The Detroit times., 1910-01-08
ALL THAT'S HAPPENING TODAY IN THE SPORTING WORLD
HEART Nth the
10 Sporting
HEART M Editor.

Some time ago The architect OF this
column found occasion 10 comment on
the peculiar praak OF baseball fate
e--e VIII ich, for n g
Douxs M third time their
THE TRAII. lccal association
AGAIN. was the second
Ed. Barrow as manager and Georse
Smith as second -baseman at Montreal.
Another instance which 10 Detroit rams
will be every bit as striking VIII be
the strange freak OF fate which again
finds Herman Schaefer and Jerry
Downs fighting NJ Washington for 'he
same JOB as the one for which, TWO
Sc easons long, tncy battled on the De
troit club.
When DOWNS joined the Tigers IN
the spring OF 1907. he found SCf6efer
on the Job as seccnl-sacker Herman.
and he went 10 II With a vengeancc
The German wasn't in very good form
that year and Jerry managed To get
into the limelight 10 a considerable
extent. and even into the worlds
series. IL was somew hat of question
which one was the regular guardian
OF the sack. though Schaefer was gen
orally considered the premier
The season OF 1908 found SchaefeT
and Downs renewing hostilities where
they had eft off Herman was in bet
ter physical condition. as the result OF
an operation which he had had per
formed during the winter and thai
year he clearly established himself
once more though. on several occa-
sions. Downs threatened to butt into
the play. In the worlds series that
year Schaefer played for several
games NJ third base with Downs az
second. A weakness OF the latter IN
touching runners in that very series.
really caused his release the following
spring. Chicago getting him by the
waiver rule, and turning him over TO
Minneapolis, where he gained the re-
pute OF being the king second-sacker
of the fastest OF the minor leagues.
In the meantime. Schaefer had been
going back to such an extent that
Manager Jennings turned him over 10
Washington in exchange for Dele
hanty.
Herman Is still with Washington
and is considered at present the regu-
lar second-baseman OF the club. But
ting all winter regarding the possible
advent OF strength that is looked for
when Downs. purchased from Mime
apolis, joins the team.
It's a fact. Washington has secured
the sorrel-top and. according to the
sport pages OF that town. Jim McAleer
means to hold to him long enough to
see IL he will not help the chronics
II will seem natural TO Schae!er.
beyond doubt. 10 look over toward
the Washington bench and beholc
Downs waiting for something to hap
pen. 1t will seem just as natural to
Jerry to be watching Herman cavort
on the diamond while he stands ready
to step into his shoes when occasions
seems to the manager to demand.
And another interesting phase OF the
situation is added by the presence on
the Washington lineup OF Wade
Hampton KiIlifer. also member OF
the Detroit club during the time that
Schaefer and Downs were alternating
at second base. and occasionally TAX; |
ing a whirl at the Job himself.
n the irresponsible individual who
started the now widely circulated and
malicious report that had Kid Lavigne |
punched full of holes in an imaginary
bout with one Dick Nelson "a few
DAYS ago. would care 10 drop in at
the Kids little local thirst-quenchery.
he might learn something regarding
the athletic ability OF the little cham
pion of former days which would be
far from COMFORTING with the descrip-
ton of poor old man" It's a fake,
pure and simple
Those Of us in Detroit who still have