davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
Sport Notes

Roger Cont, European and French 1S2 balk line champion will leave for the United States within n few weeks and will enter the worlds champion ship tournament to be held here Feb ruary g, adyices from Paris say. T
 Tiger Flowers, Atlanta negro middle weight, is expected this week to begin training ill Brooklyn for his metropoli- tan debut when he fights Joe Lohman of Toledo New Years afternoon.
 Steve O'Neill, veteran catcher, who has become assistant to Waffle Schang of the Yankees after service with Cleveland and Boston and was at the height of his career in 1920 when Cleve- land conquered Brooklyn in the world series. In a discussion of catchers re- gently a former major league manager. who handled an eastern team during the 1920 season, declared that O'Neill was what is known in inside baseball as q photographer"
 Anybody could tell what was go- ing to happen in game by watching O'Neill's right foot" said this man. Nevertheless, Cleveland won the Ameri- can league pennant and the world title and O'Neill caught the bulk of the con tests,
 The veterans still reign in the major leagues. At the top of the American league averages are the names of Herb Pennock, Hugh McQuillian, Grover Alexander and Carl Mays are among the leaders in the National. Now come the Eastern league figures, with the story that Gary Fortune and Fleet Mayberry of the Springfield team out | did the youngsters in their department Both have been pitching for years and Fortune has been with the Boston Red Sox and International league teams.
 Left-handers carried off the batting honors Tn the Eastern with such per formers as Lou GehIig of the Yankees, then playing with Hartford and Jack Rcser and Wade Lefler of the Wor- cester club hitting high up in the 300 circle. Lefler reached the Washing ton Senators in time to insert welcome hits in Stanley Harris chase for the pennant.
 Paavo Nurmi's figure will always be remembered by first prize winners in | the annual Irdck duu L1clu COulpclAtlOA of the Finnish-American Athletic club in Madison Square Garden January 6, for the officials of the club have ar- ranged to award medals showing the noted running marvel from Finland in action. The background has the shields of Finland and the United States sur rounded by laurels. Anticipating ex- ceptional performances, the committee also has arranged for special world record medal.
 Mickey Walker, worlds welterweight titleholder, has one of the rings most unusual opportunities when he fights Mike McTigue, light heavyweight king, in Newark on January z. Should Walker knocks out McTigue or win on foul, thus taking the 175-pound title he would be the first boxer to hold two crowns separated by another division in this case, the middleweight class. Few welterweights in history have gone so far out of their class for opponents, although in this case there is not so wide a division as appears on the sur face, since McTigue is closer to being
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
Clarke Griffith
 Says Washington
 Pulled Big Stunt

CHICAGO, Dec. 26.AClarke Grif-
 fifth, president of the Washing
 ton Americans, does not believe the public realized in full the feat of the Senators in winning the worlds baseball championship
 "Just think" he said at the base ball conference here, i've beat the worlds champion Yankees not only in the final standing in the league, but in the New YorkWashington series. Then we turned in and beat the Giants. In other words, we beat all of New York, with all of its vast facilities for obtaining ball players"
 Griffith favored rule forbidding a team from disposing of stars to teams of a higher standing than their own, or to teams which at the time are local contenders for the pennant.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
PENN CRDDERS
 HEAD WESTWARD
Minus Three Regulars, Team Leaves On Track 13

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 26.-The football squad of the University of Pennsylvania, B strong, left today for Berkeley, Cal, to pit it's undefeated east ern strategy against the Pacific coast tactics of the University of Califor- mia.
 Crippled by the loss of Fairchild and Craig, its two regular ends, and the dis ability of Joe Wilson, tackle, injured Tn practice recently, the team found itself leaving Broad street station of the Pennsylvania railroad on track Is. But that omen was disregarded when the strains of Hail, Pennsylvania" from the university band, and chorus of ex- hortations to "beat those Bears" sent the Red and Blue forth on its expedi- tion into the west.
 The train will pass through Johns town, Pa., where Fairchild stricken with appendicitis, lies awaiting an oper- ation to be performed. At Pittsburg, Clyde F1oro, a quarterback, who was injured on the eve of the Cornell game is expected to join the squad.
 More than a hundred followers ac- companied the team, the special train comprising Il cars. The baggage car is equipped with shower baths and gym nasium apparatus.
 The train is due to reach Berkeley on Tuesday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
Scoring To Be Big Problem
 For American Grid Coaches
Harold Drew, Panther Mentor, Left Friday Night
 To Attend Coaches Meeting

