Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-24
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED. GRILLo.

| There are undoubtedly players who car
| hit every bit as well as Ty Cobb. an(
others who can fed and throw as well a.
the sensational Georgian. but where i:
| there the player who day after day put:
SO much life into his work? The average
ball player, once he has made his mark
| sees nothing more TO strive for. Not 81
| with Cobb. He plays in every game a:
I II he had reputation to make. with thu
| result that he is perhaps the most val
liable ball player in harness today, bar
| ring none.
There was suspicion that when il
was announced that Ty had signed a
three-year contract with Detroit calling
| for $1,000 a season the figures were exag
gerated. but it can be authoritativ
stated that he actually gets this salary.
and it might be added that he is worth
as much if not more.
Unlike most ball players. Cobb is ar
attraction. True winning teams always
draw crowds. but it is easy to figure that
Cobb alone draws more than enough peo-
pie to the games every season to make ur
fOS his salary. 1t can be estimated that
at least ) per cent of the attendance in
cities where the Tigers play is brought
,, to the parks by Cobb.
Cobb and Wagner are no doubt the
highest-salaried players today. and
while there is no way of getting the
calls for it is safe to say that it is not
dollar less than $4,000 per season.
and. like Cobb. he is an attraction.
ton in Frisco Friday night for the pur-
pose. it is said. of letting his friends see
for themselves that he is in good condi-
ton. Very nice of Jeff to be so considerate.
but it Is hard to believe that this is the
real purpose Of the affair. The chances
are that there is a good opportunity to
pick up some good profits by this exhibit
ton and the individuals who ara enei-
neering JeffrieS affairs are not overlook
ing anything.
But there is no reason why fighter in
training should not give such an exhibit
ton. 1t is perhaps bit unusual. yet 1t
is not poor idea for the reason that it
may serve to give pretty fair line on
how Jeffries is today. weeks away from
the day he is to fight Jack Johnson.
That National League race is proving
most interesting. Unlike former seasons.
there is as yet runaway apparent and
the lead has already changed hands on
finds itself severely handicapped by the
fact that the pitchers Fred Clarke has
at his command are not showing their
best form. Adams. for instance.
diteT pitcHiiIS SUCH iehiai hdpie Ddii Ill
the worlds series. has failed to show
anything this spring. while Camnitz. who
led the league pitchers last season. has
not performed consistently. For this rea-
son the Pirates long stay at home has
not given them the advantage that was
expected and there is grave danger that
the team will lose further ground when
1t starts on it's first long eastern trip.
1t is a difficult matter TO pick the win
ner in the old league this spring, though
it is generally conceded that the Pirates
are the strongest team or paper. There
seems to have been a deterioration among
the Cubs, for the one-time worlds cham
pions are not showing the form they
did a little while ago.
The average pitcher has at least two
or three years minor league experience
before he attempts to make good i'm a
major league. This is because his nat
ural ability is not sufficient to win games