BIG TRAIN DERAILED IN THE TWILIGHT

WINGO'S BASE KNOCK WINS 13-FRAME D.C. THRILLER

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

May 10, 1924

WASHINGTON, DC—Ty Cobb stared out at the tall, aging Kansan perched on the Griffith Stadium mound, dug his cleats into the batter's box, and flinched at a passing strike that he barely saw. The first Tiger game in the Nation's Capitol this season began with a pitcher and batter match-up for the ages, and when it was over four hours later, as spring darkness cloaked the ball park, an overflow Senators crowd and handful of fortunate writers would barely recollect all the razor-edged, incredible moments the teams displayed before them.

Walter Johnson battled Cobb hard for that first at bat, and after the infamous twirler's long arm dropped down for a sidewheeling fastball and Tyrus limply popped out, the Train seemed to lose his initial focus. He walked Rigney, gave up a blistering single to Bassler, and Heilman singled hard past Peckinpaugh for a 1-0 Detroit lead out of the gate. Ken Holloway, the lone undefeated Tiger starter at 3-0, pitched in exemplary fashion once again, but after Lance Richbourg doubled with one out in the 3rd, Joe Judge singled him homeward to tie the score.

Johnson then settled into his customary act of pitching sorcery, while the Nats scored another in the 5th on Richbourg's second ringing double of the afternoon and a Peckinpaugh pop safety. Cobb had ripped a single off Johnson in the 2nd but grounded weakly off him to lead the 5th. Now, after Les Burke batted for Holloway in the 7th and made out, the Peach of Georgia dug back in, squeezing the bat handle so tight you could almost see its wood chips fluttering on his shoes. This time he lofted a high fly to right, but Richbourg, perhaps still dwelling on his two-sack hits, jiggled, juggled and finally fumbled the ball and looked up to see Cobb standing at second. Rigney sent the manager home with a sharp single on the next pitch to tie the score at 2-2.

But the keg of exciting gunpowder was just igniting. Bassler roped a double into the opposite corner in left, Goslin raced over like an oafish gazelle, scooped up the sphere and chucked it plateward. The ball flew as a comet would to catcher Tate, who parked his knee on the home dish and tagged Rigney's left collarbone in a cloud of dust for the out! The exultant mob stood and shouted "Gooooooose!" which sounded like "Boooo!" to the untrained ear.

Hooks Dauss relieved and threw two scoreless innings, and then Syl Johnson took the slab for four more. Johnson was weakening, but manager Harris knew that a weary Train was still preferable to any of the relief men waiting in the wings, and left him out for the extra segments. But after an Al Wingo walk and Pratt single in the 11th, Bob Jones hit a deep fly to put Detroit ahead 3-2. Now all base ball fans know the Great Johnson is also a wonderful hitter, yet three separate times—in the 9th, 11th and 13th—he came to bat with a man on second base and could not drive him in. The Nats' Doc Prothro instead was the Brave Knight of the 11th, as he singled in front of Manush with two outs to score Ossie Bluege and knot the game 3-3.

Oh, the tension! The score board had long posted a final score from Yankee Stadium, a surprise victory for Chicago, and both the Tigers and Senators were hungry for this win. The 12th went by with no further scoring, but Heilman picked out a dying Johnson curve to begin the 13th and cold-cocked it on a line into the deepest part of centerfield, just below the fine house that graces the top of the zig-zag wall. By the time Wid Mathews tracked down the ball, Harry had huffed into third for a leadoff triple. Manush flied to short center for a harmless out, but then Al Wingo, playing in place of the absent Lu Blue, singled past Harris for the 4-3 lead.

Yet these Nats are one of the toughest outfits in years. Bluege led the Nats' 13th with a double, his fourth hit of the game. Harris took himself out of the lineup for McNeely, but Pillette, now on the hill, whiffed him. The Train batted once more, tipping his cap to the cheering crowd, but grounded out, before Mathews rolled one to Heilman for the exhausting conclusion, as the giant peach of a sun dropped behind the stands.

The Tigers will take their licks against Mogridge tomorrow, while Lil Stoner will attempt to keep the Senators muzzled, but with this uncanny, drama-drenched spectacle still burning in their minds and aching muscles, the players may have a hard time upstaging it.

DET 100 000 100 010 1 - 4 11 1
WAS 001 010 000 010 0 - 3 12 1

Other American League contests:

WHITE SOX 9-12-2, at YANKEES 7-13-1
Dismal is too soft a word for the way New York played in this game. They mount a 6-2 cushion against Lyons, inlcluding a 2-run homer from their own hurler Bob Shawkey, yet simply cannot keep Chicago from scoring, allowing two runs in the 5th, 7th and 8th while the Gothamite offense takes knockout drops. Bottles, wrappers and other refuse are thrown from the Yankee Stadium rafters in the late innings, and Ruth is once again in his puzzling hypnotic state.

INDIANS 11-14-2, at ATHLETICS 4-8-2
Now ten games below the even mark, the A's are trounced again, their hitters baffled by Sherry Smith. Glenn Myatt belts a 3-run homer in the opening frame and knocks in five. These teams now journey to Ohio for one contest before returning to Pennsylvania, to honor the Keystone State's Sunday church laws.

BROWNS 9-12-0, at RED SOX 1-7-0
After their crushing 9th inning defeat yesterday, Urban Shocker and St. Louis have their way with the Beaneaters. Even with their slugger Ken Williams out, the Browns have been most astute with their sticks.

AMERICAN LEAGUE through Saturday, May 10
Chicago White Sox	16	8	.667	—
Washington Senators	16	10	.615	1
New York Yankees	14	11	.560	2.5
Detroit Tigers	13	11	.542	3
St. Louis Browns	12	14	.462	5
Boston Red Sox	11	14	.440	5.5
Cleveland Indians	11	15	.423	6
Philadelphia Athletics	8	18	.308	9