The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-09
PIRATES SETTING
 TERRIFIC PACE IN
 NATIONAL LEAGUE
Tigers and Indians Have Luck With YoungSters-Ruth
 Gets Started
By JOHN R. FOSTER

New York, May S.-Keen perception and quickedecision are winning series after another in the western section or tho National league for Pittsburg. Gib- son, Pirate manager, outguesses and outmaneuvers all of his rivals. The result is runaway for Pittsburg on the eve of the teams departure for the east. Years have elapsed since the once champions of the National league and by the way they were champions when | Gibson fought for them, have flattened u( their western rivals as they have this ! year. Pittsburg is beginning to talk of sending in orders for the worlds series, but there's long and dusty road to be travelled before october.
 The aeroplane speed of the Pirates has the Giants and the Brooklyns on their toes, craning their necks to sec if their rivals never are going to land. When pause to think for a second or so that Pittsburg has lost only three games in the IS, you can see what terrific pace which is being set for any other teams that aspire to be con- tenders. Robinson of the Brooklyns says that Pittsburg's rush can't last. It would be too much to expect that it would, but nevertheless, the rival Sast- ern managers shake their heads every time they look at a Pittsburg ninth inning and see the Pirates have won another.
 Detroit has come through so effec- lively that it is menacing Cleveland along with Washington. Except for the failure of the Yankees to act the rart of the steam roller, the crashing fight of the Detroits is the big talk ot 1lo1 opI tl,o aFF upset of the old dope proposition in 1921. Lots of fans and critics gave Tvs outfit chance to vie with Chica- go in the also ran class. No matter what else may have helped Detroit to ss come through, it is positive that Cobb is getting work out of his veterans which Jennings failed to get last year. Though the Detroit youngsters have helped, and especially the pitchers when you cast your eyes over the mainder of the team it is quickly seen that the reliable young Veach, Heal mann and Bush, as old as Donnie is are among those which count most in every game.
 RUTH GETS BUSY
 Babe Ruths seventh home run made in Washington gives one in every city of the eastern circuit for the present season, and it's pretty safe to say that he will duplicate in every city perhaps with the exception of Washington, be- fore he is finished He has his trou- bles in Washington because the capa- cious home of the Senators permits the outfielders to camp in the suburbs They lay for his long drives out there and snag them.
 While Cleveland and Detroit have had some luck with their young play CTS, the team that needed it most of all-the Chicago Americans-seems to have fallen shy. It is the inability of the kids to come through which has gradually dropped the Sox down the laGder to the bottom. As optomistic and hopeful as Kid Gleason is, he has sent the distress call out for better material. The other clubs of the American league can't get Gleason to waive on ball players. They will have to run his refusal every time that they try1to place their men with the minors and how can you blame him? Chicago isr't accustomed to be looking out of the cellar window in the American league circuit Guisto, Cleveland Kid first baseman, would be taken by the Sox if they could get him.
 BUNTS AND SINGLES
 Events shape themselves in odd ways. Ban Johnson would not have been president of the Western league had it not been for a<ball player vote Had Johnson lost out in that effort, he might never have been president of the American league. The player who gave him the deciding vote was Larry Twichel1 then manager of the Mil- waukee club. Twitchell once had been member of the Cleveland National league club and was prominent in the councils of the brotherhood which threatened, and did try to knock down organized baseball. He is now direc- tor in a congregational church in Cleveland and had time enough to say recently that Ty Cobb is the ball play e. paramount. He calls attention to the fact that Johnson owes lot to the players in the ranks.
 Detroit asked for waivers on Hale. That kid made pretty record pinch hitting last year. The White Sox wanted him. and put in claim. Down came the waiver, Detroit wanted to X put him in with a minor league but can't do it with Chicago in the lists for players.
 When pitcher is called lucky by ball players, it is a fair sign that he lis good pitcher. Often they called Matty lucky.
 Sewell no longer puts on the gloves every time that ground hit comes his way. At least he does not don them If he thinks. When first breaking in last year, and in the world series, he gave the ball a wrestling match al- most every time that it came near him. For kid. he steadied quickly in fast company.
 First basemen are going big on as- sists this year. Ed Konetchy says the first basemen have to work just like shortstops."
 As 2 hitter, Cullop of the St. Louis Browns would make a good director of the opera. He knows how to waive a stick. Lee Fohl says that what ails the Browns, they wave but never swat. ], BETTER KEEP OUT OF THIS GUYS CELLAR
 San Francisco, May S.-Louis H. Ardouin of the Olympic club. who re- gently was runner-up in the amateur heavyweight championship of the Pa cific coast, early today killed with his baro hands man found raffling a