HATS OFF TO OUR BRAVE BUTTERWORTH!

MISSING BALL SCRIBE RETURNS TO NAVIN PRESS DUTIES AFTER NARROW ESCAPE FROM NEW ENGLAND WILDERNESS

By Percival Q. Mellon
Publisher
Detroit Free-Enterprise

July 26, 1924

It is with unbridled joy this publisher announces the miraculous return of our esteemed Tigers reporter Calvin Jerome Butterworth. Following a three-day nightmare of thirst, famine, deadly insects and torturous solitude in a wild, largely uninhabited region of Vermont, Mr. Butterworth has returned to the bosom of his family and the eager eyes of his breathlessly waiting readers.

Before today's home-stand opener with Philadelphia at Navin Field, he was introduced to the overflowing crowd and received a thunderous standing ovation, usually reserved for heads of state or a command Stravinsky performance. So many straw boaters were tossed on the field that the start of the contest was delayed at least fifteen minutes while they were collected.

Mr. Butterworth chose to watch the game from the comfort of a choice seat behind the Tiger dugout, as opposed to his customary press porch perch, and his account of the field action—in a new "living pastoral" style," as he has coined it—follows:


The achingly blue sky over Navin's ball yard is painted with white brush stroke clouds as Topper Rigney digs in for our bottom of the 1st. Philadelphia's Burns hurls, Topper swings and the ball liberates itself from the infield, smack between Dykes and Galloway for a single. Lu Blue skies out but no matter, for the Tigers are as sharp and dedicated to their craft as ever. Cobb strokes a two-bagger down the right line, the scent of scorched grass filling my nostrils, a ball slips past Sammy Hale to the backstop for a first run, after which Heilman drives one out to Simmons to score Cobb.

And here is Heilman again in the 4th, walloping the horsehide far and deep toward left, Lamar skipping and stumbling backwards, still with a chance, flailing at the heavens with his mitt, only to have the ball drop into the happy hands of bleacher spectators! Do I hear a Manush double immediately after? Yes! A Pratt single plates him thusly, and we are ahead 4-0!

Rip Collins is hurling, and a 15-3 record for him seems pre-ordained. Four Mackmen singles leading off the 6th cannot even sway him, as a ballet dance of a twin-killing by Rigney, O"Rourke and Blue lop off the rally at its head. Burns returns to the hill for our 6th but has nothing to offer, walking three, hitting Manush and unleashing a wild throw. Soon it is 7-2 Detroit, then 82- after Hale kicks away a dribbler, and the stands around me pulsate with glee.

How can I not enjoy myself today? The skin on my forearms is tinted brown, the hot sausage roll provided by management is scrumptious, and tomorrow my wife and children will be joining me. Ah, the bliss of our grand game, may it never disappear!
—C.J.B.


OTHER AMERICAN LEAGUE GAMES TODAY:

at INDIANS 5-11-1, SENATORS 4-13-2 (10 innings)
And not that I care one iota, but might there still be a pennant chase? The Tigers pick up a full game when Tris Speaker clubs a game-deciding homer in extra innings off Tom Zachary and his previously 12-4 mark. George Uhle is in trouble for the Tribesmen throughout, but Bud Messenger saves his pitching life by snuffing out a Washington rally with two aboard in the 9th.

YANKEES 5-8-2, at WHITE SOX 4-6-0
Pennock is not given a lot of support, but just enough is on his plate for him to finish off this meal. Barrett's 3-run homer in the 4th almost brings the Sox back from a 5-0 deficit, but that proves to be their last swatting hurrah.

at BROWNS 5-11-1, RED SOX 1-5-2
Urban Shocker notches his 13th win with a 5-hitter, and the Browns pummel Alex Ferguson to drop his godforsaken record to 4-13.

AMERICAN LEAGUE through Saturday, July 26
Washington Senators	66	32	.673	—
Detroit Tigers	54	45	.545	12.5
New York Yankees	50	46	.521	15
Chicago White Sox	50	46	.521	15
St. Louis Browns	45	53	.459	21
Cleveland Indians	43	56	.434	23.5
Philadelphia Athletics	42	56	.429	24
Boston Red Sox	40	56	.417	25