The Washington herald., 1911-07-19

base-runner. Cobb is in a class all by
himself, in this as well as In past genera
tions of ball players. He takes chances
which with a less speedy man would be
sure outs and on which he himself would
usually be retired II the opposing side
played perfectly. He banks on the throw
being just little off the mark or the
baseman bungling Just little in handling
the ball, and very often gets away with
the trick Cobb Is so fast that the
slightest mistake is all that he requires
to get there. The feeling that Ty Is
likely to do something unusual works on
the nerves Of some players who are
usually quite steady and makes them
seem "butter-fngered" when Cobb cuts
loose. But just wait until the Athletics
meet the Tigers in Philadelphia, and see
II they don't get even for the showing-up
Cobb gave them at Detroit There is no
disputing the fact that Cobb is the most
spectacular ball player now before the
public and one Of the best drawing cards
since Rube Waddells time. While pop
ular with the crowds, many people love
to see him caught when he attempts
something unusual But every fam
would shout for Joy could he be secured
to play for the home team.
J. Peck Sharp's story OF how Jack
Sheridan broke into an umpire's berth ts
classic. After telling how Sheridan had
roozled around lumber camp without
doing his employer much good, Sharp
goes on: The fireman accused Sheridan
OF loatng. While they talked the tree
sheridan had been chopping at all day
fell, killing a yoke of oxen Pursued by
the foreman, Sheridan turned and fled.
For days he fled on and on, Sinking
through the forest by night and living
on barks and berries. At the end of tn.
twelfth day Sheridan flung himself on
the ground. He was utterly exhausted
What is left for meT he asked mourn
fully. Driven from the haunts of man,
hunted. to skulk through the woods,
scorned, beaten. despised, hailed an out
cast, why shouldn't be an umpire?'"
Cabel Fitzgerald, who writes interest
ing dope for the Baltimore Evening Sun,
says: isn't It a little out of the ordinary
that minor league should furnish its
fans more official scores than any base
ball circuit in the country? And yet, this
is exactly what is happening to-day.
@ASSANSAe w -iAASaAhS, VI lu6 GINA SIaIS
League, who made his debut as president
with this season, has so far furnished a
more complete record Of the happenings
among his players than any other official
extant. Williams deserves honorable mem
ton for this Innovation, especially as Il
Is a difficult task to gather statistical
data when the fight Is on and keep up
with the various other duties that arise
from time to time when the battle Is
being waged. It is true that Mr.. Williams
circuit is confined to one State. which
makes delays IN receiving reports less
serious. but even at that the effect or
such energy is to arouse interest among
the patrons Of the game. who give stu
dious attention to anything labeled on
ciaL' Mr.. Williams has so far given out
batting and fielding averages three times.
The American and National Leagues give
out the official figures at least twice each
season, but the date OF release is gen.
orally SO long delayed that the records
are stale before the public gets hold Of
them"