The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1908-12-10
COBB TRAINING FOR
WAGNER'S crown
GEORGIAN IS TRAINING IN SOUTH
4 TO BECOME FAMILIAR AND Ex-
PERT AT ALL or POSITIONS ON
THE DIAMoND-TWIRLs occA-
sIoNALLY. .a 8. ... - a.

Ty Cobb Ia hot after the only base
ball distinction to which he has not
yet demonstrated his right to claim
the crown of being the king OF all
the baseball players. regardless of po-
sition. ~...... .,.
This is the only light in which Ty's
letters to his friends can be viewed.
backed up by his otherwise inexplica-
able essays in the field of winter
baseball In the south, comments Paul
Bruske in The Detroit Times.
Ty is now considered the heetest-
footed man playing baseball. Bearing
In mind the fact that his career has
but begun, he has a right to expect
that his batting record will compare
favorably with anything in history. He
Is commonly accorded the palm when
1t comes to play in the outfield. Sole
ly In versatility and ability to play
other positions than the one which he
has occupied in the Detroit outfield
ever since his big league service began
Is he unquestioned second to the
great Hans Wagner OF the Pirates,
who, while playing shortstop, has,
shown himself amply able to handle
to eyeryone's perfect satisfaction any
position in either outfield or infleld,
as well as being able to do a right able
turn in the box when 1t is necessary.
+ The average baseball- player would
be content to secure and retain such
distinctions as have fallen to Cobb's
lot, but not the Georgia Peach. Sec
ond place in anything is always irk-
some to him. He is one of the few
professional baseball players who play
more for the fun and the glory than
they do for the dollars they receive in
their semi monthly envelopes. 1t is
the ability of Wagner to play any po-
sition with equal facility that has
caused the baseball world to turn over
to him the big crown and that crown
is obviously the one on which Tyrus
has his eye right now, 49,
The public is familiar with the fact
that Cobb employs every possible
opportunity to practice at odd times
in other positions than the one which
he regularly occupies. Especially has
he been giving attention to irst and
second base and theapitching depart
ment. In the hot weather when the
practice before the daily game was cut
short by Manager H4ghie Jennings,
Cobb and a couple OF Substitutes would
Invariably trot out on the field, r4Ty
with a catcher's nitt on his left paw.
and the stunts which the southern
wonder pulled OF straightway were
little short Of amazing.
In the warming up OF the Detroit
team, Cobb invariably took a place
with the pitchers and practiced ali
sorts of curves, including several va
rietien of spitters and Eddie Summers
knuckle-ball. His speed was terrific
though his control was usually the
butt Of jests from the real twirlers
who were there with him on the firing
line. E-.
Never mind" Cobb told Wild Bill
Donovan one day, you'll see the time
when l can split the plate with three
In a row and 1t will be my turn to-
laugh" ~t
Cobb suggested several times dur
ing the past season that he be given
opportunities at either first or second
base, in order to plug up some hole on
the Detroit infield, caused by injury
to the regular occupant. but Hughie
always turned a deaf ear. This winter
AuHVRC1g Sb0b i0o pCNA PA1yEhE Will
couple of New Orleans independent
clubs who have naturally allowed him
to play wherever he chose.
One day he pitched four innings, al
lowing but one hit and striking out
four men. Last Sunday Cobb turned
his attention to first base. According
to the reports. he played in the game
just as he did In practice, making fine
stops and endeavoring On every pos
sible occasion to add some play at
another base to the out at first.
Ty comes all the way from Royston
to play in these New Orleans games
and is making virtually no money out
OF the stunt, but believes 1t Is worth
while in his aim to develop his versa
tility.
Some day there will be a new base
ball king and his nativity win be the
sunny south; or Tyrus Raymond Cobb
will know the reason why.