did you like 1t the Pittsburgh sandots?
Would you like to go back?'
"A little later Wilkes-Barre shipped me to York L
stood in good with Mccarthy after the bus Incl
dent, and guess that's why went to York Anyway just
before the season ended Gr called up and pitched
in two games including the next to last game of the
Hubert Benjamin Leonard of the Red Sox-the origi
nal Dutch Leonard-beat me- 2-1"
Jim may not have been precisely the apple of Nc
Carthys eye but Gr liked the faSt-baling young semi
pro- Before his American League debut Shaw named
to pitch exhibition with Newark which had clnched
the International League pennant
*&*%
WALTER JOHNSON WAS ADVERTISED to pitch, /"
Jim remembered with grin. "but Washington
second-place team that and Grf didn't want to
pitch Walter He said to me- You give these guys hit
and I'll probably ship you back pitched onehitter and
struck out H. Griff kept me-"
After had ruined the of 1856
for Shaw back strong win 49, 16 and 16
the next three years. although pitching was hard work
for him. This because he semi-crppled in the
right Leg the result of boyhood playground accident His
spine hurt and he lmped all during his career
At the time of his arm. Jim almost blew off his
vhe hunt sic he dicPha rOnd
his shotgun Some shot went into his neck and out the
back missing the juguar vein by quarter of inch.
But 1t was his leg which caused him to retire at %.
1t hurt too much especially in the spring." Jim ex-
planned Il quit baseball too soon at that was
See WIN, LOSE OR DRAW. Page E.