the baseball. The unusual movement on Stoner's breaking ball has been attributed to an injury sustained when he was a toddler. The index finger on his throwing hand was severed in a wood-chopping accident and left "hanging by a piece of flesh." The doctor bandaged the finger which reattached itself, but crookedly, a deformity that was credited with allowing Stoner to throw the ball with unusual movement. Detroit Tigers (1922) In 1922, Stoner joined the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut in a losing effort against the Cleveland Indians on April 15, 1922. He won his first game on April 21, 1922, by a 15–6 score against the Indians. His ERA climbed to 7.04, and he was demoted to the Birmingham Barons where he finished the season. Fort Worth Panthers Stoner remained in the minors in 1923, playing for the Fort Worth Panthers. He appeared in 48 games for the Panthers and led the team to the Texas League pennant with a career-high 27 wins, a.711 winning percentage, and a 2.65 ERA. He also pitched three post-season games, including two as the winning pitcher, to help the Panthers win the 1923 Dixie Series championship. Detroit Tigers (1923–1929) In October 1923, Stoner was reacquired by the Tigers. During the 1924 season, he appeared in 36 games for the Tigers and compiled an 11–10 record and a 4.72 ERA. He also had his best major league season totals in games started (25), innings pitched (215-2/3), and strikeouts (66). He also hit two home runs during the 1924 season – the only two of his career. In 1925, Stoner appeared in 34 games for Detroit, 18 as a starter, and compiled a 10–9 record and 4.26 ERA. It was his second consecutive and final major league season with a winning record. As a batter, he had the best season of his career with a .291 batting average, six doubles, a triple, and 10 runs scored in only 55 at bats. Stoner continued with the Tigers in 1926, appearing in 32 games, 22 as a starter, and compiling a 7–10 record with a 5.47 ERA and 57 strikeouts. His 3.213 strikeouts per nine innings pitched ranked in the top ten in the American League, and his perfect fielding percentage of 1.000 ranked first among the league's pitchers. On June 28, 1926, Stoner gave up a massive home run by Babe Ruth. The