The Washington herald., 1907-10-06
TY COBB IS A MARVEL
Youngsters Work Has Been
Big Factor for Detroit.
LEADS AT BAT AND ON BASES
Half a Hundred Thousand Dollars
Would Hardly Tempt the Tigers
Great Player Who Cost the Club
S75O-Does Not Like Cross Fire.

Tyrus Raymond Cobb. the baseball sen
sation of the season, will not be twenty
one until December Is
His remarkable all-round ball playing
for the Detroit club has Kept the Tigers
in the race Tor the American League
championship, and all baseball experts
agree that he Is no doubt the find of the
/ season. They are also unanimous IN the
/ opinion that he is one OF the greatest
I ball players that ever donncd "a uniform
says Tim Murnane. IN the Boston Globe.
/ Cobb is the leading batsman of the
American League, as well as one Of the
/ foremost outhelders, run-gctters, and
base runners. Six feet in height and bal
anclng the scales at l72 pounds, he looks
the ideal athlete and gives promise Of
some time being ranked with the immor-
tails OF the profession.
of the field Cobb is as unassu1niug rs
a modest maiden from the rural districts.
a striking contrast to his demcanoT on
the ball field, where he is a most alert
bundle Of nerves and compelling aggres-
siveness. off Ike a spark from a trolley
wire AZ the least opening. and displaying
ready wit 10 take advantage Of every
opportunity TO win.
Found by Armour.
Cobb was playing With the Augusta
club Of the South Atlantic League In 800
when Manager William Armour realized
that the youngster was a conner. although
he had not reached his eighteenth birth
day. Armour agreed to purchase his re-
lease for $3.50, but the Detroit club refused
TO permit the deal. and Armour having
faith In his man. paid the money out Of
his own pocket. Subsequently he con-
WINGED the Detroit owners that the
youngster was worth the money
Cobb remained with Detroit last Year
as an extra man until late in the sea
son, when he was tried out on the regu-
lar team and became d batting sensation.
His aggreSsiveness was not to the likins
OF one member Of the club, and il was
thought that the young man would be
traded. but Hugh Jennings was TOO good
a judge of talent 90 allow him 20 90.
lie soon had him playing the game Of his
life, game fully JAS strong as anything
in the TWO big leagues. The fans were
amazed, and everywhere there was a de-
sire TO get a look at him.
Il never mind how the crowd acts
toward me. but / always save the pleas
ant things / find in the newspapers,
and ! am very much obliged TO you for
the nice things / have read about my
self from your pen"
This quotation is a repetition OF what
Cobb said at his first meeting with the
writer at the Copley Square Hotel last
Thursday, and IL was pleasing % one
who has written about baseball for the
last twenty years 10 realize that some
few at least appreciate a word OF praise.
even when praise is well deserved.
VIII stay in Game.
I found the great young player willing
10 talk baseball. and the part he has
taken in il. and very keen and anxious
10 pick up an the fine points. learned
that he had finished two years al a
prep school at Stone Mountain Park.
and was about 10 enter college when
his father died. upsettlng his plans The
elder Cobb was State senator from the
ThiTty-first Georgia district. and a man
Of considerable influence in that part
Nt+~ NfeAAAh- NAAaA AtUV ElnNtl NdIl
as a boy on the open lots OF his native
village, and soon Won place on the
prep school team as an outfelder. He
was not long in securing a place with
the Augusta team. and speaking Of that
event in his career he said:
II I had not made the big League
after a year or two, I would have taken
up some other profession. but now
Intend TO remain in baseball iust as
long as the salary is good.
/ asked Cobb If there were any Mitch
ers that he couldn't hit to his satisfac-
ton.
Well. yes" he replied. but I don't
ike those pitchers who sidestep. For
example, Dr. White, of the Chicago club.
has got me on his staff I hope. how
ever, that in time I viii get a better
line on all the league pitchers. and there
by improve my batting
l nave never tried 10 COPY anyone
at the bat, simply doing what is per
tectly natural. I believe a batsman
should assume a natural poise at thu
plate. and try to never give away just
what he has in mind. as the fielders are
likely to get a line on him and stop
many a good drive.
i try to gauge the different batsmen
OF the league, and keep in mind the way
they hit different pitchers, and 7 can
readily appreciate the benefit to be de-
rived from the advice Of a man like Mr.
Jennings. whom consider to be one of
the leading experts Of the game. and a
fine fellow TO work for"
A Wise Suggestion.
To show that Cobb is always In the
playing, Manager Jennings told Of
little incident that occurred during the
second game with Boston. 1t was In the
tenth inning. and Detroit was one run TO
the good. Parent was on third with two
down, and Unglaub at the bat. Unglaub
Is a dangerous man In an emergency. /
and has a record for hitting ieft-hand |
pitchers. Some OF the Detroit players /
advised passing Bob. and taking a |
chance with Hobe Ferris. Cobb con-
tended that by passing Unglaub. Ferris 4
would have a show to win the game /
with long drive, that no one knows /
where to play when Ferris is at the bat,
and no pitcher is yet wise 20 the way of /
how TO work the Boston second base
man Cobb further insisted that should 4
Jngiaub hit safe. it would only tie the
score, and that Il was better ball to
AXE chances on both men than to put IL
I'D to Ferris
The play was executed along the lines
suggested by Cobb, and after the game
Jennings complimented him for his acu-
nen and good judgment. Cobb is a stu
lent of the game. a phenomenal player.
md could not be purchased from the De-
roit club for an even $4,000. He has
practically made a champion team out of
second-rater, and the Detroit club viii
,e a big money-winner with his help in
tead of a constant financial failure.