THE SHOTS HEARD 'ROUND MICHIGAN

"LIL" STONER OUT-BABES THE BABE TO EARN US HOLIDAY SPLIT

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

July 4, 1924

The bunting was out in force, the stands filled with festive Detroiters, white garments and hats trimmed with red and blue, yet here were the persnickety Browns invading Navin Field.

St. Louis has been a nest of bees for us all season, stinging us in seven of the fifteen meetings, and even with the 3-10 Danforth hurling against Whitehill in the opening game, no one in the overflow gathering felt secure. Earl justified their anxiousness in short order, turning in his absolute worst performance of the year just when his team was starting to gain legs. Sisler tripled in a 1st inning run, Danforth tripled in a 2nd inning run, and after three singles and two walks in the top of the 4th, McManus crushed a ball high and extremely far for a shocking grand slam homer and 9-1 lead.

For their part, we battled back bravely against Danforth, scoring three in the 6th with the help of an Al Wingo pinch double, and one more in the 7th on a Heilman single, but the slope was just too steep and treacherous to climb.

Local spirits were revived between games, though, as the score-poster declared New York a 3-1 winner in their first match in Washington. If that were possible, we could surely topple the Browns, correct? Ray Kolp was facing Lil Stoner in a battle of rotation refugees, and surprisingly, the score stayed low for much of the contest.

A Joe Evans single gave St. Louis a 1-0 edge in the 4th, but the Tigers took their first lead of the day with three singles and a scoring fly from Bob Jones. In the top of the 7th, a Bennett triple and Gerber single tied the score, and then the unthinkable happened. Stoner, not much of a pitcher and certainly never thought of as a hitter, swatted the first Kolp offering in the bottom of the 6th deep toward the right center barrier. Baby Doll Jacobson scampered back, jumped at the rail but the ball cleared the wall for the second Tiger clout in over a month! His mates were so excited they tallied two more runs directly after.

And then the truly extraordinary happened. Off lefty relief man Bill Bayne, Stoner clubbed another drive leading off the 8th, well into the left bleachers for his second homer of the day! The feat may have swelled his mind, though, for he was not himself in the 9th. Singles from Collins and Bennett began things, and Dauss was forced to relieve. But Hooks was also ripe for punishment, as a scoring fly and consecutive doubles from Rice and Bayne brought the score to 6-5. The score poster showed the Senators losing again. We had to win this game. Frightening George Sisler strode to the dish, famous of late for beating Chicago with big late hits.

He drove one toward the fence in right center. Our Manager—yes, I'll use the name Cobb again—turned, raced back on his old legs till they were out of room, leaped and snared the sphere from its glorious souvenir fate with a brilliant catch! Robertson then flied meekly to Manush, and we had the hard-fought splitter.

Even better news was both Washington and Chicago going down twice, and the Tigers moving into second place by their mere selves. Let the fireworks be lit!

SLB 210 600 100 - 10 16 1
DET 001 003 101 - 6 11 0

SLB 000 100 103 - 5 11 1
DET 000 200 31x - 6 12 0

Other American League double-headers today, all three road club sweeps:

YANKEES 3-6-0, at SENATORS 1-3-0
YANKEES 7-17-1, at SENATORS 4-8-2
Yes, amazement was everywhere. Joe Bush, who is either dreadful or unhittable, proved the latter today at Griffith Stadium, outduelling the 10-3 Zachary with the help of a late double and triple from Meusel and two sacrifice flies from Wally Pipp. Zachary had allowed but one single through the first six innings, while Bush allowed no base runners until Peckinpaugh walked with one out in the 6th. The second act was a Yankee festival of hits, most of them off Joe Martina. Ruth had another in a never-ending series of punchless afternoons, but New York will accept them as long as victory is involved.

RED SOX 8-18-0, at ATHLETICS 0-4-1
RED SOX 19-13-1, at ATHLETICS 0-7-3
A sorry, sorry day for the breeding ground of patriotism. The city where this wonderful holiday was christened finds both of their ball teams being outscored 52-1 to mark the occasion. How Mack's team ever manhandled New York this past week is a puzzle for the ages. Fullerton and Wingfield are the shutout throwers here, with Heimach and Slim Harriss serving as cannon fodder.

INDIANS 11-13-1, at WHITE SOX 9-10-3
INDIANS 7-20-3, at WHITE SOX 5-11-2
I believe we can safely admit that Chicago is in the dumps. They fall behind Luther Roy in the first game by a 6-0 count, storm ahead 9-6, then drop the game in the 7th when Lyons and Cvengros give Cleveland five runs. The second affair should have been much easier for the Tribe, as they stranded 17 runners, but Eddie Collins proved to be the only Sox man to accomplish anything. In the two games, Eddie reached base eight of eleven times.

ANOTHER BREAK IN THE TIME WARP

The author regrets to inform his readers that he is journeying to a certain northern bay for a long-awaited family celebration, and will resume his dispatches from the Jazz Age on Tuesday morning. To one and all, have a most relaxing Day of Labor.

—Commissioner Landis

AMERICAN LEAGUE through Friday, July 4
Washington Senators	51	28	.646	—
Detroit Tigers	45	35	.563	6.5
Chicago White Sox	43	35	.551	7.5
New York Yankees	39	38	.506	11
Cleveland Indians	35	44	.443	16
St. Louis Browns	35	44	.443	16
Boston Red Sox	33	44	.429	17
Philadelphia Athletics	33	46	.418	18