New-York tribune., 1921-10-01
921 National League Champions on
Yankees Spurn
Chance to Claim
League Pennant
Col. Huston Insists Team
Play Doublc-Header With
Athletics Here To-day
By W. ]. Macbeth

For several hours yesterday after
noon experts of the national froic
were hooked up in the most serious
debate that has confronted baseball
since Fred Merklc forgot to touch sec
ond base back in 1908. The problem,
pro and con, was whether or not the
Yankees had been rained into or out
of a pennant.
A number Of our leading experts,
including 81 Sanborn, the Chicago dean
and president of the Baseball Writers
Association of America, argued that the
Yankees had been rained in. Secretary
Hartridge, Of the American League,
took exactly the opposite view. His
big boss, Ban Johnson was out of town
(Chicago) and could not be located
Ed. Barrow, business manager of the
and that he might be able to start the
dlstributon of worlds series tickets
Immediately. The matter, put up to
Commissioner Lands, didn't even get a
rise out of that able executive He
said it was none of his busines ess-an
American League affair, if you please.
Johnson Missing in Crisis
And so there probably would have
been another big quarrel in organized
baseball if those in control of the
destinies of the Yankees had cared to
go to the mat on a bare technicalty.
Only, of course, because the president
of the American League could not be
found when most needed. A new rule,
gatory for the New York Americans
to honor Connie Mack's demand for
double-h ader here this afternoon.
But of that anon
Colonel "Til" Huston, half owner of
the Yankees, who had journered all the
way to the City of Brotherly Love and
VINO was very chagrined multi-ml-
llonaire when he arrived just in time
t, see deluge wipe out the occasion
of fitting celebration, settled the mat
ter IN jig time when he returned to his
office at 226 West Forty Street
last evening at o'clock. Huston had
no nkling of this niger in the wood
pile till he consulted his business
manager.
"Play Connie Mack a double header
tomorrow" thundered the modern
Leonides of the 10Th Engineers,
II should say we would! If the
three remaining with tail-end clubs
then they do not deserve to win. | do
not propose to be rained into any pen
nant. Sooner than that l would lose.
Well play the double header and win
Oh our merits or not at all"
The battling colonel returned from
Philadelphia on the O'Clock express
which bore in the Yankee players, and
every individual of the collection sub
scribed to his sentiments. Not a man
on the team but believed the prospec-
tive champions could take Connie
Mack's outfit over the hurdles twice
this afternoon if necessary. The spirit
OF the Yankees now is wonderful, The
return to form of Bob Shawkey has
worked miracle in team spirit.
Ruth Out in Uniform
Every member of the club appreci-
ates the value of Babe Ruth to team
success. They won without Ruth on
Thursday. They figured this the
cruclnl came OF the year. And ycster-
day Ruth was on hand and in uniform.
he was reaoy to play. The battling
Namhino looked just bit peeked from
his recent illness. But his weak ankle
has Responded Wonderfully to a couple
of days rest and his teammates be-
lievc he will be at his best in the Titan
tilt against the Giants.
Colonel Huston's first order upon his
return from Philadelphia was to adver-
tise double header for this afternoon
the first game to be called at l o'clock
He issued the order before he had
heard from Judge Landis, Hartridge o1
Johnson.
The New York club, by the way, was
primarily responsible for the new
American rule which cheated New
York out of the opportunity to cinch
a pennant had those in control placed
mercenary profit above sportsmanship
The new rule was passed in the winter
Of 1919 at the behest of the Yankees
end Gf you are narrow gauge enough
to figure it that way) returns now as
c petard to hoist them.
On that occasion, after close race
New York and Detroit came down tc
the wire neck and neck in a struggle
for third position money. New York
owed game in Boston, and Boston
was about to play It's final contest In
New York. An aoneal was made tina,