1925 Gehringer with the Leafs

In my continuing chronology of articles found in The Fowlerville Review during the years Charles Gehringer was playing for the Detroit Tigers (Tygers) and its farm team, the following article reports of some of his skill from a May, 1925, game.  He had gone to the Ontario Mints from the Detroit pro-team, and was now with the Leafs.

~~Chas. Gehringer Making Good

The many friends of Charley Gehringer will be interested in knowing that he is making a splendid success in the ball game as the following clippings from the press will show:

Rochester, N.Y., May 17 -- Winning two games from the trio today, 8 to 8 and 9 to 3, while the Jersey City Skeeters were dropping a couple to Reading, the Leafs went into second place in the International League pennant race.  Only three games separate the Leafs from the Orioles on top.  Perhaps the Tool circuit will have a race at last.

The games were featured by the hitting of Charlie Gehringer, the Leafs' youthful, able guardian of the Keystone sack.  In nine trips to the plate, the youngster got seven hits, including a triple and a home run.  He had six straight hits in the two games, singling in the ninth of the first, and nothing stopping him in the second.  His circuit clout was one of the longest inside the park here, coming with Thomas on base and was made off Gresett.  He got plenty of applause from the 8,000 fans who saw the contests.

A perfectly good ball game, likewise a nice new specimen of the Spalding sphere making industry, was knocked lopsided when Charlie Gehringer "homered" himself into the hero class along about the sixth session of the second set with the Skeeters.  Gehringer, who had previously provided the season's sensational stop when he sprinted astern of second to scoop a slush from Sheridan's stick that was steering straight for Gilhooley's sector, came up to bat with the sacks full, and Jim Roberts feeling likewise.  The score was knotted and there were two out. 

Gehringer didn't stand on ceremony, but picked out the first pitch that was to his liking and lined it to the far confines of the park.  It was a terrific slam, so hard hit that Gaudette, who turned with the crack of the bat and ran for the fence, almost got it on the rebound.  He fielded the ball home quickly with the assistance of Malone, but Gehringer was over the plate and on his way to the bench when the relay was completed.  Master Charlie himself never ran faster than the tongue-tied recruit from the London club.  By the same token, it is doubtful whether Ty Cobb, who some day will endorse the youngster's pay checks, ever connected in more solid fashion.  It was Gehringer's day to shine, and in that respect he had a decided edge on the atmospheric conditions which prevails most of the afternoon. 

Nice plays by Harrington and Heath illuminated the pastime, the latter grabbing a near-hit for the final out of the game, while the former got in front of several hard wallops. 

For more reading on the Leafs, click here.  There is a link toward the bottom of the wiki page for Charles Gehringer.