Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-28
Teller Is Victim
Rookie and
York's Homer
GiebeII OuthurIs Ace
Of Tribe, Who Accept
Elimination Quietly
BY GAYLE TALBOT,

Associated Press Sports Writer.
CLEVELAND, Sept. 28-One OF
the most amazing triumphs In base
ball history was an accomplished
fact today.
The Detroit Tigers. whom nobody
gave hope of getting anywhere
last spring, had clinched the Amer
lean League flag and were only
playing out their string here before
meeting the Cincinnati Reds in the
World Series starting next We'd
nesday.
Perfectly in keeping with their
bizarre record for the season, the
Tigers won their deciding victory
yesterday behind a forid young
rookie named Floyd Giebell, who
shut out the local Indians. 2 to 0,
and who won't even be eligible to
pitch against Cincinnati.
Rudy York, who has played first
base regularly for the Tigers this
year only because Hank Greenberg,
the teams $40 .0OO-per-annum star.
consented to be shifted to the out
field. supplied the conclusive runs
of Bobby Teller with a towering
home run into the left field stands.
York's Homer Decisive.
Feller gave up only three hits,
and one of those was fluke double
by Greenberg which Roy Weatherly
of Cleveland lost in the sun. But
the great Bobby was licked. never
theless, by an unknown rookie, who
probably was the most surprised
individual in Ohio when Manager
Del Baker told him to get out there
and pitch.
The strange wind-up to the most
heated American League race In
recent years came as no surprise
either to the Detroit players or to
their owner. the wealthy Walter o.
Briggs. This aggregation Of vet
Grams apparently realized 1t was
star-struck some months ago, and
felt that nothing could deprive it Of
pennant.
I was in owner Briggs suite last
night when his players, one by one,
came up to see him and to offer
their congratulations. He has been
sick man for the last eight
months, and he was in a wheel
chair yesterday at the game. His
son, Spike" Briggs. said this was
what his father had been living
for, mostly.
One by one the players. led by
Greenberg, came in and sat down
solemnly and told him they were
happy to have won for him. Aside,
later, each OF them admitted that
at the seasons start they had no
idea Of winning the pennant.
Greenberg didn't know whether
he could play the outfeld. Dick
Barteu, the veteran shortstop,
didn't know whether his health
would hold out for the season. No
body would have bet a nickel that
Schoolboy Rowe would win five
games-much less 16. But they
went on, week after week, holding
together and developing a great
fighting spirit, and they say it was
the latter that made their victory
possible.
There's never been a club with a
finer fighting spirit" said Manager
Del Baker, who, incidentally, might
be classified as baseball's unknown
man. They did everything I
asked of them. What Giebell did
to the Indians was no more than the
others have done all the way"
Tiger Manager Gambled.
1t was tremendous gamble on
Bakers part-starting the boy who
had pitched only one game for the
Tigers since reporting from Buff
falo. The game was vital, and it
was logical to expect that Teller
would be at his brilliant best. But
the Tigers luck held to the last,
and Giebell turned in a veritable
masterpiece. He had Ben Chapman
mesmerized. in particular. whiting
the veteran slugger three times run
ming with teasing pitches, each time
with two runners on base.
The Cleveland players took their
elimination quietly. There was no
sign Of the blow-off that had been
half expected between Manager
Oscar Witt and the players who
rebelled on him in midseason. 1t
might possibly come yet, but
probably not. The realization Of
what their internal squabble cost
appears to have stunned them.
II don't know whether Ill stay
for the World Series" said Witt.
II might 60 on home. It's been a
hard year."