NON-STOP DETROIT HIT PARADE

WELLS WINS FIRST GAME AS TIGERS FROLIC IN FENWAY, 10-3

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

May 19, 1924

BOSTON, MASS—After an easy victory over the Red Sox played in Detroit due to Massachusetts' church day, the clubs returned to New England and Detroit kept their offensive circus going, pounding out 17 hits against Ferguson, Ruffing and Murray for a mildly effortless win.

Boston had as many runners afloat as the Tigers early on, but three double play balls knocked their scoring plans by the wayside. Frank O'Rourke turned in his most boisterous game of the year, striking doubles his first two times up to make it 2-0, before singling and tripling later to collect six of the ten Detroit runs batted in. Manager Cobb managed only a single in six tries, but the lower part of our lineup saved his bacon repeatedly. In addition to O'Rourke's heroics, Lu Blue was on base all five times and even pitcher Wells tripled in a mate.

A double from Chappie Geygan in the bottom of the 7th actually tied the score at 3-3, but then the Boston hurling ignited. Detroit plated four runs in the 8th and three more in the 9th, and Syl Johnson finished up the first win for Wells with two innings of shutout relief.

The Tigers play three more times at the Fens this week before training south to the House That Ruth Built Which He is Still Not Hitting In.

DET 010 101 043 - 10 17 2
BOS 001 000 200 - 3 9 0


Dear Readers:

It has been a pleasure to return to the base ball world again, more specifically, to the world of Detroit Tiger reporting I've been a part of for seven seasons now.

As most of you are aware, I was the recent victim of a physical attack by manager Ty Cobb for my published comments about his slapping and running style of play, and for my firm doubts about its suitably for our team. I now feel it is imperative to clear the air concerning this incident in these pages, so as to not only prevent other unwarranted attacks, but to express how the incident has altered my general feelings about my profession.

Mr. Cobb has had a long, distinguished career as a Tiger batsman, and if base ball ever constructs a suitable shrine to honor its greatest talents, I imagine he will be permanently housed there. Yet while I found his hair-trigger response to my words utterly uncivilized and reprehensible, I can understand why it occurred. The daily chore of performing well on a ball field while managing 23 other men is not something a member of the press like myself can ever identify with. Add in the constant niggling questions from said press members before and after each contest and the tension of merely staying afloat in a pennant chase, and it is no surprise more players do not walk up behind reporters and beat their heads without warning.

I can sit in in my booth seat here and wax eloquently about the statistical sheets that are handed to me by runner boys at game-time, but in doing so it is easy to lose one's sight of how extremely difficult it is to play base ball for a living. The next time we scribes question the thousands of dollars many of these players earn yearly, we should remember that. While I will never forgive Mr. Cobb's flying knuckles, I have a newfound respect for his passion—both for the game and his players—and I trust he and I will approach each other on professional, even footing from now until October's leaves fall.

Sincerely,

C.J.B.

Only other American League contest today:

WHITE SOX 13-20-1, at ATHLETICS 2-4-2
Red Faber is now 6-1, and this game was finished following a Collins double and Mostil triple in the 1st inning off Heimach. Chicago is clearly a force to be reckoned with this season, and seem eager to restore faith with the public after Shoeless Joe Jackson and his seven peers sullied the game's face five years ago. Collins, Falk, Hooper and Mostil are four of the toughest outs around, and their upcoming series in Washington should be the burner of all barns.

AMERICAN LEAGUE through Monday, May 19
Chicago White Sox	21	11	.656	—
Washington Senators	22	12	.647	—
Detroit Tigers	18	15	.545	3.5
New York Yankees	18	15	.545	3.5
St. Louis Browns	16	17	.485	5.5
Boston Red Sox	13	20	.394	8.5
Cleveland Indians	13	21	.382	9
Philadelphia Athletics	12	22	.353	10