The Detroit times., 1912-03-09
TY COBB'S RECORD is The
SENSATION OF BASEBALL,
DECLARES JOHNNY EvERS
Cubs Famous Infelder Gives
National Leagues View Of
Georgia Peach
COBB MODEL BALL PLAYER
Writing For Baseball Magazine,
Evers Says Cobb Is Greatest
Player Ever Known
COBB MODEL BALL PLAYER
BY JOHN J. EvERs.
lin Baseball Mauaxlne.)

Oyoity W OWN CluD anu ulo
own league should be leading char.
acteristic OF every ball player, aud
think | have always been loyal 10
mine. would like to be able 10 say
that National league player, par
uculariy a Chicago club player, was
the greatest in the game. have said
and l still say, that Manager Frank
Chance Is one OF the most phenom-
email players America has ever known
In fact. | would go still further, and
say that he has never had but one
superior. But that one superior anu
forced to admit in fairness is no. a
Chicago National player, nor in fact
National league player at all. His
name Is Ty Cobb. and his wonderful
record on the Detroit American team
ever since he broke into the game
has been the sensation OF The base
ball world.
| am not alone In this high opinion
OF Ty Cobb's work This view OF
mine, | believe, Is shared by prac-
tically every other member of the
National league. There are good play
ers there-many OF them-some or
extraordinary ability. Ii is natural
they should have their friends and
hackers, and they do have them. But
Cobb's career has been so extraordi-
nary. SO much above everything that
was or could reasonably be expected,
that his merits have aroused the at
tention OF his fellow players, and now
demand that recognition which they
so richly deserve.
The day OF the 400 hitter was sup
posed to have disappeared a decaGe
ago. The introduction OF the foul
strike rule was designed as the death
blow Of this remarkable average. Tire
tremendous slump In batting during
the years that followed as compared
with those which preceded was evil
dence of this new factor In baseball
But Cobb, ever since he startled the
baseball world by his meteorfc rrsg
: TO prominence, has steadily advanced
toward that seemingly impossible goal
OF the batter, until during the season
that has just passed. he finally at.
tanned his ambition, and reached the
grand batting average of .420.
The new cork center ball has been
held responsible for much OF the good
batting in the American league. but
It should have had the same lntiu-
ence on batting in the National leagGe,
for the ball used by both organiza-
tons was practically the same. | car
not say the new ball was not livelier.
or that II did not favor the batter,
because competent judges everywhere
admit that II did, and ii was in fact
: designed for that purpose.
However, II did not account for
Cobb's remarkable average, nor do
believe II aided him materially In
gaining that average. Cobb has al
n I'd. - - ,,,K La.
He has beat out many a bunt every
season by sheer speed, and In fact
depends upon his skill in this direc-
ton for much Of his effectiveness as
batsman. The new ball prevented
him from shining in this department
of the game, 80 that he hunted safely
only two or three times during the
entire season. He was compelled to
resort TO straight batting and depend
on nothing but driving the ball be-
yond the reach OF the fielders. The
hits, which made up that remarkable
average OF APO, were safe hits. In
every sense OF the word. SO II wilt
readily appear that the new ball,
while Il favored Cobb in some ways,
handicapped him in others. and was
far from being so conspicuous fac
tor in his wonderful record as has
been commonly believed.
Cobbs marvellous showing as bat
ter Is alone enough to insure his repu-
tation for all time. Add TO this, how
ever, his uncanny ability as a base
runner--an ability in which he stands
unequalled his record-break4n feats
as run getter, his all-round brilliancy
as a fielder, his quickpess, dash and
execution OF daring feats almost In
simultaneously. and they place him a
Mtle above and beyond the rank OF
any other player in the game today.
Cobb is still young man. He has
but reached the age whe. the aver
agJ big league player is beginning to
get a reputation. In the nature of
things he should have several years
OF his best work still before him.
What he will do In the future no one
knows, but he should certainly not go
back for several years to come 1t
seems hardly possible that he can bet
r his last years record, bu. for that
matter II seemed hardly possible that
he could better the record OF the year
before. Cobb's career has been a con-
slant succession OF shattered records
and seemingly impossible achieve
ments.
But whether ne improves or not IN
the next few seasons which are left
him for active play, his career up to
date clearly entities him TO the nonor
Of being considered the greatest play
er In the world OF baseball. believe
no fair-minded critic will deny this
statement. The Chalmer Commission.
composed OF leading critics OF the
game, gave Cobb their unanimous
vote-an honor which could not have
been granted to any other individual
now on the diamond. Every section
has It's own particular star; every city
it's special favorite, but all sections
and all cities. whether or not they
agree on any other single topic IN
baseball, all agree in giving Cobb
credit for standing without a peer.
He Is the universal comparison OF the
highest ability. IL is the greatest
praise which can be given a coming
star 70 say that he is a second Ty
Cobb. Cobb is the model. the perfect
stamp OF the truly great ball PLAYER