10.02.2009

WHY BE SO SERIOUS?

LATEST TIGER DEBACLE PROPELS THEM INTO SCINTILLATING SECOND PLACE RACE!

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

July 15, 1924

PHILADELPHIA—When a league pennant seems about as likely to be obtained as a Leprechaun's pot-o-gold, one needs to look elsewhere for a team's comfort, and what better place is there than the glorious heaven of second place? Is there shame in being a vice-president? A lieutenant? A mountain eagle's wife? I think not.

For with Washington finding another method to win today and our Tigers doing all they can to defeat themselves in their Shibe Park finale, we suddenly seem to have little choice in the matter, so why not revel in the high altitude mud with New York and Chicago, clubs equally eager for some meaningful competition this year? As it stands here in this press row, where I espouse on a borrowed typewriter because some local scalawag made off with my Remington, a mere game now separates the Tigers, Yanks and Pale Hose from the second place crown.

Holloway tried his luck today for us against portsider Stan Baumgartner, but was clubbed on the head early and often by the cro-magnon bat of Mack's first-sacker Joseph Hauser. After Lamar singled to open the Philadelphia 2nd, Joe picked out a shiny apple of a pitch and smashed it high over the right field barrier for a 2-0 advantage. After Dykes and Lamar singled in the 3rd, Hauser scorched another offering into the left gap for a double and 3-0 lead.

To their flimsy credit, Detroit put their first runs on the board in 12 innings by plating two of them in the 4th. Fred Haney and Heilman led with singles, Haney scored on a wild pitch, and Pratt doubled in Harry to make things close. They remained that way for some time, with occasional Bengals reaching base and becoming extinct there like mastodons, before Holloway woke the Athletics back up in the 8th. Dykes got his third hit, Lamar tripled him plateward, and who else but Joe Hauser scored him with a sky-scraping fly, his fourth run knocked in on the afternoon.

Fatty Fothergill supplied a pinch of false hope for us in the 9th with a triple and third Tiger run, but Baumgartner would not be denied his 10th win. Cobb, despite his huffing and puffing about a "sure win" for his squad before the game, helped them with nothing, failing to hit the ball free of the infield in his four paltry at bats.

So we sail on to Boston tonight, backs against the pennant current, giddy with glee over the two and a half months remaining in what could be the most thrilling second place battle of all time.

DET 000 200 001 - 3 10 0
PHA 021 000 02x - 5 9 0

Other American League games today:

at SENATORS 8-12-0, INDIANS 2-4-1
When the Big Train isn't running you over, George Mogridge is. The rascal from Rochester wins his ninth straight decision with a sterling 4-hitter against a putrid Coveleski. Lost in the hooting over Goslin's year-long clutch performance is the solid work of manager Bucky Harris, who with a scoring double in the Nats' three-run 1st collects his 12th game-winning blow of the year. Six different Senators drive in runs in this one, a sure sign of impeccable team play.

WHITE SOX 12-23-3, at RED SOX 2-6-2
Do we think Chicago has returned to their senses yet? Mostil, Falk and Hooper go a combined 2-for-16 on the day, and they still manage 23 hits. Sheely with five hits and a walk in six times to the dish, is never retired by Ehmke, Ruffing, Piercy or the boston bat boy.

at YANKEES 6-9-0, BROWNS 2-8-0
The Yanks prevail and creep up toward Detroit alongside Chicago in our high elevation gulley. Shawkey allows consecutive home runs to Collins and Bennett in the 7th but little else. Ruth fails to homer but drives in two and notches his fifth game-decider of the campaign, proving at the very least the swatting sultan has a pulse.










AMERICAN LEAGUE through Tuesday, July 15
Washington Senators 5930.663
Detroit Tigers 4842.53311.5
New York Yankees 4641.52912
Chicago White Sox 4641.52912
St. Louis Browns 4247.47217
Philadelphia Athletics 3950.43820
Cleveland Indians 3852.42221.5
Boston Red Sox 3651.41422

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