contest protected from head to foot, with thick pads on shoulders and el- bows. Injuries were numerous and deaths from football injuries came too often to suit the American sport-loving public.
 Then came the forward and the longer distance to make. with more downs in which to accomplish the task. Pads and guards were hurled to the side lines as speed became one of the neces- sary clements. The average line weight dropped about ten pounds, for where formerly the effort had been to obtain a "stOne wall' to hurl back the heaviest fullback, the coaches developed a group of charges to worry kickers and pasesrs. The game had opened up.
 Football Gains
 Football gained tremendous follow ing, with small universities placing light, but clever, passing teams in the field and soon the squads mounted into the thirites and the 'artists" took their place in the game. They were the ex- perts at drop-kicking, bunting and pass ing who were rushed into the contest when an opportunity for field goal or touchdown loomed. With the new open game, the fields were crowded and foot ball became financially profitable and able to care for the increasing number of participants.
 In the old days a touchdown meant five points, the following goal ,one. And the goal after touchdown had to be kicked from the angle of the field ID yards from the point where the ball went over the line unless it was punted out safely to some more advantageous position.
 Later it was decreed that the extra point must be made from a position 15 yards from and directly in front of the goal posts. This proved to be too easy and there were toemen who scored immense totals of consecutive goals Now any kind of play is permissible with the ball put in scrimmage five yards from and in front of the goal posts. A touchdown has come to count six points in order that the combina' tion of a field goal and safety may not equal the fruit of gruelling ad' vance. But the surprising score for a forfeited game still remains l to 0, al though in baseball. where run counts : only one, the forfeit figures are , to U
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
CHICAGO PILOTS
 THINK GOLF o. K.
Many Critics Say Game Will
 Not Hurt Baseball

CHICAGO, Dec. 26.-Golf for base ball players in training, drowned on by some major league team managers, meets with the approval of Eddie Col lins and Bill Killefer, pilots, respec- lively of the Chicago Americans and Nationals.
 They look upon the game merely as a recreation, which might be an aid to batting finish. In this they agree with Chester Horton, Chicago profes- sional, who says the only danger is that it might make the ball player so en- unused in his recreation as to jeopardize his value in his chosen profession.
 In golf and baseball the essentials of hitting the ball are the same-an easy stance and a good balance, according to Horton. He argues that the games are similar in that the player in each has the same objective - 10 hit a moving object on the diamond and a stationary object on the links.
 A systematic study of golf as a means to improve a batting average is advo- cated by "Chick" Evans, holder of numerous link championships.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
Blues Come From Behind
 To Beat Baylor In Opener
Fred Hahn And Leake Play Star Role In B. A. C.
 Victory, 35 To 26

Blues found their eyes for the loops with consistency which would not spell defeat. Fred Hahn and Norman Mandy led the scorers who tossed the Blues into the lead and victory.
 Armistead Leake and Freddie Hahn were probably the outstanding lumin- aries for the victorious Clubbers. Ieake was the best defensive man on the floor and brought the ball out consistently. while Fred Hahn's floor work as well as shooting ability was probably the chief reason for the E. A. c. victory. Norman Mandy and Firpo Ferguson were not far behind this pair of bas- keteers. Mandy scored in good fashion while Firpo not only worked in fine style on the defense, but broke under the basket in better form than any man on the floor. Ferguson scored z points.
 Tommy Anderson played good game on the floor, although off in shooting, while Hub Hahn and Ollie Hilburn worked well when they entered the fray. Hub was good for four points.
 Jones was the big star for Baylor, and his departure from the game in the second half on personal fouls made the comeback of the Clubbers far easier. He hit the loops from the middle of floor in brilliant fashion, while his running mate at guard, Sisco, worked the floor well. Chambless and Meers turned in good exhibition for the losers.
 The summary and lineups:
 Birmingham Athletic club (35)-- Anderson (4) and N. Mandy (10), for wards F. Hahn (1OO, center; Ferguson | CD and Leake, guards.
 Baylor university (26)-Chambless l (5) and Strickland (5), forwards i; Meers (4, center; Jones CD and Sisco (4), guards.
 Substitutions-B. A. C.-H. Hahn (4) for Anderson, Hilburn for Mandy, Duke for Ferguson, Mouat for F. Hahn.
 Baylor-Melear for Jones, Oren for Sisco, Creasey CD for Oren.
 Referee, Drew (Bates), Scorer Holder (Alabama), Timekeeper Leighton (B. | A. C)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
CONTI SAYS HE
 MUST WIN TITLE
Star Appreciates Great Ability
 Of Willie HOppe

