Chapman Shakes Ennui at Plate: More Sportsmanship Is Big Need RELIEF 10 BOCKY Hits .179 for 19 Tilts, Then Goes Berserk as Griffs Down Crackers. BY FRANCIS E. STAN, Staff Correspondent ot The Star. Gastonia, n. c., April 13.— There probably was a notice able improvement in the regularity of Bucky Harris’ breathing today. All along he had maintained that he wasn’t worried over Ben Chapman’s inability to hit, but as time went by and the American League opener loomed nearer, Ben's futility must have caused concern. Happily for the Nationals, it has been removed in part by the first real demonstration of batting by Chapman this Spring. It all happened yesterday in Atlanta, where the Griffs stopped off to nose out a surprisingly strong Cracker team, S-3, and thereby win their fourth straight game at the expense of a Southern Association club. Chapman stepped from the role of a .179 hitter and banged two singles and a double to lead the attack and break up the ball game. The performance partially vindi cated Chapman himself, who insisted all along that he wasn’t particularly interested in compiling a fancy ‘'Grapefruit League” average. There never was any danger of his crossing himself up. but until the Griffs played their twenty-first exhibition game yes terday there was a suspicion afoot that Ben had fallen into the habit of not hitting. Nats Crumble Crackers, 5-3. OUCH a condition, fantastic as it might appear in the case of a ball player whose eight-year average in the majors is .308. would indeed have hurt the chance of the Washington firm. Chapman is one of the three right handed regulars in the line-up and power from this side of the plate sorely is needed. Until he went berserk at bat against the Crackers, the fleet-footed center fielder for 19 games had only a .179 average to show. He had gone to bat 67 times and made only a dozen hits. His run-scoring, in view of this, was high. Ke scored 11 runs, but during 19 games this was not up to par. Ben’s first hit yesterday was turned into a run. He singled to open the third inning, when Atlanta was leading by 2-0, and Buddy Lewis, who forced him, eventually scored on a double steal with Joey Kuhel. This made it 2-1. Ben had no part in the scoring of the run which tied the score at 2-2 in the sixth. Sington's single and two errors by the Crackers helped this one across. But it was Chapman who broke up the game in the ninth with a two-bagger that drove across the two winning runs. De Shong, Cohen Look Good. JgUDDY MYER walked to open the ninth and Walter Millies promptly singled him to second base. Syd Cohen, who relieved Jimmy De Shong in the seventh, attempted to sacri fice. His bunt, however, was well fielded by Pitcher Bill Beckman, and Myer was forced at third. It was strictly up to Chapman and he came through with a lusty drive down the left field line, scoring Millies and Cohen. When Left Fielder Bill Hucheson booted the ball. Chappie went to third, from where he scored •n Buddy Lewis’ long fly. The Crackers did all their scoring at the beginning and at the end. In the first inning De Shong gave up three hits and an error by Chapman was no drawback to „he Atlantans, who are champions of the Southern Association. Thereafter, with the help of fine infield support, De Shong es caped without damage and was able to turn over a 2-2 game to Cohen. Syd’s only bad inning was the ninth, and through no fault of his. To open the frame Chatham ground ed to Lewis, who pegged far over Kuhel's head. When the ball was retrieved far in right field—and by Catcher Millies, incidentally—Chat ham was on third. A cheap tap for a single by Pinch Hitter Paul Rich ards scored him, but Cohen put on the brakes and that was all. It’s Buddy's Day Today. TMMEDIATELY after today's game with the Boston Bees here the Griffs and the Bostons will board a special train and head for Washing ton. There on Wednesday, at Griffith Stadium, the 1937 Nats will be un veiled for home consumption for the first time. They will play the Bees tomorrow and Thursday, lay off Fri day and meet the Baltimore Orioles In a two-game home-and-home series on Saturday and Sunday. Then on Monday the bell will ring for the opening of the American League chase. The A’s, you know, will be on hand. Today was to be Buddy Lewis day fn Gastonia. For the first time since he came up to the Nats last Spring to prove the prize freshman infielder of the league Buddy will have a chance to show his wares in front of the home folks. Gastonia is all excited. There Is even talk of renaming the town “Lewisville.” Muddlin’ Through WASHINGTON. ATLANTA. AB. H. O. A. M’ldin.cf. 6 0 4 0 S’m’n.cf. 6 3 0 0 Maiho.rf. 5 2 4 0 wl».3b 6 0 0 2 Hooks,lb. 4 0 8 0 Kuhel.lb. 6 3 110 Galvtn.c 2 12 0 gl’gton.lf. 4 110 H'ch'n.lf. 4 12 0 tone.rf.