Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-23
COBB AND CRAWFORD
BETTER THAN EVER
Detroit's Two Great Outielders Do
ing the Best Work of Their
Career This Spring.
FAMOUS TY IS SAID
TO HAVE IMPROVED
Heralded as the Games Greatest Elk.
ponent Last Year, He Is
Even Better This.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DETROIT, May 23.-Much Of the Tigers
success this year Is due to the really
wonderful work Of the teams two out
fielders. Cobb and Crawford. Always re-
garded as a wonderful pair OF players 1t
is not exaggerating a triie to say that
Cobb and Crawford have played better
ball this year than ever before In their
career on the diamond, and that is say
ing great deal.
When the Investigating chronicler OF
the doings in the national pastime serves
his statistical lore to the fan there is one
gentleman connected with the Detroit
club who viii have and merit a chapter
all to himself.
He IS the marvel Of the present game,
man who has proved that careful nurs-
ing Of talent. a recovery Of physical
strength and determination to prove
that he is the goods will win out.
The real hectic sensation OF the game
today is Sam Crawford, once a barber In
Wahoo. Neb., and now the idol OF the
fans who root for the Tigers. Last sea-
son Crawford, his feet in bad condition,
afflicted with rheumatism and other ills
to which flesh is heir, looked due for that
last resort of stardom, the minor leagues.
Crawford Comes Back.
Nobody who saw him in 1910 would
ever for an instant imagine that Samuel
was destined for the great things that
the present season has brought forth.
Today Crawford bows to nobody con-
nected with the game for the style OF
play and class of game which he evinces.
He is as fast as lightning. The speedful
Cobb does not cover any more ground
than does Samuel in the outfield. There
is no smoke merchant on the paths who
wrinkles his sabered shoes over the
sward faster than Crawford. To dash
from first to third on a bunt that rolls
idly toward third is an everyday occur
renee with Sam.
He is welting the pitchers as unmer-
cifully as ever Shylock went after his
pound OF anatomy. His hits are Of the
clean. musical variety that shows the
real slugger. He lays them down with
ease and grace, beating them out. or he
cleans up with tremendous wallop.
Today. barring nc iran. Crawford is
the most dangerous batsman whom
pitchers In the American League are
At the present rate Crawford will be
among the topnotchers o. the league in
hitting and base running. He will score
as many runs as the majortty-ves.
His hitting will be vivid asset to the
Tigers.
Cobb Better Than Ever.
Take your usual brand Of fan and he
could not believe that Ty Cobb could
have improved. But he, too, has Joined
in the general improvement OF the Tigers.
and he is more valuable this year than
ever before.
When one figures that Cobb is already
kown as the greatest player in the world
improvement in him seems like painting
the lily. His work against the worlds
champions in the first game with Detroit
made the champs look like e bush bunch.
an error and complacently trotted right
straight along after turning the bag. He
deliberately stood in the midway plai-
sance between the center sack and first
and drew throw from Thomas.
1t was a horrible toss, allowing Ty to
steal. He kept right on running as II
there was no one to oppose him, and he
went straight to home plate, hitting the
dirt and knocking the ball out of Them
as hand after the latter had 1t ready to
lay on the Georgia peach.
Again in the eighth he showed up in
a terrible way He singled with Bush
on first. and DOME kept going. Ty
never bothered to watch where the pill
had landed. but sauntered down to sec
ond, keeping zigzagging between his pur-
suers in the infeld until Bush had started
for home. Davis made a poor heave and
DOME was over. Tyrus roamed right
along to home, and was only caught
when Thomas tossed to Baker an instant
before Ty struck the plate He made
monkeys out of the champs.