Zachary Looks to Clinch Pennant for Nats Tomorrow
Sunday, September 28, 1924: Idle
Compiled by J.J. McCoy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 28, 2004; 4:14 AM
NATS DETERMINED TO WIN PENNANT WITH VICTORY TOMORROW
No Game Scheduled
This day off in Boston before the final two games of the regular season finds the mood among the Nationals confident but deliberate. Their magic number is down to one, but the nagging thought of the defending champions somehow forcing a playoff nevertheless remains.
Bucky Harris puts on a game face, yet still repairs with fellow infielders Roger Peckinpaugh (who managed the Yankees for the last 20 games of the season 10 years ago, and will the Indians from 1928-'33 and again in '41) and Ossie Bluege (who will manage the Senators from 1943-'47) to go fishing for the day while the rest of the team "loaf around," "swap lies" and tour Beantown. The Post's Frank H. Young meanwhile considers the state of the Senators' pitching staff heading into the series.
"'We are going to put every ounce of fighting strength into tomorrow's game and pack away the old American League pennant; we are not depending on the Athletics beating the Yankees in Philadelphia either tomorrow or Tuesday, for I feel positive that we will experience little difficulty in disposing of the Red Sox in one of the remaining two games here, one victory assuring us of the first championship ever won by a Washington ball team.'
"This was the statement of confidence expressed at the Nationals' headquarters tonight by the boy manager, Stanley Raymond [Bucky] Harris, on the eve of baseball's greatest spectacle in years.
"Bucky not only spoke his own mind but expressed the sentiment of every man on the Washington payroll, all of whom are in a hilarious mood as contrasted with the gloom of [two days ago] when they lost the opening game here while the Yankees were pummeling the Athletics.
"Even if the worst happened and the Nats lost the next two while the Yankees scored twice, they would still have the edge as all the dope indicates that they could trim the Gothamites in a playoff, two out of three games. Of the 22 games with the Yankees played during the regular season, the Nats have won 13.
"For tomorrow's fracas, Tom Zachary, the veteran southpaw who yesterday was rushed in with the sacks loaded in the eighth and pulled his team out of a hole, will draw the assignment. He is going at top speed these days, and is expected to hurl his team to the victory which will give Washington its first pennant. Curtis Fullerton is expected to be the opposing moundsman, although Manager [Lee] Fohl may use Fred Wingfield, whom the Senators let out early in the season. Fred is said to be clamoring for a chance to show Bucky that he made a mistake in letting him go."
For the Nationals, "the pitching staff, it must be admitted, is staggering. Until the race is actually over Harris does not want to use any of his reserve hurlers. He left on this trip with [Walter] Johnson, [Tom] Zachary and [George] Mogridge as his big three aces with [Firpo] Marberry rated number four and intends to finish this way. Of the 18 games played on this final whirl around the circuit, in exactly half of them the starting pitchers were unable to finish. Johnson started six times and was relieved twice, Zachary went the route in four of his five starts, Marberry got the assignment twice and was taken out once, while Mogridge has been unable to last in all of his five chances.
"Mogridge apparently has lost much of either his control or his stuff or possibly both. He has repeatedly gotten himself into holes and, when forced to put the ball over to prevent walking his man, he has been knocked all over the lot.
"The wear and tear is having its effect on Johnson, and a couple of days of rest should work wonders with him. Unless tomorrow's battle becomes disastrous, Harris will put the Big Train in [the final] game.
"Zachary seems to be the best bet now, as the veteran has not been worked particularly hard and seems to be holding on to himself.
"Marberry also needs some rest. This youngster, who has proved to be the 'iron man' of the league, having participated in 49 games to date, 14 of which he started, pulled up with a sore arm yesterday. Harris had him in for three innings, during which he did exceptionally well. But last night he could not lift his arm to his head and, although the wing felt a little better today, he will need a layoff of a few days.
"[Curly] Ogden now reports himself feeling fit since his visit to Bonesetter Reese, while all of the other members of the mound staff are anxious to get a chance to show their stuff. But this is no time for experiments, says Harris, and the chances are that practically all of them have done their last work of the year with the exception of pitching to batters in stick practice before games."
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