- 4 0 0 0 Luby.2b._ 4 13 2 Travis.ss- 4 10 6 H111.3b. 3 0 3 2 Myer.2b. 3 16 5 Ch'h’m.ss. 4 114 Mlllies.c 4 110 B’km’n.p 3 10 1 De Sh'g.p. 2 0 0 0 West.p. 0 0 0 0 Cohen,p.. 1 0 0 0 tRIehards 110 0 •Hjjl- 1 0 0 0 SMcQualg 0 0 0 0 Totals 37 10 27 13 Totals.36 ~8 27 •Batted for De Shong In seventh, tBatted for West In ninth. SRan for Richards In ninth. Washington _ 00100100 3—5 Atlanta_ 20000000 1—3 Runs—Chapman. Lewis. Sington, Millies. Cohen. Mailho. Galvin. Chatham. Errors —Chapman. Mailho. Hutcheson. Chatham. Runs batted in—Galvin 12), Chapman (2). Lewis. Richards. Two-base hits—Chat ham. Chapman. Home run—Galvin. Stolen bases—Lewis. Kuhel. Double nlays—Travis to Myer to Kuhel. Lewis to Myer to Kuhel. Left on bases—Washington. 6: Atlanta, fl. First base on balls—Off De Shong. 3; off Beckman. 1. Struck out—By De Shong. 2; by Beckman. 1: by Cohen. 1. Hits—On De Shong. 6 In 6 Innings 12 runs): off Beck man. 10 In 8M> Innings (5 runs). Wild Ditches—De Shong. Winning pitcher— Cohen. Losin? Ditcher—Beckman. Um pires—Messrs. Johnson and Bond. Time— i:to. A THREAT FROM MR. TRAVIS. BY JIM BERRYMAN. I a . In, v Cecil /It 5«Oi /inB« ON, Two\ CECIL IS OME OETHEQAME* COOLER BOYS — AJOTHIAJ6 EVER SEEMS To PISTURB u HIM.... Si - —‘—- ~ »~n> i T i j THE YOUTHFUL. SHORT STOP IS A MIRACLE-MAN WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE BALL AWAY...DOESN'T BELIEVE THERE'S SUCH A THING AS BEING OUT OF POSITION To THROVO,, , , . Griff insisted that THE QUIET GEORGIAN SHOW /WDRE SPUNK... - so he did 7 i THE NATIONALS' 23-YEAR* 5 OLD VETERAN HAS BEEN WIELDING A WICKED WILLOW IN "CITRUS league'games ... he HAS BEEN MENTIONED i BY DOPESTERS AS A j POSSIBLE '37 BATTING CROWN GRABBER.... . VAULT OF 15 FEET IS BELIEVED NEAR Four Now in Competition Have Needed Attributes, Says Hamilton. B, the Associated Press. Berkeley, calif., April 13—a pole vault of 15 feet Is an ac complishment to be achieved in the Not-too-distant future, believes Coach Brutus Hamilton of the University of California. "There are four athletes in com petition now, who in my opinion have the physical attributes to vault 15 feet,” Hamilton said today. “Bill Sefton of the University of Southern California, who recently cleared 14 feet 7% inches, is one and his teammate, Earl Meadows, is an other. "George Varoff of San Francisco, whose 14 feet 6'4 inches of last year was tops until Sefton cleared nearly an inch higher last week, can do it. Sueo Oye of Japan might pull it off. Conditions Must Be Ideal. “”phe trick might be turned next week or next year. It will be on a day when mind and muscle co ordinate on a runway which has the necessary ‘feel’ to it and weather con ditions are just right.” namuton, one oi tne most analytical of coaches, inclines to the belief the record will be boosted from one-half to an inch at a time. “The mental strain of having an athlete vault directly at 15 feet would be terrific, especially when he knows it is several inches above the present best height. He would approach the task in a much easier state of mihd if merely trying to better the existing mark.” Sefton Built for Task. ^OULD Hamilton fashion a vaulter to his own specifications, the ath lete would be modeled closely along the lines of Sefton. The U. S. C. boy stands around 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 180 pounds. Slightly thicker wrists, a bit more muscular forearms and increased speed to the take-oft and this mental man, he thinks, would soar over the crossbar with ease. SKEETERS PREFER STEAK The “Gobbler's Nob Skeet Club” 1s the name of a new organization at Ardmore, Okla. Incidentally, the “Gobbler’s Nobbers” are building their j new range behind Pun's Steak House. "POPP/NG OPFTtan... Dissecting the Di Maggios. Special Dispatch to The Star. GASTONIA, N. C., April 13.