cherson@nonode.DEC (08/09/85)
I read all that sentimentality about Calvin Griffith, i.e. not giving in to salary demands and not signing free agents, etc. When discussing Griffith one must remember that it was he and Tom Yawkey who led the fight against integration in baseball. When baseball did integrate, Mr. Griffith proceeded to sign half the island of Cuba (Pedro Ramos, Camilio Pascual, etc.). Apparently the presence of Latins on his team was as much as he could stand. This is the "old" Washington Senators I am talking about here. There was an expression in those days and it went like this, "Washington, first in the nation, last in the American League." If Griffith wasn't a racist maybe that expression would never have existed. David Cherson
halle@hou2b.UUCP (J.HALLE) (08/12/85)
"Washington: first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League" was around long before Cal Griffith. The expression cropped up in the late twenties or early thirties, if not earlier. (Look at old standings to see why.) As proof of this claim, recall that Jackie Cooper used the phrase in one of the early Our Gang comedies.
pumphrey@ttidcb.UUCP (Larry Pumphrey) (08/12/85)
> ... There was a expression in those days and > it went like this, "Washington, first in the nation, last in the American > League." ... Almost right, I always heard it was "Washington, first in war, first in peace and last in the American League." -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
pete@umcp-cs.UUCP (Pete Cottrell) (08/13/85)
>> ... There was a expression in those days and >> it went like this, "Washington, first in the nation, last in the American >> League." ... > >Almost right, I always heard it was "Washington, first in war, first in peace >and last in the American League." Well, it is certainly good to hear people mentioning Washington in the same breath as baseball again, even if it is for this. I'm hoping I'll be able to say the same thing fairly soon :-) In some future letter, to be posted when life is a bit more sane, I'll describe some of the efforts being coordinated thru the DC Baseball Commission. Baseball in '87. May all your pennant races be close, Pete -- Call-Me: Pete Cottrell, Univ. of Md. Comp. Sci. Dept. UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!pete CSNet: pete@umcp-cs ARPA: pete@maryland