The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-17
COBB WINS AFTER ALL OFFICIAL FIGURES
SHOW He LEADS LAJO|E BY HAIRS BREADTH

DETROIT, Oct. 17.-When Bar
johnson, president of the Ameri'
can league, placed his official
stamp Saturday on the great
question of whether Ty Cobb OF
Detroit or Larry Lajoie of Cleve'
land was the American league
batting leader for 1910. the hon.
ors fell upon Cobb's shoulders.
johnson declared the had thor
oughly investigated the charge:
made in connection with Lajoie's
great hitting at st. Louis week
ago Sunday i'm which IL had beeI
rumored that Third Baseman Cor
ridon of the st. Lo-is team had
allowed Laioie To bunt success
fully.
Race Very Close.
Johnson allowed these eight
hits of Laioie's to stand and then
declared the figures to be as fol-
lows. Just see what a wonderful
race it was. Cobb was at bat
sos times. made 1876 base hits for
an average of 1874 GA. On the
other hand Lajoie was at bat sci
times. made 225 base hits for an
average of 3S4.0S4.
So 1t was Tyrus r. Cobb and
not Napoleon Lajoie who breezed
honme winner in the race for the
worlds batting championship
AND the touring car
Unlike Laioie, Cobb does not
have to depend upon slashing
drives for his hits His speed
makes it easy for him to beat
out" many ball hit to an infield-
err, upon which players of ordi-
nary speed would be thrown out.
Running Boosts Average.
Batting from the off side of the
plate as he does, and blessed with
the ability to get away like a
flash. jump into his stride in two
steps and carry his speed to the
end, Cobb is equipped with ma
tural advantages which give him
the edge at the outset.
This has done much to boost
Cobb's average. Many of the hits
credited to Georgia Peach" are
of the infield variety. where his
speed has been the turning point
With Cobb up the average in.
field gets nervous. Each player
knows that if the ball Is hit tc
him he must make a perfect stoI
and throw, else the Detroit speed
merchant will flash past frs
ahead of the ball.
The psychological effect is tha'
the infielder hurries. He can
help it. That flying figure is al
ways in his mind. Another
MIGHT check his speed a trifie
but Cobb never gets off the higl
gear. So the infielder hurries t
get the ball. Maybe he doesn'
get 1t just right or perhaps as h,
hurries the throw the bali slip
just mite; consequence, a high
low or wide throw, or a delay Il
get a better grip on the ball
and Cobb Is safe.
Cobb does not have to depend
upon infield hits TO build up hi!
average, but he makes then
count. He is an extra-base hit
ter of the most dangerous order
as witness his long hits year after
year.
Cobb is hard to pitch to. HI
crowds the plate, and the pitcher
must get them over" His keer
eye quickly telegraphs to his &C,
tive brain whether the ball will
be over. and. unless it is, he per.
mits II TO pass.
Cobb walks frequently; not be
cause the pitcher wants him to
but because he works the IMAM
on the mound" by refusing to &c
after balls that Just shave the
corners. Cobb always goes to
the plate with the deliberate in
tent to make the pitcher Ego the
limit
Hits Anywhere.
Cobb Is q free hitter. He is as
apt to slash a long hit to right as
he is to poke one down the third
base line or hop the ball over Sec
ond. He always has the outfield
lin the air." trying to outguess
him. Because of his smuggling abil-
ity the fielders generally play
deep and trust to luck.
When ready to hit the ball
Cobb "wades into one" that he
likes. snaps the bat with a short
choppy motion, putting all the
power of his arms and back into
the movement. He does not take
Tong. healthy swing" but the
force is there, a1the flight of the
ball testifies.
Uses Fall-Away Slide.
simultaneously with the crack
OF the bat Cobb is off for first