Arizona republican., 1909-09-19
SPIKES SHOULD GO
 FROM THE INF|ELD
At Least That Is the Decision of An
 El Paso Fan and Critic.

El Paso. Tex, Sept. 12-(Speclal
 Correspondence of The Repubiican.)-
 The passing of the spikes at present
 used by ball players is but a question
 or tune That they are of great aid
 To the fielding end of t!.e game is
 unquestioned They play little or no
 part in batting, and their use by base
 runners is in many cases for the pur-
 pose of assassination. By assassina-
 ton l mean the crippling and disabl-
 ing of opponents.
 Many players have been permanent
 ly disabled and forced to reeire from
 'he game because of the abusI e use
 or thls weapon-many stars who should
 nave shown for years to come on the
 diamond, of such high-class that they
 have never in some instances been
 replaced. It is not necessarily a spike
 cut or wound that causes this but the intent of intimidation, and made dang
 erous because of spiked shoes The lnfielders of both the National and American League clubs all have un- derstudies. This is necessary because they are .unfitted for duty by injuries many times during the season Look ing over the list of infielders Cbarring first baseman-there is little or no sliding to firsD it is seen that the average number spf games missed by players because of disability runs high, l too high. Then again take notice of the baserunners who figure in the 'ac- i cldents' The same names appear al | together too frequently These are not accidents.
 In defense it is claimed that the run her has the right to the baseline He has-that is when an infielder IS catch | ing a thrown ball. But. when the ball | has been caught, then the fielder has some rights. He should be on the line | at this time-he has absolutely no business or right elsewhere. And right | now is where and when the spiker gets Tn his deadly work. Often times after the baseman has caught the ball and | is waiting for the runner, the latter. angered at being too slow or because the play has broken" against him. jumps foot first at the fielder. His sole purpose is to knock the player down or make him drop the ball. If !! the position is defended a man goes to the hospital possibly his profession al career ends. Why should not theI. defensive player have the same right | to injure a runner? What is sauce for T goose should be sauce for the gander
 The latest spiking sensation is where Tyrus Cobb, grand player that he is. spikes third -baseman Baker another star. Picture claimed to have been talk en of this accident" shows the runner tCobb) in a very decidedly aggressive attitude. one foot is fully fifteen inches off the ground and two feet back. to- ward the baseman. This foot should certainly have been more forward and closer to the other of the "sole effort" was to get to the bag. Cobb's arm is raised threateningly, not defense ively- Baker is back of the line. Yet this defensive player is seriously spik- II ed on the arm. How came the spik- ing2 Why this leg which has been thrown wildly for the purpose of fin timidation' has hit the mark. Cobb reached the base safely. This photo graph. offered by Detroit enthusiasts in defense of Cobb and his playing, is glaring evidence against the gentleman.
 The DetrOits and Athletics, the teams participating in the play, are at the time fighting tooth and nail for the leadership in the pennant race. Their percentages of victories and de- feats at the beginning of the series of games being played were identical. The disabling of a player of the ability of Baker would, it is plain to see, greatly enhance the chances of their opponent. The injury Of Baker for the balance of the season, or even for two weeks, would put the Athletics out of the race. The intent of the play is II evident Tn addition it is well to bear in mind that the winnig team qualities for a worlds championship series, which nets players of contesting teams about one thousand dollars each.
 Collins, second baseman of the Ath- letics, had close call when Cobb came to his corner Collins is also a classy player. of equal if not of more value to his team than Baker. Thus We see one player escaped injury and another was cut down by Cobb on the same round of the bases. It is plainly shown that a head foremost slide would have been more easy of execution. The picture also shows that baseman could have been more readily evaded in this manner Tn this instance there is no defense for the play" II is deliD- erately planned butchery.
 Ban Johnson. president of the Amer ican league. received protest against Cobb from Connie Mack, manager or the Athletics. That he will penallze Csuspend-his favorite mode of pun as it reaches the club ot1l- cials) the player at this time is doubt ful, however, as he would hardly care to cause the comment that would be excted because of existing conditions pennant possibilities.
 Cobb is the one particular player that the Detroits could not spart al / this stage of the race. The Detroit team is not held by fans, in fact as a team they are disliked outside their own bailiwick. It has been composed ol rough players since Jen- nings became manager. Furthermore there would great financial beneLits accrue to all teams of the Americafi league should the Athletics and not Detroits win the penant.
 It will require great moral courage for 1Ir Johnson to disqualify Cobb: