Evening star., 1950-08-16
0utfie|der
Always al Best
Against Tribe
Was Recommended by
Bob FeIIer in 1916;
Lemon Latest Victim
By Joe ReichIer
Associated Press Sports Writer

A difference of $4,000 once kept
Johnny Groth from wearing
Cleveland uniform. The Indians
would pay that sum many times
over now just to get him out of
their hair.
Since joining the Tigers two
years ago, Groth has made
career out of betting Cleveland
pitching. If the Tigers beat the
Indians to the wire it can be
traced directly to Groth's batting
feats.
1t wasn't Groth's fault that the
Tigers could get no better than
an even break in their two games
with the Tribe. He slammed a
home run in each game.
Unfortunately, only one came
with the bases loaded. That was
yesterdays. The Tigers didn't
need any more to defeat Bob
Lemon and the Indians, Al.
Groth's homer Monday night
came with one on. Since it hap.
pened in the ninth to overcome
a 10 deficit, that blow appeared
sufficient. The Indians, however,
came back with single runs in the
the ninth and tenth to win that
one.
Recommended by Feller.
Since the Western rivals must
face each other seven more times
this season, the Indians may have
more reminders of their blunder
Of 1916.
Bob Feller. a teammate of
Groth's at Great Lakes during
the war, had brought Johnny back
with him for a tryout. Feller
swore by the then 19-year-old
Chicago boy.
Just as he was about to sign,
his father reminded the boy he
had previously promised the Tigers
a chance to match any offer.
The Tigers offered $4,000
Cleveland would go no higher
than $25,000, so Groth signed
with Detroit. Two years of prep
ping in the minors and Johnny
was ready for the big time. The
Indians have regretted their &C
ton many times since.
Groth'S grand-slammer yester-
day came in the first inning. A
two-out error by AL Rosen on
George Kell1 grounder paved the
way for the game-winning smash.
A single by Vic Wertz and walk
to Hoot Evers preceded the homer.
That was all Art Houtteman
needed to gain his 18th victory.
Houtteman faltered in the seventh
when he walked the first two bat
ters to face him. Marlin Stuart
took over then. After filing the
bases on another pass, he famed
Larry Dolby and forced Luke Eas-
ter to hit into a double play.
One of the games highlights
was a triple play in the fifth
inning, started by Bob Kennedy,
strong armed rightflelder for the
Indians. He took Kells short
liner off his shoetops and threw
to Shortstop Ray Boone, who
doubled Jerry Priddy off second.
The relay to First Baseman Easter
got Don Holloway.
Detroit's victory opened up a
31a-game spread between the
Tigers and their pursuers. The
Yankees split a doubleheader in
Washington to move two percent
age points in front of Cleveland.
The Red Sox moved within
seven games of the top, taking
two from the Athletics, 80, ga.
PhillieS Boost Lead.
The Phillies increased their Ma
tional League lead over Boston to
six games. defeating the Braves,
9-1. Brooklyn climbed to within
three percentage points of Boston
with a 10 triumph over the
Giants. The Cubs tailed twice
in the eighth inning to dump the
Cardinals, 80. Pittsburgh rallied
for six runs in the ninth to match
Cincinnati'S total in the top of
(See INDIANS, Page C-3.)