The San Francisco call., 1910-10-11
AMERICAN LEAGUE BATTING SCANDAL SOUNDS KNEL OF TROPHIES
MUCK RAKERS ARE
narrowing LAJOIE
ST. Louis Players Accused of
Letting Him Hit Ball TO
Win Automobile

ST. LOUIS. oct. 1O.-sporting writers
here charge that the local team OF the
American league yesterday allowed La
5oie Of the Cleveland team TO obtain
hits. The object of this. it is charged.
was TO enable him to score more hits
during the season than We're credited
TO Cobb Of Detroit.
It was necessary for Lajofe to OBJ
tain eight hits in order to pass Cobb.
He went to bat four times in each game
and obtained as many hits. The first
time he hit long liner to center field
that netted him a three base hit Six
other times he bunted down the third
base line and either beat Third Base
man Corridors throw to first, or else
Corridor cid not throw. Another time
Lajoie grounded to Wallace, who threw
wild 10 first. Once Lajoie bunted to
Corridor. who felded it, but tossed wide
on first. Lajoie was credited with a
sacrifice hit
President Hedges OF the local team
refused 10 discuss the teams playing.
When LajOie was at bat Corridor
played far back Of third base. He ran
lp eaCn time LalOle Dunteo-
Mailer and Nelson were the st. Louis
pitchers. In the only other game
which Mailer pitched against Cleveland
Lajoie got one hit in three times at
bar Nelson never pitched to Lajoie
before.
Lajoie outguessed u.s." said Man
sger O'Connor. We figured he did not
have the nerve to bunt every time. He
heat Us al our own game. I will not
send any Of my players in to play up
close 10 Lajoie when he tries to bunt."
In explaining his playing Lajoie. in
2 telegram 10 a local newspaper, said:
After 7 made nay first hit, a clean
drive TO center for three bases. the ST.
louis men played deep. expecting me
40 pound the ball out every time. I
fooled them right along. The pitchers
dis their best 10 deceive me, 7 am GER
tain"
Navin Is Suspicious
DETROIT. oct lO.-Frank J. Navin.
president Of the Detroit American
league baseball club, declared today
that the hitting Of Lajoie IN St. Louis
looked suspicious
1t looked like a raw DEAL" he said,
~but 7 don't know whether the league
viii take action. The league can throw
our games for Justifabfe reasons.
think when the averages are
the leader. At least 1 hope So.
President Navin also said that the
leagues win probably stake action
toward the elimination Of prizes and
bonuses for players.
These prizes" declared Navin, only
serve TO create dissension on team"
Pitchers Held Innocent
CHICAGO. Oct. I0.-Several Chicago
sporting writers. in discussing the La
5oie incident. declared they did not
think blame could be attached TO the
ST. Louis pitchers, Mslley and Nelson.
They said. however, that the case pre-
sented the possibility of an under
standing between Lajoie and certain
feIders Of the St. Louis team.
La5oie's feat Of Sunday IS not a new
record in major league circles, but 1t
has not been excelled for many years.
The nearest thing TO IL in recent years
was the work Of Tinker of the Chicago
Nationals, who. in double header at
New York, made seven hits in success
sion.
Johnson Bars Prizes
CHICAGO. Oct. 1o.-President B. B.
Johnson Of the American league an
nounced late today that no more prizes
viii be offered or permitted while he
continues at the head of that baseball
organization.
President Johnson stated that he had
taken this position as a result of the
La5oie incident. lie also said that he
was making an investigation OF the
allegations made unoficially by ST.
Louis sporting writers.
Hermann NOncommittaI
CINCINNATI Oct. 10.-August Herr
mann. chairman Of the national base
bail commission, in discussing the La
5oie incident tonight said:
"Lajoie and Cobb. according to un-
official averages. have the race for the
leading batsmsn in both leagues be-
tween them. Which will win / do not
know and the national commission can
not decide until it receives the official
averages Of both leagues.
Il want 70 say ore thing, however,
since the question came up as to the
genuineness of the hits made by Lajoie
at St Louis, and that is that no more
prizes or bonuses will be permitted
under the rules OF the national COM
mission. We shall be very careful to
eliminate anything Of the kind in the
future"
Laioie Wants Nine
I have nothing whatever to say
was the way Napoleon Lajoie answered
3 request for an interview here tonight
regarding the manner in which he
made eight hits in one day at st. Louis
yesterday. Before he was through,
however, he said that he had not only
secured eight hits in an absolutely
genuine manner, but that he really de-
served nine hits. When asked to ex-
plain this last statement he answered:
That's all have to say on the sub
sect"
Information was conveyed to Lajoie
during the interview that Frank Navin,
president of the Detroit club, had said
that his feat at St Louis yesterday
looked suspicious.
so it looked suspicious TO Navin.
did it?" said Lajoie. We'll, he knows
what he can do. He can take ii before
the league If he wants 10, and at that
time ] certainly viii have my say.
Until that time / can only say that ]
not only got eight hits yesterday in a
regular manner, but that / should be
credited with nine. That's all have to
say"
National | eapue