Honolulu Star Bulletin

Washington Has Never Before Played Such Ball as Is Being Shown Now

By TOMMY CLARK.

Washington is the sensation of the American league this season. Do you understand? If so, you have something on the great majority of baseball followers, who always have been accustomed to look deep in the second division for the percentage of the Washingtonians. And the good folks in Washington are astonished simply wondering if it can be true. They fear it's a dream.

Clark Griffith has put new life into the Senatorial aggregation. He has put in his own savings into the club and has instilled a new brand of ginger in his team, new at least for Washington. In other years the Washington team has gone on the field merely for the formality of playing the scheduled game, apparently convinced that it had only an outside chance to win.

But Griffith's 1912 club is a cocky one that goes into the combat with the belief that a victory will result or the other fellow will have some battle on their hands. It is team spirit, the Washington baseball critics say.

Griffith has been fortunate in his pitching. Walter Johnson never has shown to better advantage than he has this season, and Groom has pitched great ball in the games he has entered.

"Chick" Gandil, whom Griffith recently purchased from Montreal, has made good. He has been putting up a grand game at the initial sack and hitting the ball hard. Clyde Milan, the Senators' star outfielder, is also playing a sensational fielding game, running the bases well and walloping the ball hard.

Foster at third is the sensation of the team and works in great style with George McBride, the shortstop and captain of the club. Foster's stickwork also has done much in keeping the Washington team high in the race and "Germany" Schaefer looks better than ever before in his long and eventful baseball career. Schaefer has been hitting well, his long wallops being a potent factor in the Washington offense.

In looking at the high standing of Griffith's men and considering the lowly position Washington usually has held the question naturally arises: Will the club blow? Has the team the class to keep up the present pace?

Washington is admiring--and wondering.