The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-01
HOW TY STARTED
Georgia Peach Had to Overcome
Dads Opposition.
Sub Center Fielder Makes Good
in First Game.
HIS GREATEST CATCH
Caused First Baseball Story in
Fathers Paper.
Didn't Take Job Seriously
Enough, He Says.
HIS GREATEST CATCH

The catcher OF the FIRST nine in
Royston. Ga. was member of fra-
ternitv. and George Leidy. an old time
ball player. who came that way rev
months latter knew how to fill a young
Eter 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
wears which includes his experience in
the minor leagues. In that time he mas
flashed across the baseball sky Ike
meteor, and will probably go down IN ms
tory as the greatest player the diamond
has ever known In those few years
Cobb has become independently wealthy
He is nov the owner OF fiock OF auto
mobiles is a director in a bank, has
made a small fortune in the cotton mar
5Set and has several more years on the
diamond at a princely salary.
Young Ty Cobb did not begin life as
= Door boy and he did not have to race
the usual vicissitudes that block the pain
of the youngster who starts out on the
town lots. But there are worse obstacles
than being poor. and it seems that every
one of these were thrown in the way OF
young Cobb during his struggles 10 get
start.
Father Was Senator.
Ty Cobb is the son of the late William
il Cobb, who was at one time profes-
3n Georgia and also the editor of the
Royston Record, a Democratic neWspa-
per. There was no sporting page in that
paper and the baseball idea never mace
much of a hit with the senior Cobb
As a little boy in Royston, Ga, young
Cobb discovered that he was very fast on
mis- feet. and in the town races he always
won. He was also a natural born bail
player, and he attracted attention the
minute that he began playing shortstop
for the second nine" in his home town.
The center fielder of the first nine"
had to 60 out of town to buy some cat
tie and as his services were thereby lost
TO the first nine, it became necessary TO
take Cobb alopg as a last resort. Sen
stor Cobb protested vigorously at the idea
OF his son going on trip with pail
club. but Robert McCTeary, manager OF
the first nine and catcher. went to the
elder Cobb and persuaded him to let the
Soungster go Just this one time"
On the promise that McCreary would
look after the welfare and conduct of
young Tyrus. the senator finally gave his
start. In that game the slim legged Ty-
rus proved a bear of the first order
He walloped out one single after another
and finally landed one that won the game
and made him the boy hero Of his home
town.
Soon after the game at Elberton Cobb
was made a regular center fielder for the
first time In the meantime his 1ather
had to attend the session Of the senate,
and he began to hear OF the wonderful
feats of his son. He still objected to his
boy becoming a ball player, as he had
mapped out course for him in the Uni
versity Of Georgia When he returned to
Royston, however the leading citizens,
who were baseball crazy, finally succeed
ed in getting the older Cobb to go out
and see his son play in a game against
the team from Commerce. Ga For sew
eral days he had been making secret in
uuiries as to whether his son had real
ability, and whether baseball was an
would be thro IN in contact with rowdies-
Cobb's Greatest Catch
The day of the game finally arrived,
and Tyrus says that he made up his mind
to shine that day If never again. His
Commerce had three men on bases and
a long drive was hit to left center. and
At looked like a sure two-bagger. Some
how" says Tyrus, II felt THAT the left
fielder was going to miss 1t, and I ran
and barely managed to touch It with the
tips of his fingers I was running at full
speed. and by dive managed to scoop
the ball with one hand when 1t was q
foot from the ground
1.-The catch saved the game, and I can
truthfully say never made a better one
Tors were crazy with joy and they began
tossing me money 7 picked Up 81 in
quarters and half dollars
MY father was so carried away with my
performance that he Immediately became
a fan. More than that, he went back TO
the office and wrote q full account of the
ball story that the town of Royston had
ever read and it made great hit
The following spring George I5eidy be-
came manager of the team and then cobb
began to shine He used to take the
youngsters out on long rides and would
picture to him the glories Of the big
league.
For that season Cobb batted .396 and he
was the sensation Of the league In the
meantime Leidy tipped him or to the
fa-t that Detroit had an option on him
for SO. and the old manager began to
get him in shape Tor the big league
Played With Fast Team.
1t seems that Cicotte, the present Bos-
ton pitcher was with Detroit, and that
he had been sent back to Augusta The
option on Cicotte was transferred to Cobb,
and that is the way that the Tigers got
him. On that Augusta team bunch
of ballplayers who afterwards became
famous. Cicotte. Clyde, Engie. Nap,
Rucker. Ducky Holmes the younger, and
~ Cobb all worked on the club at the
same time Can you imagine what a help
they would be to a big league team now ?