Well, it wasn’t exactly the Detroit Tigers that took such a licking.
The Detroit team was on strike that day in support of teammate Ty Cobb, who had been suspended for assaulting a fan. So as not to forfeit a payday, Tigers management fielded a team of locals, including several ballplayers from St. Joseph’s College.
Other “Tigers” were just volunteers sitting in the stands. The make-believe Tigers got to wear real uniforms and were paid for the day.!