—The Boston Bees, who today became the Nationals’ sparring partners for the next few days, have embraced the magic name of Di Maggio in their line-up. He is Vincent, brother of Yankee Joe, and, to all outward appearances, regular third baseman of the Bostons. Now, calling the name of Di Maggio a magician may be loose phraseology but, withal, not unpardonable. In the American League, next to Feller and l Gehrig, it is the best box office name of all. In the National League it also i is the name of a sweet ball player, but they say in the Bees' camp that Presi dent Bob Quinn merely was pulling a “quickie” when he bought Brother Vincent from the Pacific Coast League last Winter. In short, Brother Vince's magic lies in his name only—and thanks to Joe. This comes as something of a surprise, at least to first-glance observers. As a third baseman there have been many worse than Vincent. At bat he is ' difficult not to confuse with Brother Joe, their stances are similar and in battinir i practice Vince hits a long ball. But* he can’t carry Joe’s war club, they say, and newspaper men who follow the Bees maintain that base ball's newest brother won’t last. The Back Bay newspaper men should know whereof they speak. The Bees have been training in St. Petersburg and their park was only a long brassie shot and a good 5 iron from the Yankees’ practice field, where Brother Joe held forth. There were ample opportunities to compare the pair and thus far you have not encountered anybody to up set the unanimity of opinion as to their respective ability. Vince lacks something that Joe has, is the ver dict, and It might well be tempera ment. “He’s Busy Sleeping.” 'T'HERE is often told the story of the Yankee scout in San Fran cisco during the Winter of 1936. At the time Joe Di Maggio was no estab lished major leaguer. He was a high ly touted rookie, to be sure, but un tried under the fiercest fire. The scout was to call upon Joe and sign him to a contract. The figure, incidentally, prob ably was the highest offered any rookie, although Bob FeUers’ contract this year surpassed it. The scout knocked at the door of the Di Maggio home, so the story goes. Mrs. Di Maggio answered and the Yankee man introduced himself, stated his business. There was a wait •----— while Mrs. Di Maggio went upstairs to confer with her boss, who was asleep. This was 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Finally she returned to the door. “Joe says to come back tomorrow,” she said. “He’s busy sleeping.” This, if you can believe the story, is typical of the temperament of Joe. Nothing disturbs him. He came into the American League riding the crest of one of the greatest send-offs of all time. Sleepy-eyed Joe took it all in stride. He got a bad break in the all-star game and was called the “goat.” This was something to break any boy's spirit, but it didn’t affect Joe. He carried right on, batted .323, helped the Yanks to win the pennant and played like a veteran in the world series. Probably Just Hereditary Misfortune. rpHEY say that Vincent is different. Through his veins course the more characteristic Latin traits, making him nervously moody. You recall some talk pertaining to Vince at the last major league meeting in New York. Minor league managers in wholesale lots were on the premises at the time, lurking in comers and hoping for valuable dis cards. It was at this meeting that Dutch Ruether and other Pacific Coast League prominents touted Jack Salveson to Bucky Harris and Clark Griffith, prompting them to swap Earl Whitehill for the bespec tacled pitcher who recently was left in Chattanooga. Of Vince Di Maggio they had little to say. He tried hard, they did admit, but he was nothing like his brother. If there seems to be a positive ~ (See POPPING OFF, Page A-16.) Maranville Held in Line for Major Pilot Berth Giants’ Criticism of Feller Brings Feud With Tribe—Mylin May Coach Lafayette. BY EDDIE BRIETZ, Associated Press Sports Writer. NEW YORK, April 13.