PARIS, Dec. 26.-Roger Cont, French billiard star. after reading dis patches from New York, reporting that Willie Hoppe had said he would give him the worlds title as a Christmas gift" because of the formers record breaking performance last Wednesday when he ran AT in the 1S.2 champion ship tournament declared:
 q am deeply touched at the generos- ity of my eminent rival and friend, Hoppe. In the course of three world championships in which have partici- pated in the United States, I have learned to appreciate the wonderful playing which has made him universally recognized as the worlds champion bill liardist. However, if some day l am to become champion of the world, must win the championship with a cue and not through a Christmas gift"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27

Trailing by points as the halfway mark was reached, the Blues of the Birmingham Athletic club arose to the occasion in the opening cage classic of the season Friday night and grad ually forced their way to the front finally trouncing the Baylor Bears 50 to 26.
 The Texans flashed passing and shooting attack in the initial period of play with the Clubbers looking on. Jones and Sisco led the attack which put the Bears well in the lead, with the passing of the B. A. c. quintet sadly off form.
 Then the Blues came back fighting as the second half got under way, and the going was rough in the first few minutes of play. With both quintets battling for each opening and with the Blues one point behind, Freddie Hahn turned the trick. Fred broke for the has set as he received pass, and as he pivoted around a guard and looped a basekt, he was fouled. The goal counted, and then Freddie added couple of extra points, placing the Clubbers in front, and they were never headed.
 Blues Pull Away
 Fred and Hub Hahn, Mandy and Ferguson added to the advantage Ob- tained, as Jones and Sisco went out of the game on fouls until the Blues had placed the game safe. Chambless made late attempt to bring the Bears back in the running with two great baskets from the field, but his belated effort received very little support.
 The Bears showed great passing combination which had several excel- lent shots in the quint and their open ing play was of the sensational sort. Jones and Sisco, two great guards who worked together in the fashion, carried the ball down the floor and shot when the occasion demanded. And when they shot. the ball always hit the rims and was Hopping through the netting con- sistently in the initial half.
 A better defense stopped the Bears in the second end of melee, while the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
CONTROL ASSET
 OF THE ATHLETE

CHICAGO, Dec. 26.-One of the greatest assets of the athlete from psychological point of view IS his "abl- lity to exert his maximum energy at will" President Walter Dill Scott Of Northwestern university said tonight in making public his conclusions following several years of experiments with col lege athletes.
 He lists four essentials for success full competition in football. Three of these, speed, strength and brains, ha said, are recognized by all, but the -control-which is the one he has decided is most vital. By control he said he means the athletes ability to throw 100 per cent of his energy into contest at will. This ability he said is possessed only by athletes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
Greatest Play IEver Saw
By BILL WAMBSGANSS ,ryv World Series Triple Play Here

