Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-12-16
TY coBe's wIeeLE.
BOB BEscHER's BULK.
Basemen Fear Thorn Both-Cobb Has
Greater Base StsaIer.

Ty Cobb of the Detroit Tigers stole
eighty-three bases this year; Bob
Bescher of the Cincinnati Reds stole
eighty. In these two baseball finds her
as figures go. Josh Devore OF the New
York Giants had sixty-one stolen bases
to his credit; Clyde Milan of the Wash
ington Nationals had fifty-eight. These
two came nearest to equa1ling the to-
tails of the two leaders.
Cobb and Bescher differ in size and
style, and of the two Cobb is unques-
tionably the greater. Cobb depends on
his speed, agility and cunning; Besch-
er on weight and speed.
In 1911 Bescher played in seven more
games than Cobb. A member of team
that was never a serious contender aft
Bescher had the opportunity to run
wild. Cobb, a member of team that
was in the pennant fight until the last
six weeks of the season. had to keep
in leash. Cobb's ability to steal was
not given full liberty until the cham
pionship race was practically decided
against Detroit.
Bescher could afford to take most
any chance; Cobb could not. Although
he stole but three bases less than Cobb
the Detroit star scored Al more runs
than Bescher, getting a total of lat to
Bescher's 106: Cobb stole more bases
in less attempts than Bescher.
In the American league conditions
for base runners are about even with
those in the National The pitchers of
the American are much more alert in
watching base runners than those of
the National, while the American
league catchers are inferior to those of
the parent body.
Charlie Doom, manager of the Phil
adelphia Nationals, Is author of the
statement that in the National league
there are not five pitchers who give
the proper attention to the base run
ners while in the American league
thoT fe,rzv
the runners hugging the bags.
Base running with Cobb. like batting,
is a science. Cobb has spent hours in
practicing sliding. Cobb slides when
has done much sliding that appeared
unnecessary to opposing players and
spectators, but he continually slid into
base to make the action mechanical,
tutoring himself to time the slide per-
fectly, to prevent sliding short or over
sliding the bag. Cobb claims that hit
ting the dirt at the proper distance
from the bag has become as notural for
him as starting for first after hitting
the ball.
The pitcher and catcher figure
prominently in Cobb's methods. He has
studied every pitcher in the league; he
has stu died every characteristic move
ment of each individual hurler.
Cob's lead is not nearly as large as
Bescher's. Playing against the sal he
pitchers that Cobb faces Bescher would
di5O nave " SuI oO"h MS CHOA AiAOuo
lead.
Outguessing the catcher is another
feature of the Cobb method He stud
les catchers as carefully as pitchers
He tries to figure what they expect,
and then does the opposite
The inf1elder covering the bag for
which Cobb is bound next comes into
play. Cobb watches the baseman's eyes.
The eyes are on the ball the catcher is
throwing. BY watching the eyes Cobb
plans the course OF his slide. His agiI-
ity does the rest.
Bescher- owns 100 pounds of beef and
he uses every pound of it in base run
ming He is not quite as speedy as
Cobb, but his hook and fallaway slides
are just about as near perfection as
Cobb's.
Basemen fear the wfgg1ing Cobb and
the bulky Bescher. Cobb's knee and
spiked foot shoot quickly and 1t takes
a wonderfully quick arm to do an IN
fielder's duty and get out Of the way.
Bescher's massive frame does not court
a collision.
His long lead is probably the best
asset of Bescher. He takes this lead on
nearly every pitcher In the National
league. They seldom catch him nap
ping. A cat1hxe spring and faIlaway
slide carry Bescher back to the bag be-
fore the throw from pitcher or catcher
reaches the baseman.
Bescher lacks the science of Cobb
and Cobb lacks the weight of Bescher.
In some ways they differ, but in one
way they are alixe-both are the ter
rors of the pitchers and catchers of
their respective leagues