—Ca nadian papers hear Rabbit Maranville is only stop ping off at Montreal on his way back to the majors as a manager ... If so, where? . . . Outfielder Nino Bongiovannl of Portland is making things plenty tough for the printers around the Pacific Coast League. Story going the rounds in Philly that Lafayette would like to get Everett E. (Hooks) Mylin from Bucknell to succeed Ernie Nevers as foot ball coach . . . The Car dinals, who have never stopped kicking themselves for letting Virgin Davis get away, triad to buy him back for cash last week. The East will get another taste of the Southwest Conference’s razzle-dazzle.brand of foot ball If the Arkansas Razorbacks succeed In getting on the Boston College or Holy Cross schedules next year. War correspondents In the South report the Indians and the Giants are feuding because the Giants took Bob Feller’s pitching apart in the papers after failing to do same on the field . . . Roscoe Toles, Detroit Negro heavyweight, says he Is considering an offer to become a sparring partner for Jimmy Braddock at $100 per day . , . Tell us another one, Roscoe. Rip Radcliffa, White Sox out* i fielder, always eats his dessert be fore the other courses ... When 124 hopefuls reported for Spring foot bell practice at Michigan State, Coach Charlie Bachman erected a portable platform 12 feet above the ground from which to direct the record turnout. In 27 years at Southern Califor nia Dean Cromwell has coached 12 Olympic champions, who have won 15 Olympic titles; 16 national champs, who have won 29 national titles; 19 I. C. 4-A champions, who have won 29 titles, and 12 N. C. A. A. champions, who have delivered 17 titles . . . And he can step right up now and take a few bows for himself. The Yankees’ barnstormer* lea DIMMER 1 Farley to Introduce Head of A. A. U. Tonight—Talk to Be Broadcast. UPWARD of 500 local sports fans are expected to be pres ent at the Mayflower Hotel tonight when Postmaster Gen eral James A. Farley Introduces the national president of the Amateur Athletic Union, Jeremiah T. Mahoney, at a testimonial dinner to be given in his honor. The affair starts at 7:30 o’clock. Although the presence of Judge Mahoney is the biggest selling point of the Banquet Committee, guests will incline a specially attentive ear to the remarks of the Japanese Ambassador, his excellency Hiroshi Saito, who will outline plans of his country for play ing host to the Olympic games in 1940. Requests for tickets still were pour ing in today on dinner officials, who announced that reservations would be held at the Mayflower until a few hours before the dinner. Part of Long Trip. A CCORDING to those who know him, Mahoney should favorably impress all those interested in am ateur athletics by his policy of “ac tion.’’ Believing it best to see as much as possible, the new president is now on a trip which has taken him to "the na tional A. A. U. basket ball tournament at Denver and the national swimming championships. Upon leaving Wash ington, he will head for Boston, where the boxing championships have just started. His address, of prime interest to all friends of amateur athletics, will be broadcast on a coast-to-coast hook-up over Station WOL, beginning at 10 o'clock. He had an active part in sports long before he became the A. A. U. president, having been the United States decathlon champion while at tending C. C. N. Y. in 1908. He rep resented America in the Olympic games that year. Joe Judge Again At First Friday TOE JUDGE will be back at first base at Griffith Stadium Fri day afternoon after an absence of several seasons. How come? Well, the George town University base ball club, which Josephus is tutoring this Spring for the first time, will stage a skirmish with the Griffmen, no less, that day. Friday was an open date in the exhibition schedule of the Na tionals, who make their initial appearance of the year here against the Boston Bees tomorrow, starting at 3 o’clock, with an en core the following day. Arriving home from the * South ahead of his hirelings, President Griffith went into a huddle with the Hoya whipcracker. Result: Judge will be back at first Fri day—coaching. turing Gehrig and Di Maggio, con tinue to pack ’em in through the South . . . Harry Balsamo, hard hitting middleweight, is trying a comeback via the New York subway circuit . . . Gwinn Henry, newly appointed athletic director at the University of Kansas, coached foot ball at Missouri nine years and is the only Big' Six coach to trim Nebraska three years hand running. Chino Alvarez has signed to de fend his Southern