Hike George Burns, who was my taammate in Cleveland, think that the really great plays of baseball are made in the minds of the managers rather than With>-the arms and legs or the players. .u
 I,et me illustrate. And this illustra' t;ons is only one of many such, even though it is named as the greatest play
 Cleveland was playing Chicago, and Ray Schalk was catching for the lat tor Runners were on first and third Schalk signaled to the moundsman for a cnrve. Speaker saw that signal flashed. and ordered a delay double steal Gleason caught that signal the White Sox switched positions ana Schalk signaled for a pitch-out.
 The nitch-oat signal was caught DJ Uhle, who was coaching, and Speaker signaled for change. The result was that the runners held their bases, and the pitcher wasted a ball.
 Schalk signed again, the ntielo changed, and Speaker ordered the de, layed steal. Ray was warned, ana ordered another pitch-out, but no sooner had he flashed that signal ana Sneaker had ordered another wait than Schalk, thinking to outguess Tris' or dered a fast ball.
 But. as Schalk changed his signals Sneaker guessing that he would do ex actly that, signaled for the hit-and run with the result that a hit whipped through the infield, winning the game.
 There is a complication of reasoning that deserves to be listed with the great mechanical efforts of men in any posi- tion.
 Don't you think so?
 (Copyright, 1924, by Public Ledger Company).
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
EPWORTH LOOP
 OPENS SEASON First Games Scheduled Saturday At First
 Methodist

The Epworth league practice mas been underway for the past two months with a number of scrimmages and hard workouts. The first games are to be played at the First Methodist church to- night at z o'clock. The public is cordi- ally invited to attend these games, as there will be no admission charged.
 The West Woodlawn team has with drawn from the schedule because they were unable to put a first-class team on the floor. The Norwood quint will take West Woodlawn's place in the schedule.
 The games for tonight are as fol lows: Norwood vs. Inglenook; Wesley vs. 'Voodlawn; Fairview vs. Twenty first Avenue; Sixty-seventh Street vs' Acipco: Shadyside vs. Owenton (post- poned).
 The games will be played in this order also. The referees for the Ep- worth league games will be Ben Ingle- bert from Birmingham-Southern col lege and Leighton Trent, athletic di- rector at Acipco. Mir. Trent is out of town this week and Joe Lother will take his place.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
ROEBUCK GOLF
 WILL CONTINUE
Club House Only Partially De
 -stroyed By Fire

Although the club house was parti- ally destroyed, there is nothing to pre-, vent the use of the links for golfers of the Roebuck Country club during the holiday season. accordinge to, a state ment of s. l.. Yerkes, president of the club. Mir. Yerkes has sent ou letter to the club members, telling them of the damage to the club house and informing them that their golf playing can cer- tainly continue.
 The ball room and ladies' locker rooms were not destroyed in the fire, Mir. Yerkes stated, and this portion of the building will be made use of for the usual meal service, etc. Restoration of the damaged portion of the club house will be started at an early date, the president said.
 Many golf clubs and other parapher- nalia were destroyed in the fire, as well as a number of valuable golf trophies among which was the beautiful "Olym- pic" cup, trophy of the Western Golfers association, won last year by 8 team representing the south. It was brought to Roebuck by Ike Osbun, one of the members of the team winning the cup, to remain here until the 1925 tournament.
 MT. Yerkes, in speaking of the con tinuance of golf, had this to say:
 'The ladies' locker room was not damaged at all and the ballroom is il good shape. We have had these two parts of the building cleaned and put into good shape. The members are in vited to come out and play golf and wt assure them of meal service during the holidays.
 I've estimate the loss to the building at somewhere around $25,000, which is covered by insurance. As soon as the insurance adjusters can work out their estimates of the loss and settle with the club, we will commence rebuilding of the burned portion"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
By HI. e. SALSINGER

By H. c. SALSINGER NJO player ever had more trials and tribulations in trying to break into
 the major leagues than Ty Cobb. He Was harassed on all sides. Veterans of the rough and tumble school, the kind that he went up against. He was sensitive, hot-tempered, sharp-tongued 1; he was the type of player that invited "riding" and the boys were accommodate ing-they "rode" Cobb. They would steal his shoes and part of his uniform. They even made kindling wood out of his pet bats. They would lock him out of the clubhouse after game so that he could not get in to take a shower. When he did get in they made him stand aside and wait until all had their baths.
 They had not won any pennants when he joined them and they did not threaten to win any. They were just a ball team playing out the schedule after July 4, with no place to go, as they say in baseball. They helped fill out the league muster.
 Jennings Tho Diplomat
 The third season that Cobb was with the team Hughie Jennnigs was manager. And Jennings found the type of players that he desired, the fighting, bard-boiled variety of scrapping ball players. They had the stuff in them and it took man with the diplomacy and leadership of Jennings to mould them into machine. Instead of being nine units, each bound in a different direction, they became a whole with one purpose.
 Cobb led this fighting attack. Behind his fine exhibition of competitive spirit inc others fell in and fought on. The men that had been his chief tormentors 1; the very players that had tried to close the door to him and break him, became the beneficiaries of the skill they could not smother and the spirit they could not dampen.
 Cobb has forgiven them for their at titude and many tipes after they passed he longed for them.
 If we only had some of the old gang here now" he has often unused. "If we only had a Germany Schaefer, Claud Rossman, a Charley OLcary, a Matty Mcintyre and Davey Jones-what I'd give to have them on this team now. Yes, and a Charlie Schmidt and Bill Donovan. And a George Mullin.
 ''They Had The Stuff."
 "Those were the boys, let me tell you. They were the boys that had the stuff. You don't see it any more. They
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27

