The Detroit times., 1908-10-10

base where Lindsay failed tc man
good his promise OF the year befor
Crawford was capable frstsacke
hut his absence from tho outfield hui
that department OF the game.
The team finished Its year In SKI
place--a great disappointment to II
owners and supporters.
Convinced that their team was no
strong enough TO give battle 10 I'd
League leaders. Messrs. Navin an
lawkey cast about the arena
League baseball to find man wn
could take the team, harmonize II
warning factions and get the men
pulling together. After looking ovs
the entire field they came To the CO
clusion that the man wanted WI
Hugh jennings, the old-time king
the shortstops, then acting as pia'
ing manager Of the Baltimore Eas 4
ern league clubs. Jennings. howcve
was under q playing contract and n
club refused to listen to any oRer
COR his release. The Detroit cit
owners held their peace and. WIT
the big league drafts were announ
cd, Il was noted with surprise all ov
the country that Detroit had put In
reouisition for the star old-timer. I'd
national commission decided the draf'
legal and Jennings was awarded ID
Detroit, there to inaugurate that era
OF baseball prosperity which has been
the establishment of the baseball uni
verse. winning two American league
championships In as many attempts
and with the same team which, the
year before he had taken the helm.
had finished q disgraced sixth.
jennings made but one important
change In his team when he took
hold. Schmidt, Payne and Archer
were his catchers and the pitching
staff remained the same though en-
larged to include Willett. who had
been purchased by Armour, and who
had shown promise In q brief work
out. the preceding fall. The one ad-
dition made to the ranks Of the club
was Claud Rossman. O nrst baseman
whom Cleveland cut loose. not caring
to carry two guardians OF that sack
through the American league season.
Rcssman's price was anhonced ae
SAVOY. hariy In the year an INJURY
to Mcintyre left a vacancy In the
outfield which Jennings filed by CIV
ing Jones his first regular billet.
though Davy had been tting occar
sional work as a substitute before.
This team won the American league
pennant--Detroit' first champion az
gregation in 20 years. II looked a.
| IL the right combination had at last
been found
With the first championship stow
ed away. Jennings naturally stood
pat for the season Of 1908, adding only
catcher, Ira Thomas, purchased
from the New York club. and q pitch
er, Eddie Summers. who had shown
fine form for indianapolis. to his reg
ular stan OF tollers. Siever blew Up.
Injuries to Coughlin and O'Leary
broke up the infield through the larg-
er part OF the race. but Schaefer WAS
tower OF strength. playing short
and third with equal facility, while
Downs, a player purchaser from To-
peka during the closing weeks Of the
Armour regime, developed finely nt
second base In his second year a. up-
derstudy.
AS important as any OF the receAt
deals made by the club was the one
which brought to Detroit little Owen
Bush, the indianapolis shortstop round
whose sensational fielding and base
running the Tigers rallied at a time
when all seemed lost and, In a glorious
run Of victories, regained the league
lead and won out ut the finish.
Ineligible for the post-season series
though he Is, 1t Is certain that Bush
will be a regular member of the team
of next year. though In what capacity
remains to be seen.
jennings 1908 team Is stronger than
his team Of 1907 In batting and pitch
ing. The collapse which sent Siever
back to the minors was more than
compensated for by the discovery OF
two right-handers in Willett and Sum.
mers. both of whom did as well as
seasoned veterans. Coughlin's failure
to retain his old form made necessary
the infield shift alluded to above but it
Is doubtful II the team has been weak
ened any as the result. Mclntyfe's re-
turn TO the outfeld has added consid-
cradle batting strength TO the team
and Thomas. 800 hitter and an or.
cellent catcher, In unquestionably n
improvement over Payne and ArchSs
In their 1907 form.