Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-08
PROVES
WINNERS ARE BUILT
WITHOUT HUGE COST
Tigers Outplaying S40O, 600
Aggregation Purchased
by Yankees.

New York. July Joe Villa says
that when the reconstructed Detroit
Tigers won four straight games from
ton was called to the interesting fact
that Tyrus Raymond Cobb didn't have
a single star who had been purchased
from a rival American League club.
The owners of the Yankees are said to
have paid more than 100000 for the
releases Of Ruth, Mays, Scott, Bush,
Jones, Hoyt, Schang, Baker, Pipp and
Witt, yet the Tigers now are playing
far beyond the skill and speed of the
expensive Hugmen.
Succeeding Hugh Jennings a year
ago last fall, Cobb first engaged Dan
Howley to act as coach, a wise move,
considering the valuable assistance that
Howley has rendered. Cobb then OBJ
tanned Lu Blue, who has developed into
one of the best first basemen in
Johnny Bassler. already a star coming
out of the Pacific Coast league, made a
fine impression.
Leonard Asked Too Much
Ainsmith, Young, Bush and Shorten
of the Tigers old guard were released
and Dutch" Leonard was allowed to
remain idle when he demanded a S15,-
600 salary. Cobb dug up Shortstop
Rigney in Texas and discovered Oleson,
the former Cornell boxman, together
the Yankees. He also recommended
the purchase of Pitchers Pillette and
johnson. for whom $4,000 was paid to
the Portland club of the Coast league,
and he engaged the veteran Cutshaw,
turned adrift by the Pirates.
Retaining Heilman, Veach. Flag
stead, Jones. Ehmke. Dauss and Old
ham. all veterans. Cobb has put to-
gether the strongest team that has
represented Detroit in the American
league since the Tigers won the pen
nant in 1907. 1908 and 1909. Before
the season opened. Tyrus Raymond
predicted that his new machine
wouldn't finish lower than sixth. so
that the remarkable winning perform
ances of the Tigers have surprised
not only Detroit fans, but also the en-
tire baseball world. at the same time
developed without buying stars from
greedy club owners Much Of the
credit for the Tigers success belongs
to Coach Howley. His novel methods
of sharpening the eyes of the Detroit
batsmen have made them feared by all
of the enemy pitchers.
Prior to May 90. when Ruth and
Meusel were reinstated by Commission
er Lands, the Yankees had won %
out of 80 games for a percentage of
.667. Since the return of Babe and
Bob. the Yankees have won only y out
of % games. which would seem 20 in
dictate that the famous home run wal
lopers haven't helped the Hugmen to
any great extent. Meusel is outbattins
Ruth by a wide margin. but he has
repeatedly fallen down with men on
bases.
Various reasons for Ruth's terrific
drop in the batting averages are set
forth. 1t is said he is lot in good
physical condition. that he is worrying
over matters foreign to baseball-may-
be bets on the races-that the opposing
pitchers no longer fear him and are
working him with slow balls and low
curves.
It's barely possible that Ruth has
lost his nerve as a result of the pan
! ming he received when he climbed into
the %grandstand ut the Polo Grounds
in search of a ~tormentor. At any rate,
! Ruth has ceased to dominate baseball.