The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-25
By PAUL n. BRUskE.

Hope springs eternal in the human
breast-if given the shade OF an eN'
cuse-and the Detroit rooters pre-
dicament today is fine illustration
Just because the Tigers played at
last a pretty good game of ball anu
didn't get beaten. a drawn verdict De'
ing the result when darkness fell last
evening, and just because Washington
made good, trimming Cleveland. OPP
timistic fans have fieeting right once
more to declare the Champs factors
in the pennant race-possible factors,
at any rate.
AND THAT THEY ARE.
In third place, TO be sure. but with
double-header on today, and Washing
ton still at Cleveland, there Is surely
a chance. The pennant hope or the
Detroit club has gone down twice, Out
the Tiger has at last got a grip In
the scalp lock OF the drowning crit
ter and may yet yank him out and
resuscitate II on the bank.
II Washington should acct
dentaily repeat and the Tlges cop
both those games today, but two
points would separate MIchigan's
representatives from the leaders,
and they would be back In second
place once moro. Charlie Smith
will undoubtedly do the twirin9
at Cleveland for the Nationals.
Summers and Winter, that grand
combination Of the sea sons, will
heave for the Tigers. Plank and
Schiller will probably be the So
Iections Of Connie Mack, and the
opening game 10 called for 1:45.
There was no denying the improve
ment In the Tiger grade q ball yes
terday, both In the fleld and at the
bat, but most OF all on the bases Cobb
in particular was his old daring self.
and the way he tore round the sacks
made DR.. Powers eyes bug out
With Tyrus back In form. anything
is possible, and mark these words:
If THE TIGERS EVER REACH
THE TOP AGAIN, 1T WON'T BE
CLEVELAND WHO WILL WIN
THAT PENNANT!
And now for giving Little credit
where credit Is surely due!
Six weeks or more ago big George
Mullin, the Detroit pitcher, noticed a
swelling on the outer side Of his right
knee. George paid no particular atten.
ton to II but kept on saving wood
when his turn came. The swelling
developed into a monster boil Beip G
right on the joint Of the twirler's pivot
leg 1t was considerably painful. George
didn't ask any odds Of q Jobs Com
forter." however, and kept reporting
daily for work. One day II broke
while its owner was pitching tight
game George gave q hectic base on
balls and then settled down TO pitch
good ball again.
The twirler deemed his troubles
passing. but several days later the
spot began to swell again. The orig
tnaI woe was nothing To what follow.
ed. Blood-poisoning from the pitcher s
stocking was what was resulting. and
for weeks, Mullin reported and pitch.
ed regularly In his turn when most
fingers would have been in the hos
pital. Yet only Trainer Tuthill and a
few OF the players teammates knew
the situation. Every day the twirler
walked out on the firing line he car
ried big running sore, angry and
festered. under his stocking. without
complaint Now he is recovering
again, but he will carry a scar az large
as the palm Of his big hand to his
grave as the result of his experience.
And the most peculiar portion of the
whole story Is the fact that, In spite
Of the pain which every movement has
cost the big pitcher. he has furnished
a grade of consistently good ball and
would have surely won three out OF
four games right along. with the nor
NAL batting and fielding support which