Evening star., 1909-02-14
TY COBB IS A
PLAYER OF CHANCES
As a Conservative He Would
Drop to the Ordinary
Class.
By Umpire Billy Evans.

To better advantage in the future unless
something unforeseen should happen tc
mar his. ability.
A. wonderful player in every depart
ment of the game. he is a great attraction
all over the circuit. Mr.. Cobb is always
the cynosure of all eyes. When he makes
a hit in Detroit the fans applaud, when
he strikes out they all groan On the
road a bingle by Ty generally brings
groan. but if some pitcher should oe
fortunate enough to strike him out the
foreign fans yell with Elee
The other day statement was pub
Eshed broadcast saying that COBB Wouio
he more valuable than ever to the 1l2ers
this YEAR The statement gave as It's
reason the fact that Cobb had decided to
cut out his sensational work and instead
os taking all kinds of daring chances OF
the bases, as is his custom would pe HeL9
conservative and never make any oi tlle
Reckless dasheS that have made MIN Ia
nous.
Perhaps the conservative Cobp Woulu
be more valuable to the Tigers thah .iiI {
dashing southerner we all KNOW put !
can't see II that way Tnere Is no o .ono.
but that Cobb has lost quite few games
for Detroit by reckless base running, the
taking of long chances. but ne mas Won
ten times as many battles as he has iost
through just such tactlcS.
I honestly believe that Il COBB trled 10
play a conservative game it would ruin
his ability. There is. however. DIG
doubt in my mind II Cobb could play any
thing but a dashing game. It's MS uiS
position to be reckless, to jump at cor
ch,sions. to be always trying to outwlt
his opponent by taking some desperate
chance In all probability Ty would re-
tire If his manager insisted on MIN cut
ting out his dashing style.
The fact that Cobb is full OF pepper
and always willing to take chance
makes him all the more valuable
Time after time Cobb gets to first on
a puny hit, not so much through MS
great speed. but because all the ,,,,f OPP
posing players are aware of his ability.
When Cobb steps to the plate, the
cotcher and pitcher rack their brains
IN an effort to serve something that ma
will deceive the demon siugger Whlle
the infielders and outfielders are on edge
The guardians of the infieid realize
that any slow hit must be fielded clean
ly in order to retire Cobb at first. Inc
ball cannot be juggled or the throw
anything but perfect: or Tyrus VIII sure
know they must handle the ball cleanly
or Mr.. Cobb will steal base on them
while they are getting the ball back
to the infield.
presence at the plate works on the
nerves OF his rivals. or course, C0oD
heats out many a hit that is handled
cleanly, but often during the year ne
reaches first through tumble on me
part of the infielder, or bad throw. due
10 cveranxiety on tie part OF the op-
posing player, who attempts to field the
ball fast and get 1t away just as quickly
Cobb pulled off a play a couple OF
wears ago in a game at Detroit that
while seemingly a foolhardy effort. met
with success and wen the game for the
Tigers.
Late in the game. with two down and
the score a tie, Cobb stepped to the plate
and naturally the home fans appealed to
him to break up the game. Cobb tried
his hardest, but his best enort was a
puny single to center field. that the man
playing that position barely missed
catching.
Many a player would have been de-
lighted to get to first on such sickly
single but not Tyrus. He dashed to
first like a scared deer and turned that
notice his advantage. Cobb saw that the
fielder in question was Juggling the ball
Never for a minute did he think that
Cobb would try for second, and When
he saw him dashing wildly for that bag.
although not more than twenty-five feet
from the sack. he made poor throw
that got away from the man who was
covering the bag.
low and bad, Cobb headed for third at
full speed. In his great anxiety the
second sacker. after recovering the ball.
threw high to third Had the throw
been perfect Ty would have been out a
city block, but as he was nearing the
base he saw the guardian of the diff
cult corner leap high in the air. and
that told him at once that again the
throw had been bad.
His only ambition now was 10 score.
and since things had broken so nicely
for him, he darted toward the plate with
all the reserve that was In him. The
throw to the plate was a trif'e wide and
Cobb made things more difficult for the
catcher with a fade away slide that
gave the receiver only his spiked shoe
to touch
A cloud OF dust for moment obscured
the play from view, but when 1t had
cleared away the umpire was standing
with both hands stretched downward.
signifying that Cobb had received the
decision and won the game. as 1t after
ward proved
Thus on a little single to center Cobb
had scored. due entirely to his great
steed his daring base running and the
gbod break IN the luck. His Texas leag-
ger had accomplished the same result
as home run.
Like many other great players. Cobb
il q superstitious chap. He never walks
from the bench to the plate without
swinging two or three bats. only to toss
an but one of them away he nears
The plate. Whenever Ty strikes out in
a game on the road the facetitious fan
always advises him to use the trio of bats
The next time and probably he will meet
with better success.
He invariably tosses the broom used by
the umpire to dust off the plate 10 the
right. Often draws fantastic pictures
with his bat as he steps to the plate. per-
haps invoking the gods to be favorable
10y means of the sign language. Seldom
when coming In from the outfield does
hka.pass first base without giving the
initial sack a kick toward the plate. In
this little stunt there is no doubt a
method in his madness. BY so kicking
is sends a bag perhaps six inches nearer
1he plate, and a half foot is some dis
tance with a man of Cobb's speed. Un-
fa4eeaatelv for him the base umpire al
wAys refixes the bag as Cobb heads
toward the plate. but never spoils his
dream that he is slipping something over
on the judge of play
Last year Cobb beat the Athletics prac-
tically single handed and his actions
caused the quiet Eddie Plank to get of a
bit Of humor at Catcher Doc" Powers
experee.
Cobb had hit slow ball toward third
and beat the throw Of the younsster who
was playing the bag to first. On the very
frs: ball pitched Cobb made a dash for
second and was safe. the throw of Pow
ers being high. On the next ball lie was
off for third and was again declared safe,
the throw being low this time.
When things were quiet. Plank. despite
the closeness of the game, caused gen.
eral laugh by yelling, Tie on your glove.
Doc or he will steal that" A moment
later Cobb crossed the plate with the
winning run on fly to the outfeld. and
fnvc