6.30.2009

THE EARL OF WHITEHILL TAMES THE ELEPHANTS

FOUR-HIT MASTERPIECE BY DETROIT SLAB ARTIST AWES A'S

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

June 7, 1924

Navin Field was riddled with ragamuffins today as the Tigers offered free seats for local children, and what better way to teach a pint-sizer about base ball mastery than to have the home hurler mesmerize the opposition?

Earl Whitehill was a portsiding genius from start to finish. He found himself in minor difficulty in the 1st on two-out singles by Miller and Dykes, but Al "Bucketfoot" Simmons grounded to Rigney and no one scored. A Dykes error and singles by Cobb and Bassler gave us a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st, and then the Earl set up his canvas. After Bill Lamar doubled with two out in the 3rd, he retired the next 17 batters he faced, and against a team that has been racking up runs and hits like squirrels gathering autumn nuts.

On the other side, Philadelphia starter Dennis Burns had nothing compelling on his ball, and the Tigers whacked it hither and yon in the 4th with two singles, two walks, and a Cobb double for three runs. Two more doubles and Cobb's third hit in the 6th make it 6-1 before Bob Hasty was touched for a tally in the 8th.

There wasn't much else to report, as the game lacked the drama of other contests around the circuit today, but the Tiger Tots in attendance certainly seemed to enjoy themselves throughout, banging the seats and whooping with every home hit. Heilman returns from his slight injury tomorrow to face tough lefty Baumgartner, while Syl Johnson gets his second start for the Tigers since replacing Stoner at the front line.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Our esteemed woman-writer of the society page, Elizabeth Dashwood Weevilhurst, erred in her recent account of another Whitehill masterpiece by using the wrong name of Earl's wife. Violet Geissinger is the lovely actual woman he betrothed, and one may find her on the packages of Sun-Maid raisin boxes to this day.

PHA 000 000 001 - 1 3 2
DET 100 302 01x - 7 11 1


Other American League games today:

at INDIANS 4-7-0, SENATORS 1-8-1
Catcher Glenn Myatt fires a 3-run cannonball of a home run off Curly Ogden in the 1st inning and the first-place Nats never recover, unable to assemble anything bat-wise with Joe Shaute until Taylor triples in an 8th inning run with the game all but over. The Big Train will throw tomorrow against the fading Coveleski, so one can expect a quick rebound.

RED SOX 8-14-0, at WHITE SOX 4-9-1
The Bostons give Jack Quinn a 5-0 lead right away, beating up Sloppy Thurston with a walk, two singles and three doubles. Down 7-0, Chicago makes noise in their 6th with a Mostil homer, Elsh double and Sheely triple, but it's only a light sprinkle on a sweltering day, and the Pale Hose are suddenly looking mortal.

YANKEES 5-12-0, at BROWNS 4-8-0
With a chance to gain more ground on the leading men, the Yanks find their ace Pennock trailing Danforth 4-1 going to the 8th and all looks grim. But Ruth singles with one out, Pipp gets him to third with another single, and Ward hits a run-scoring fly to make it 4-2. Pennock gets out of a rough rally in the 8th, and it seems to inspire the New Yorkers. After Schang walks to start the 9th, Shags Horan pinch-hits a sizzling double. Combs then doubles into the gap to tie the game, Meusel singles him to third with two out, and the Bambino knocks another single for the go-ahead run. Gaston gives up a two-out double to Jacobson in the last of the 9th, but Beall comes on to retire McManus on a grounder, and the race has tightened for the second straight day.










AMERICAN LEAGUE through Saturday, June 7
Washington Senators 3519.648
Chicago White Sox 3318.6470.5
New York Yankees 2625.5107.5
Detroit Tigers 2626.5008
Philadelphia Athletics 2429.45310.5
St. Louis Browns 2229.43111.5
Boston Red Sox 2129.42012
Cleveland Indians 2032.38514

2 comments:

  1. Hey Polfro--It's chicagofan71 from the Strat Fan Forum. I sent you this PM:

    Hey Polfro---

    I loved your 2007 replay. I want to do something similar with 2008, dice and cards. I've been having a lot of fun so far, and was wondering if you'd mind that i post it (it was your idea, I just don't wanna intrude and post it without your knowledge)

    I also would like some tips on how you attacked it---Did midseason aquisitions join their clubs on relatively the same day that they acquired IRL? For instance, CC would go to Milwaukee in late June, Harden to the Cubs a few days later, etc.

    How about usage? My rule of thumb is some with 500+ AB's plays everyday, 400+ plays 5/6 days, 300+ 2/3 days, etc.

    I'll try and contact you on the blog as I see that's where your main postings are. Anyway, take care and Roll On!

    CF71

    If you could get back to me on here or the forum that'd be great. '24 is looking good! Take Care

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mr. Butterworth replies:

    There seems to be an odd young fellow trying to contact me from a far future time. I shall attend to him in a private locale, yet I do welcome any further messages from the Beyond.

    ReplyDelete