The Detroit times., 1909-05-15
BY PAUL n, eRusKE.


BY PAUL n. BRuSkE.
Is 1yrus Cobb going to sit supinely
by while some newcomer from the
bush leagues waltzes away with his
title as champion outfelder OF the
universe. along with those additional
qualifications and titles which he has
accumulated during his meteoric
baseball career?
footsteps OF the-technically-spe
ing--late Mr.. Lajoie and see the title
of lex" prefixed to his name?
10 he going TO hand over 10 Mr..
Speaker. Mr. Hooper or some OF the
other self-appointed successors that
crown which he has won on SO many
hard-fought fields, and at so great an
expense Of exertion and euticle?
PARDON US IL, after considerable
acquaintance with the athlete In Ques-
ton, We express the opinion that Mr..
COBB will not.
II anybody swipes that crown 1t will
be over MIR. Cobb's deao rody.-
The Georgian has been challenged
for the title and the series with Bos-
ton which will open today, will be the
scene OF q neat three-cornered duel
that Is likely TO prove every bit as In
teresting as the main one between the
Detroit and Boston teams, holders re-
specttvely OF first and second positions
tr the American league race and that
Is going some, too.
Open Season for Second Cobbs.
or course, this is the tine OF year
when Second Cobbs rise. flourish and
decay. From out Of the miners comes
an annual grist OF outfieldcrs who bat
left-handed and can sprint. These two
particulars are essential Cor Second
Cobbing. IL the reader will pardon
such excruciating assassination OF our
medium OF speech. Quite often they
set away with a couple OF fool-hardy
stunts. They are accordingly haile5
as having arrived. Four-column cuts
appear In the home papers. The reg.
ular out6elders OF the teams on which
they play. are benched and start bid
ing their time, muttering. the mean
while. shocking words between their
set teeth.
Then usually develops an astonish-
ing slump with the slap-stick. The
pitchers union ascertains a certain
weakness and passes the word along.
The Second Cobbs begin 10 waver. the
populace calls for the veterans who
have. been biting their ingernails In
unwelcome idleness. the manager final
~ throws q spasm and waivers are
asked and received.
q Back 70, the minors along In June
10 four or i've Second Cobbs and the
Game proceeds with the only original
tfa6emarked article, Of which all
= others are base limitations. still in his
position at the front OF the procession.
Boston Partial To EN-.
IS B0ston has OF late been the most
1xGcuinoot chaperon Of the Second
qhbH. FLast season IL was Tnoney.
Bullet lack" was the name by which
z ~ - knfwn In order to deferentiate
from the Second Cobbs OF New
Philadelphia, Cleveland and
0.)4r clubs. But Bullet Jack began to
:. Wf,e ArQ After a while.1ede te It'll en-
IE< Boston payroll-or was, at last
Hc1U0ntS-but he Is not present now
{ ~ Detroit.
ncceeding to the position left va
d by Bullet Jack came Mr.. Speaker
70 hit something like $50 in the
1u<bern league and came round the
5fcuit last fall. Many enthusiastic
0dyance eufcgies were spoken OF Mr..
0peaker. The American league bat
ting records heartlessly chronicled
him at 220. however.
N Speeches and Whoops.
This spring. though John /. Taylor
still professed his trust in Speaker.
ne also went out and hired something
ktill louder In Mr.. Hooper. Whoops
We're promptly set of at Boston re-
eRrding the terrific batting average
Dir. Hooper had acquired in some
league or other out on rhe Pacific
\ Coast Both he and Speaker have been
In n SORT Of beyfday hD 1oode,e. zga!ast,
thep itching offerings OF the eastern
CLUBS aud Cleveland.
. From what Detroit has seen OF the
afoi esaid beavers, however, batting
\ averages complied In this way do not
q look extremely formidable. Still. there
may be as great outhelders as Ty Cobb
IN the making and Boston may have
Wound two In che year. At any rate,
they are probably the most logical
<chajlenfers up to date and the eyes OF
Boston as well as Detroit are focused
& on their performances. when pitted or
1ho same field. against those OF the
Eblown-in-the-boftle article which the
league knows so well.
Dush Deserves Consideration.
Recurring for a moment 20 the Sec.
ond Cobb question In general. II might
mot be out OF the way to remark that,
~ the humble judgment OF he writer
che nearest that anybody has come to
+ 6o> clipping Q real companion TO the
~eonf f1oorxian has been the feat &C.