middleweight than light heavyweight. Joe Walcott. the famous "Barbados Demon" and welterweight champion q score of years ago, once went out of his class to fight Joe Choynsli, the heavy weight who fought Jim Jeffries to 2O- round draw. s,ysS..p.
 The indoor mile running record of 4 if 3-5, made by Joie Ray at Chicago in 1919, will be under heavy attack when Surmi makes his American de- but in special mile race against a picked field at the Finnish-American games. Ray himself will be on hand to uphold his laurels, while Willie Ritola, F'innish-Ameriean star and Lloyd Hahn are other outstanding entrants. Nurmi holds the outdoor record of 40 2-5.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
SPORT lS|
 
Detroit Manager Often
 Longs For The Old Days
Cobb Says His Old Teammates Were The Great
 est Fighters Game Has Known

don't seem to be turning out their type these days. They were the follows
 that had the old fgiht. They had the dash and the ginge. They were game, those boys. Imagine that crew laying down the way these fellows do! Im- agine what they would do. Come on, at 'em and tear 'em up,' is what they used to yell and that's just what they did. They battled everybody. You couldn't beat them because they wouldn't let you. They were rip-roar- ing and tearing lot Lord, If I could only get about slE players like those of the old days when we had . fighting team"
 The attitud that Cobb first en- countered winch he reported to the De- troit management had its beneficial re- suits. Cobb at that time made up his mind that if ever he got the oppor- tunity he would lend a helping hand to recruit. He would do all he could for them. He would see that other re- cruits did not undergo the same humil- iation, torture, embarrassment and mental agony that he did.
 Cobb kept his promise. He has al- ways befriended the recruit. Any time he got the opportunity he gave help- full advice to youngsters breaking into the big leagues, or trying to. He never failed to encourage them; is give them hints on batting, fielding; he told them how they could improve themselves. If They Took It
 Any recruit who took Cobb's advice and followed it sincerely, was certain to continue getting it, particularly if he showed any improvement.
 T am getting old," said Cobb few years ago. "I'm getting to that stage where it will soon be the bench for me. The old legs rand arms don't respond the way they Hsed to. We all reach that stage sooner ok later. I'm near it now.
 T used to gst great deal of pleasure out of doing things myself. Now get my pleasure out of getting others to do them. There is3more satisfaction, I find, in seeing a recruit develop under the advice and training you give him than in accomplishing something yourself. At least I'm getting more pleasure out of it than I used to get out of my batting and base-running and fielding. Doing things through others holds a far richer | reward"
 There is one thing at which Cobb draws the line and that is having a recruit dispute him. As soon as one of his pupils questions his opinion on any, thing concerning baseball Cobb immedi- ately resigns as instructor. His word and his opinion must be final and be- yond question br argument as far as the
 recruit is conterned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
HAWKINS WILL
 PLAY BASEBALL
Southern California Captain
 Signs With Browns

FULLERTON, Cal, Dec. 26.-John Hawkins, captain of the University of Southern California football team who yesterday closed his football career when he led the Trojans to a 20 to victory over the University of Missouri, at Los Angeles today announced he would sign a contract with the St. Louis American league baseball club. flaw kins, an infielder, at Southern Califor- mia, will report to the Browns for spring training in March, he said.