Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-01-06
HOW TY COBB
ENTERED GAME
Picked Up From College
Team in Georgia BY
Veteran Player

RONStOn, ia, was "a memOtfs VI d
fraternity. and George Leidy, an old
time ball player, who came that way
a few months later. knew how to fill
a youngster full OF ambition. To these
two facts Tyrus Cobb, the baseball
marvel of the decade attributes his
wonderful success
Tyrus Cobb Is now but % years
old, and he has been playing baseball
Just seven years, which includes his
experience in the minor leagues. In
that time he has flashed across the
baseball sky like a meteor, aud VIII
probably 20 down in history ms the
greatest player the diamond has ever
known. In those few years Cobb has
become Independently wealthy. He Is
the owner of a flock OF automobiles,
is a director in a bank. has made a
small fortune In the cotton market,
and has several mor years on the
diamond at a p%rincely salary.
Young Ty Cobb did not begin life
as a poor boy and he did not have to
face the usual vioissitudes thai block
the path OF the y%oungster who starts
ont on the town lots. But there are
worse obstacles than being poor. and
Il seems that every one OF these were
thrown in the way OF young Cobb dur
ing his struggles 10 get a start.
Father Vas Senator.
" Cobb is the son of the late VIII
liam II. Cobb. who was at one time
a professor in mathematics, later a
state senator in Georgia and also the
editor Of the Royston Record. q De-
mocratic newspaper. There vas no
sporting page in that paper and the
baseball idea never made much OF u
hit with the senior Cobb.
As n little boy in Royston, Ca,
young Cobb discovered that he was
very fast on his feet, and In the town
races he ALWAYS won. lie was also q
natural horn ball PLAYER. and he at
tracted attention the minute that h.
began playing shortstop for the Sec
ond nine" in his home town.
The center fielder of the first
nine" lad to 90 out OF town TO buy
some cattle and as his services wer1
thereby lost to the first nine, it I've.
came necessary to take Cobb alonI
as a last resort. Senator Cobb pro
tested vigorously at the idea of his
son going on 4 trip with a ball club,
bu, Robert McCreary. manager OF
the first nine and catcher, went to the
elder Cobb aud persuaded him TO let
the yourgster 70 Just this one
time"
On the promise that McCrcary
would look after the welfare and con
duct of Young Tyrus. the senator H.
nally gave his consent. That gave
Cobb his first real start. In that
game the slim legged Tyrus proved
a bear" OF the first order. lie wal.
Hoped out one single after another
and finally landed one that won the
game and made him the boy hero oil
mis- home town.
Soon after the game at Elbertoi
Cobb was made a regular center field
err for the first time. In the mean
time his father had to attend tn,
session of the senate. and he begar
10 hear Of the wonderful feats Of his
son. lie still objected to his boy be
coming n ball PLAYER, as he had map.
ped out a course for him in the Uni
versity OF Georgia. When he re
turned to Royston. however, the lead
ing citizens, who were baseball crazy
finally succeeded In getting the Older
Cobb 10 20 out and see his son pla'
IN a game against The team, from
Commerce. Ga. For several days h,
had been making secret inquiries n
to whether his son had real ability
and whether baseball was an honor
able profession. or whether Ty woul,
be thrown in contact with rowdies.
Cobh's Greatest Catch.
The day OF the game finally ar
rived, and Tyrus saws that h. mad
up his mind to shine that day II never
again. His chance came in tho eight
inning. when Commerce had tire,
men on bases and two out.
\ long drive was hit TO left center
and IL looked like a sure t~wo-bagger
Somehow SAYS Tyrus II felt tina
the left fielder was going TO miss II
aud | ran behind him. lie backed u
on the ball and barely managed 4
touch Il with the tips OF his fingers
| was running at full speed. and by
dive managed to scoop the ball WI
one hand when II was n foot from III
ground
The catch saved the game. and
can truthfuliy say | never made
better one In my life. When ! cam
IN the spectators were crazy wit
Joy and they began tossing me mon
ey. picked up 81 in quarters an
half dollars.
MY father was so carried ava
with NV performance that he lmme
diately became n fan. More tina
that. he went back 10 the office an
wrote n fun account of the game 4
his paper. II was the first baseball
story that the town 81 Royston Ia.
ever read and II made n great hit.
The following spring George l.eid