Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
DRIVING IN RUNS
VERY IMPORTANT
Ty Cobb Is Best at the Bust
ness, Leading American
League for Four Years.
SAM CRAWFORD WAS
LEADER FOR ONE YEAR
DOC" Gessler Was Best Run Getter
for Washington Last Year.
Interesting Figures.
BY ERNEST J. LANIGAN.

Tyrus Raymond Cobb, whom Charley
Coiniskey, the Old Roman, declared is
the greatest player of the age. has two
habits Of which he cannot cure himself.
One is leading the American League in
batting year after year: the other, rank
ing first each season in the important
matter of driving in runs. In 1911, just
as he had in 1907. 1908 and 1909. the
Georgia peach annexed the timely hitting
honors In the younger organization. set
ting a new record by putting the finishing
touches to IA marks. The previous high
wafer mark in this respect was JIG runs,
which number Tyrus the Mighty batted
home during the campaign of 1907. The
smuggling southerner participated i'm LAG
contests last season, batting in one or
more tallies in more than half-to be ex-
act, in eightytwo. Twice during the pen
nant pursuit Detroit 5000 beauty drove
in a quintettc of talies in combats: thrice
he was responsible for four counters;
eight times he scored three of his COM
rades; on twenty nine occasions, two, and
on forty occasions, one. His average of
runs battcd home per game was 1856.
Cobb's most opDortunc hitting was done
in the series with the Red Sox. he driving
ia - markers i'm these passages-at-arms,
either on safeties or infield or outfield
outs. Tyrus also did finely in the skir-
1nshes with the White Elephants being
responsible for twcnty-four tallies. He
enjoyed his least success against the
White SoX, Ed Walsh d Co limiting
him 10 sixteen markers.
Cobb now has led the American League
I'VE tines in the batting records and four
times has showed the Wy as a timely
hitter. In 1910 the pastimer who won
tue opportuIie clubbing lionors i'm the
Younger organization was Sam Crawford,
INC other hard-liitting Tiger having to be
content with the runner-up place this
past season. '.N-ahoo Sam gave his
tsani-Hiate "a stiff battle for the timely
hitting diadem sending in 1:,I ITALICS last
season which was twenty-five more than
he hit in the previous campaign when
his rank was No. l.
humping Ty and Swatting Sam were
hot the only century plants of the year,
j. Franklin Baker Connie Mack's great
young third sacker, being credited With
driving i'm 1i' runs; Ping Bodie. the re-
hoWned fence breaker from the Pacific
s'ope. with H.. and Jim Delahanty last
of the famous family in select society,
with 1oi- In the four preceding seasons
only two men Cobb and era wford =
reached tho three-fgure mark in batting
in runs. Ty being responsible for 116
counters in 1907, for 10i In 1:s,S. and for
W. '.''.'. LOT Ito III 1910.
Fhc record of timely hitting fo. the past
live seasons show Detroit, pair of cIout-
irg outtielderS-Cobb and Crawford-to Inc
practically in a class by themselves In
this time Thespian Ty has driven i'm y64
counters aud Barber Sam JO1 The Geor-
Eians average per campaign is Eos and
tho Nebraskan's 101.2 Larry La ioic
from 1901 to 1911. inclusive, put the fin
fishing touches to I'D runs: Danny Muir
ply To 81: Hal Chase, Harry Davis and
jim Dclahanty each to .Sj and George
Stovail 10 2Ss. The four-year men are led
by Eddie Collins, who hated in 24S count
23s. George Mcbride claims 1S9 and
Harry Lord 113. The three-year per-
formers are paced by j. Franklin Baker,
whose welding of the willow has bene-
fitted tho Athletics to the extent of 274
TALES. iris Speaker, Birdie Cree
Clyde Engle and Jack Knight following
iu the order named with 221, 1885, 167 and
49, respectively.
The team leaders in driving in runs last
season were. besides Cobb for the Tigers,
Bodic for the White Sox and Baker for
the White Elephants. Hartze!l for the
IiighIanders. Gessler for the Nationals
I-aporte for the Browns. Duffy Lewis
for the Red Sox and Joe Jackson for the
teams. On the percentage basis how
ever. Birdie Cree of the 1IighIanders,
WHO hatted in IS runs TO Roy Hartzelrs
81. having record .oi0 superior to the
former Brownie.