lightweight title against Carl (Red) Guggino, at Tampa, April 22 . . . The Brooklyn foot ball Dodgers and the New York foot ball Giants are trying to get Ken Sandbach of the Princeton Sandbacha to turn pro ... Dodgers •aid to have the inside track. r - « Most of Great Champions Are Habitually Fair, Writer Finds. BY GRANTLAND RICE. ONE trouble with sport is that too much is written and spoken about amateurism and professionalism and not enough about sportsmanship and the sporting side. There must be a sporting side if there 1s to be any sport worth both ering about. No one out trying to beat the rules and the spirit of the rules belongs In any competition. The golfer who improves a lie or forgets a stroke—the foot ball player who hoicks whenever he figures that he can get away with it—the va rious chiselers who look always for the winning edge—this type has no place in any brand of sport. If you check back you will find that most of the outstanding competitors also were among the outstanding sportsmen. There was the time at Worcester in 1925 when Bobby Jones called a stroke on himself in the United States open. There was con siderable doubt as to whether Jones had soled his club when the ball moved in the long grass. Jones in sisted on having the penalty called— and this insistence cost him the title, as he tied later with Willie Mac farlane and then lost on the play-off Golf Rules Are Logical. y ATELY there has been too much laxness In playing golf by the rules set down. You’ll find that every rule in golf is based upon common sense and common fairness. There is a strict reason for each rule in the book, and there should be a closer observance on the part of leading stars, who at times get careless. They set examples which galleriees always see—and often follow. One trouble with foot ball is that too many games are decided by rule Violations. No set of officials can catch every infraction worthy of pen alty that takes place. I’ve seen more than a few big games decided by rule violations that officials missed—since no official can match the many eyes of Argus. Coaches can spend more time insisting upon a strict following of the regulations that make the game what it is. Any man who deliberately holds in foot ball Is exactly like the man who cheats at cards. Need for Fair Play Greater. ry'HERE has been a great increase in general sporting interest. Old I games have more than held their | place. New forms of competition have i broken out all over the map. Increas i lng millions have joined the vast pa rade. This makes it more important than ever to see that there is also a growing respect for the rules of each game and for the spirit of fair play. It Is something that should be taught to every individual and to every team. i nave Deen as ice a to give a good definition of a sportsman. Definitions are not too easy to turn out. First of all, a sportsman plays the game in the spirit of the rules. He is out to win with all he has—but always inside the rules. He isn't looking for the winning edge. He has no alibi to offer after defeat. In the long run, luck and the breaks of the game even up. If he happens to be sick or out of condition—that isn’t his op ponent’s fault. Too many fighters, for example, have too many alibis after their chins have been tapped. John L. Lost Gracefully. QLD John Lawrence Sullivan had no squawk to make when Corbett whipped him at New Orleans. Sulli van in defeat was as big as he was [ in victory. There are certain types in sport that are good losers and poor win ners. There are many more who are good winners but poor losers. This matter of poor losing doesn’t mean that a beaten competitor should start singing or cheering. Inside he can be sorer than a wounded bear. But he should keep this to himself. The next move in sport should be in the direction of finer sportsmanship— which has to be the main foundation of any game if that game is to mat ter. There is no chance for any ex (Copyright, 1937, by the North American Newspaper Alliance. Inc ) f--——-' ■ - Exhibition Games By the Associated Press. Washington (A.l 5; Atlanta IS. A.). 3. Philadelphia (N.). IS; Villanova Col lege. 2. Boston (N.l. R: Brooklyn (N.l, 1. Boston iA.i. 2; Cincinnati (N.i, 1. St. Louis IA.I. 8; Chicago (N.l. 7. Pittsburgh