The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-13
TIGERS BECOME CONTENDERS FOR CHAMPIONSHIP RAG Detroit Led By MuIIin Easily Defeat the Chicago
 Cubs
PFEISTER PROVED EASY
 FOR HEAVY STATESMEN
Ty Cobb's Hitting and Sprntine the Bright Feature of the Contest. Interest, Laeeing, Takes
 New Life.

Chicago. October 12.-Detroit became real contender for the worlds champion ship today when it defeated Chicago in decisive fashion, to 3.
 Manager Jennings achieved this result with a change in his lineup. Downs was put on the bench and the efficient Schae- fer, who is at home in almost any posi- tion, was shifted from third to second base, Coughlin occupying the third sack. This shake-up, however, cannot be said to have had any material effect in win ming the game for neither Schaefer nor Coughlin got hit, while Coughlin bung- led one of his two chances.
 Counting the worlds series of last year, today's victory was the first Detroit has scored in eight contests for the highest prize in the baseball world. Mullin. lected by Manager Jennings to pitch for Detroit, was steady throughout the game, holding Chicago to seven scattered hits and passing only one man. Pfeister's left-handed shoots, for the most part, failed to puzzle the Michigan batsmen Besides issuing three passes, he was hit safely 13 times, two of the cluster being
  inning. It was this inning-the sixth which gave the game to Detroit.
 Cobb Into His Own.
 The gray-clad Tigers, two runs behind Chicago when the inning opened, came across the plate in a procession. The crowd, with the exception of a minority from Detroit, which enjoyed the proceed
 
 nimity for the retirement of Pfeister, Man ager Chance, who failed to show any traces of embarrassment or displeasure at the way in which Detroit came up from behind and went ahead, smiled eheerfully and ignored the request.
 Tyrus Cobb, idol of the Detroit enthu- siasts, whose playing was a great disap- pointment year ago, came into his own. He batted like the natural hitter he is and ran bases like flash. His batting average for the day was .SOO Out of five times up he hit safely four times.
 His stinging single to right in the first drove in O'Leary with the first run of the game. In the fourth he reached first on a fielder's choice, but in the sixth he beat out his slow grounder scoring Mcintyre. In the eighth his sprinting enabled him to make a double of hit which, with less speedy man, would have been good for only one base. In the next inning he singled, and he not only stole second but also pilfered third by narrow margain. He had no opportunities in the field, to the great regret of his admirers in the stand. Others whose work contributed materially to the victory were O'Leary, Crawford and Rossman, each of whom made two hits although Rossman and O'Leary were both charged with errors.
 To Mullin, however, the greatest credit was awarded by the spectators. Even in the fourth inning, when all three of Chicago's runs were scored, he never faltered. His nerve remained steady, his arm strong and his control excellent. The only base oh balls which he allowed was turned into a run by Chicago.
 Lack of Interest.
 Despite the fact that the sun shone brightly today and the temperature was higher than yesterday, only 14543 paid admissions were registered at various turnstiles, netting total receipts of $22,- 767. Dawn did not find the usual line of eager would-be purchasers at the ticket windows. It was 8 o'clock before single line formed and when play began there were still vacant seats in the more dis tant bleachers. These seats, however, probably would have been filled had it not been that many of the spectators chose to occupy the temporary seats in the ground behind the barriers in right. center and left field. The game was scheduled to begin at o'clock, but was postponed 15 minutes, waiting for the arrival of the late corners to i'll the unoc- cupied seats. Detroit was the first to score. In it's half of the first inning of batting, O'Leary, with one out lined too hotly and awkwardly for Steinfeldt. He went to second on Crawford's out and came home on Cobbs single to short center Only one more hit and no more runs was the best Detroit could do until the sixth, when the Detroiters, in fine ral- ly, came from behind and as IL proved, put the game safely away. Mullin was the first man up and when three balls had been put across the plate, disdainful- ly moved away and Preister was unable to get the fourth one over Mcintyre singled to left and OLeary laid down a nice bunt which filled the bases as Pfeis- ter failed to catch Mullin at third. With none out the Michigan contingent cheered wildly as Crawford came to bat. The sturdy center felders swung viciously and the resulting grounder was altogether too hot for Chance to hold. While Chance was whirling frantically around seeking the ball, Mulln crossed the plate and the other runners advanced a base each, leaving every post still occupied by De- troit runner. The fleet Cobb beat out his own slow grounder to Tinker and Mcintyre scored, the passes still being full as before with none out. Rossman singled to right, scoring OLeary and Crawford, while Cobb made the circuit from first to third Hoffman caught Cobb at the plate. Thomas doubled to right. scoring Rossman, but the run-getting carnival was stopped when Evers threw Coughlin out at first
 Pfeister held the Detroters hitless in the seventh, but he was pounded hard again in the eighth
 Pfeister Is Pounded.
 Cobb hit to left for two bases Ross man beat out pretty bunt, sending Cobb to third. Schaefer flew out to right and Rossman moved up to second on Schulte's throw to the plate, holding Cobb at third,