Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10
TAKING CHANCES, SAYS COBB,
HAS WON HIM GREAT SUCCESS
Getting All There Is Out Of Every Possibility
in Great American Game Made His
Phenomenal Record Possible.

ster went down on such slip and was
retired he, as a rule. would be labeled
prize bonehead, and be severely berated
when he reached the bench for his fool
ish action. In furthering what Is called
inside base ball some managers com
pletely crab things by making every
move matter of signals. That de-
velops the mechanical instead OF the
natural ball player.
Il don't believe l could cite better
example of this theory than Clyde Milan
of the Washington team" said Cobb.
when Milan Joined the Washington club
he was fleet of foot and seemed Ike
natural hitter. Il recall a series with
Detroit Just after he joined the Senator's.
He pulled several bits of fine base run
ming, took a long chance and each time
was retired by the narrowest of margins.
One of his attempts was a steal home
that would have won the game. The
play was SO close that / guess the UNI
pire must have tossed q coin to decide
the winner. i shall never forget some
Of the things that were said to Milan by
some veterans who now have passed out
Of the big show. Soon the confidence OF
Milan was destroyed; he was afraid to
act on his own judgment, and as a result
he fell off to such an extent he was
benched. McAleer patted Milan on the
back. approved of his style, told him he
was star and to go out and use his
own judgment. Milan did. and for two
years he has been rated as one of the
DeSl OuINeiOerS IN the business
There is no denying that Cobb's theory
of taking chances is an excellent one.
Time and again player, club or man.
ageT may be made 10 look foolish as 4
result of such system, but the reverse
usually will be the case. Players and
teams who take chances. nine times out
of ten, are referred to by the opposition
as lucky. They are lucky. but one must
not forget they create their luck by TAX
ing chances.
Fielder Jones Great Chance Taker.
Fielder Jones was great exponent OF
the take-a-chance style. If he had not
been Re would not have had such sue
cess with his "HitIess Wonders of 1906.
Few clubs ever played more base ball
than that aggregation. Individual stars
on the team were few, but no opportuni-
ties We're lost. and as result the White
SoN of that year were mighty hard
team to beat, although on paper they
looked none TOO formidable.
Players who take chances are those
who appeal to the managers of today.
Pure ability to hit the ball no longer is
looked on as the greatest asset u pla yer
can possess. There are plenty OF men
in the minors who can hit the pill in big
league fashion. but are SO lacking IN
other respects that they fail to meet tha.
major league standard. Managers do not
care to have to do all the thinking. They
figure players in the big league should
be able to think for themselves. IL they
can't. they have no right in the big
show.
I once heard n manager say that often
he has sent up a player with instruc-
tons to bunt. Often, the pitcher
starts to deliver the ball, 1T is evident
bunt is not the play. The wise player
will grasp the situation and 10 the shing
he ought to do; the mechanical player
will go through with his instructions. 1t
is the wise player who is in demand nc
l. the wise player who makes pe7nant
winning teams possible. Ii is tAe wise
player who gets the money. 1t 6ehcoves
the ambitious youngster to make use OF
his brains as we'll as his Drawn In playing
the national pastime.