The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
VIRUS COBB IS
 NATURAL BATTER Detroit Star Could Slug Ball in
 Kid Days HOW THE TIGERS GOT HIM southerner Who Claims to Have Taught Him Rudlments Tells of Transfer from Augusta to De-
 troit-JacksonVille Record.
HOW THE TIGERS GOT HIM
San Antonio. Crex.3 Cor. Washington

San Antonio. (Tex..) Cor Washington
 Post.
 George Leidy, the manager of the San Antonio ball club will always look good to Detroit fans. He is the fan who brought out Tyrus Cobb, and Ty gives him full credit.
 The San Antonio manager, talking of the famous Tyrus told a story that was interesting from every point of view, humorous, pathetic, philosophical-a sto- ry that revealed a new side to the doughty San Antonio leader. Leidy has a deep affection for Tyrus and says he is one of the best boys in the business Tt was over in the South Atlantic league where I first met Tyrus," said Leidy. He showed up in Augusta for a try-out-a big, raw-boned, hullxing kid who apparently knew absolutely nothing about the game. As result he was the butt of all the would-De comedians on the club and seemed to have about one chance in a million of ever making good.
 "It wasn't long before I noticed that in spite of his lack of real knowledge of the game he had wonderful speed and could hit the ball. I took a liking to the boy, and on the way in from the park I talked straight to him, making him a proposi- ton like this:
 " Would you like to make the team?
 I certainly would he replied.
 !" All right says l, you come out to the park at g o'clock tomorrow mornng and you and I will work out together. l I'll show you how to catch hles stand at bat and pick up a ball But listen to me now, the first time you argue with me or get fresh I'm going to drop you like you were hot potato.
 Class Asserts Itself.
 Well sir We went out the next day and the next. and the next day until the season opened and Ty made the team. Not long after this I was made manager Of the Augusta team. I didn't lose any time. but wrote at once to Fred Clarke of Pittsburg and Connie Mack of Philadelphia that I had a world-beat- CT. Tyrus was beginning to show his class, although he hadn't been noticed much yet.
 heard of it in some way, and one day I met him on the street in Augusta.
 " Anything in the lake? asked Young. after we had shaken hands
 !" Yes, says I, there is. I've got a 'dinger' here. He can throw the ball just as far as anybody else, get down to first quicker than any man who ever lived, hit just as hard and fast as he wants to, can lay it down in a 5-foot ring anywhere you want to mark it off,
 " What you been smoking% inter rupted Young.
 " That ain't no smoke talk says |, It's the truth
 Tell me about him again then said Heinie.
 NO, you come lout to the park this afternoon and see him work says L
 Tyrus Making Good.
 "The first time Tyrus came to bat in that days game he smashed one at the pitcher that liked to have torn his ear off. The next time up he hit one about as high as a street car, and 1t went dang ity-ding-ding up against the pickets in center field for three oags Then came a | bunt, about three feet from the plate. and in spite of quick fielding by the pitcher, Tyrus was on his way back to first when it was picked up. The last time up, he hit one so hard that nobody knew where it was until they heard it hit the fence in right field.
 ''Well, how do you like him.? I asked Scout Young, after the game.
 Oh, he did pretty good today, said he.
 "'Well, come out tomorrow says I. sarcastic like.
 He only made two hits the next day We left that night for Jacksonville, but when I woke up next day the first person I saw was Heinie Young, who had come about 200 miles to see Tyrus again. In the three games at Jacksonville Tyrus made eleven hits. Shortly after this, Cobb was sold to Detroit, and when he left me, h. said:
 George if I make good up there, you've got something coming to you
 " We'll says l. if you keep your word I've got it in my pocket, for you'll make good
 And, sure enough, at the end of the season, he came through, like the thor oughbred he is, and always will be-