The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-14
.CObb'S MANNER OF
 BASE RUNNING SETS
 FEEDERS CRAZY
BY ". C. FARNwoRTH

greatest base stealer in the game. There is no getting away from 1t, although many will claim that Eddie Collins, the feet-footed athletic, is his superior Last season Collins slightly out-pilfered the speedy Tiger, but Cobb ran him close second. One years work alone cannot earn Collins the crown. Wait until he has. played as long as the Georgia Peach" and then see if his base-stealing record totals as high as Hughey Jen- nings' bear-cat.
 The clements of Cobbs success as a run getter are several. In the first place. Of course, he is wonderful hitter. Only one man in the American league outhit him last season and that was Joe Jack , soa of the Cleveland club. who performed in only 20 games near the end of the season.
 Jackson hit SS7, while Cobb's final av- craze was .3S5 It's cnch that if the Nap had played in as many games, hts mark would not have ben as high.
 There were many others who hit nearly as hard as Cobb and yet didn't steal half es many bases. Cobb's wonderful ability to pilfer is due to his great speed and quick judgment as well as his consun- mate nerve in advancing each step on his journey after making his start
 cobbs fame came to him early on ac- count of his introduction of new and original methods of base running in sharp contra distinction to the old style of advancing.
 Most clubs still rely mainly on signals between the manager, the batter and the base runner. The runner must wait for his signal and then works in combna- ton with the batter. This is the modern scientific method and 1t is the most eff fective when dealing with the average base runner, who needs help from the batter In making his way around the sacks
 But Cobb, while he is ready to play team game when 1t looks like the best thing to do, does not depend to any great extent on assistance in going his way. He is very fast man and re- markably quick starter More important still, he is a quick thinker and capable of outguessing the average opponent more than half the time.
 The opposition has little chance to out guess him. for, when once he gets on, he is always ready to advance and does not tip off what move he is going to make
 Cobb takes a big lead off any base he may be occupying, and is always source Of great worry and annoyance to the op- posing team. especially the pitcher and catcher The instant he gets on he has everybody up in the afr No one knows just when he is7 going to make dash for the next cushion.
 His tremendous. speed is always in his favor. and his boldness in executing his moves is extraordinary. He can slide in any style, and he. comes into bag with a rush that is terrifying to the guardian of the sack, accompanied as it Is by fash ing Of polished spikes in the air.
 4Cobb has been called a dirty player, but only by players who have failed 10 head off his wild dashes around the paths. There is nothing vicious or dirty in his playing. He simply sets out to gain his point and the opposition must make way for him or suffer Che conse quences He runs the bases without thought of injury to himself or others, and so he draws five times the salary of the cautious athlete who is always get ting out of somebody's way
 Cobb is the cause of more wild throws ( -.n any other player in the game today. He takes such big lead that it always looks as though there was a chance to get him, but the throw must be hurried to nail the fieet-footed lad, and often the result is a wild check.
 | Old Cy Young tells story about Cobb's way of doing business on the bases which is typical of his methods and fearless style.
 Ut was when I was with the Boston club, says Cy," and we were playing Detroit one day. Cobb came to bat and bounced one down in front of the plate. He was off like shot for first base, but should have been comparatively easy out at that The pitcher however, hur- ried, as man always does when Cobb is marching around, and threw slightly wild.
 "The first baseman reached out for the ball and partially stopped it, but could not quite hold it carromed on his glove a few feet Cobb Just kept on going. making the turn at full speed and head ing for second. Again, there were oceans of time to nail him, but the first sacker fin his haste tosed high. The shortstop, who covered second, had to jump for the ball It bounded off his finger tips and rolled into icet centre field for three or four yards
 "Cobb kept on going. never slackening his speed and dashing for third base with all his might. The ball was quickly re- covered, and once again there was cer tainty of putting him out with good play.
 "But all the inf1elders were now up fin the air and none was sure of his aim. The shortstop's throw to third was low. the ball bounced off the shins of the third baseman and rolled intoS foul ground. Cobb kept right on going. He rounded third, still at the limit of his speed, and rushed along for the plate.
 For the fourth time he could have