RENDERED SPEECHLESS

MICHIGAN PARTY VOTED OUT OF TOWN IN FOUR-GAME LANDSLIDE

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

July 11, 1924

WASHINGTON, D.C.—It is scarcely possible to believe that when our train rolled into Union Station here four days previous, the Tiger club was convinced they were on the verge of scratching their way to a whisker's breath away from first place. What was I imagining? Tonight as we roll north a few hours to Philadelphia, their claws have been yanked from their paws and their deep psychic wounds in need of more than field dressings.

For this gaggle of Senators, this unflappable quorum of sterling athletic statesmen, this fantastic, fili-ball-bustering faction has swept our Bengals out of their landscaped chamber as they would an annoying heckler, and the American League pennant chase is all the worse for it.

With President Coolidge in attendance, today's finale was eerily similar to the opening match, when Firpo Marberry trailed Earl Whitehill 1-0 for eight innings before the Nats conjured two little runs in the bottom of the 9th to steal the show. Rip Collins and his 13-2 mark sized up against the 10-4 George Mogridge this time, each hurler not having lost in many a moon.

Cobb walked to begin the day, but was excised at second base on a steal attempt by catcher Tate, a bad omen indeed. But Tyrus rebounded in the third, when after a lead Burke single and sacrifice to second by Collins, he lined a ball into right for an easy score and 1-0 Detroit lead.

The Ripper was murderous, as always. He walked no one and gave Washington two singles and a double far away from each other, and it seemed we had a better than fair chance of salvaging a win. Troubling, though, was Tiger baserunner usage. In the first eight innings, twelve Bengals reached the sacks to the Nats' three, with only one scoring. And we all realize how these events normally turn out.

Yet this was a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare. Bluege and Peckinpaugh made out to begin the last of the 8th, and Wid Mathews brought his lefty pinch bat up against Collins. He singled, and the Griffith crowd stirred. Lance Richbourg cranked a triple into the outfield abyss to tie the score, and they roared. Harris singled to put the Nats ahead and the female fans fainted with joy. From here the contingent of Detroit press men went mute and we heard nothing else around us. Judge reached on a Collins boot. Goslin singled. Rice singled. Tate singled. Five runs were across like a summer cyclone over a dry plain, and the contest was essentially over.

By Speece relieved Mogridge for the 9th and gave Burke and Cobb singles to keep the Detroit players from slicing their own necks, but it was a meaningless gesture, for they are now perfectly capable of performing this act on their own. Ten games to the rear now, they head for the City of Brotherly Love, where the pitching-challenged Athletics await to take their angriest punches. I may even join in.

DET 001 000 000 - 1 9 1
WAS 000 000 05x - 5 9 0

Other American League contests today:

at YANKEES 6-11-0, WHITE SOX 5-9-0
Nearly as shocking as our game was this Bronxian development. Trailing 4-0 to Thurston after three frames, Old Sloppy goes out with an ailment and Blankenship takes over. Ruth greets him with his first home run in seemingly a century, Pipp triples and scores on a Meusel fly, and the lead is shaved in two. The Bambino hits his second solo shot in the 8th and 20th on the year to make it 5-3 Chicago, and then the last of the 9th occurs. Schang triples with one out, and Dugan singles him in. After a Ward single with two outs, McWeeny takes over but walks Combs. Cvengros is hailed and Shags Horan pinches a single to tie the game. Ruth then dribbles a ball for another hit, only his fourth game-decider of the season, and the Yanks shock the Sox with a 4-game sweep and abscond with third place!

BROWNS 7-8-2, at RED SOX 3-12-3 (11 innings)
Back in the American cellar, Boston plays hideous ball, losing an early 3-0 lead, then giving the Browns four runs in the 11th with the help of dastardly gaffes. Alex Ferguson goes the whole way and lowers his record to 3-11.

at ATHLETICS 7-14-1, INDIANS 3-7-0
The Mackmen seem to have recovered just in time to face us, as Lamar doubles twice and knocks in four and Joe Hauser returns from an injury to hit into a rare triple play and homer in the same game.

AMERICAN LEAGUE through Friday, July 11
Washington Senators	56	29	.659	—
Detroit Tigers	47	40	.540	10
New York Yankees	44	39	.530	11
Chicago White Sox	44	40	.524	11.5
St. Louis Browns	40	45	.471	16
Cleveland Indians	37	49	.430	19.5
Philadelphia Athletics	37	49	.430	19.5
Boston Red Sox	35	49	.417	20.5