Arizona republican., 1912-03-10
EVERS' VIEW IF TY COBB
National Leaguer Reviews Wonderful Career of Greatest Player In Base ball-A Wizard of the Diamond"
By JOHN J EVERS. In Baseball
 MaSaZine)

l.tNAlAN lN liiS pNIl AlIp .tiiN Aaa'' '' A' league should be a leading character istic of every ball player. and think have always l,Ppn loyal to mine. l would like to be able to say that National League player. particularly Chicago club payer, was the greatest in the game. I have said, and l still say. that Manager Frank Chance is one of the most phenomenal players America has even known. In fact l would go still further. and say that he has never had but one superior. But that one superior I am forced to admit in fairness is not a Chicago National player. nor in fact a National League player at all. His name is Ty Cobb. and his wonderful record on the De troit American team ever since he broke into the game has been the sen- Sation of the baseball world.
 I am not alone in this hign opinion of Ty Cobb's work. This view of mine. l believe is shared by practically every other member of the National League. There are good players Shere-ma1y of them some 0f extraordinary ability. IL is natural they should have their
 
 them But Cobb's career has been so extraordinary. so much above every thing that was or could reasonably be expected. that his merits have aroused the attention 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 decade ago. The introduction of the foul strike rule was designed as the death blow of this remarkable average. The tremendous slump in batting during the years that followed as compared with those which preceded was evi- dcnce of this new factor in baseball. But Cobb ever since he starled the baseball world by his moteoric rise to prominence. has steadily advanced to- ward that seemingly impossible goal of the batter. until during the season that has just passed, he finally at tained 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 influence on batting in the National League. for the ball used by both organiza tiOns was practically the same. I cannot say the new ball was not livelier. or that it did not favor the batter. because con- potent judges everywhere admit that it did, anu it was in fact designed for that purpose.
 However. it did not account for Cobb's remarkable average. nor do I believe it aided him materially in gain l ing that average. Cobb has always been a star at the bunting game. He has beat out many a bunt every season l by sheer speed. and in fact depends 1 upon his skill in this direction for ] much of his effectiveness as a bats 1 man. The new ball prevented him | from shining in this department of the | game, SD that h bunted safely only l two or three times during the entire | season. He was compelled to resort | to straight batting and depend on | nothing but driving the ball beyOn1 | the reach of the fielders. The hits. | which made up that remarkable aver | age of 420, were safe hits. in every sense of ihe worl, so it will readily ap- | pear that the new ball. while it fav- | ored Cobb in some ways. handicapped | him in others. and was far from being | so conspicuous a factor in his wonder | ful record as has been commonly be- | licved
 Cobb's marvellous showing as a bat ter is alone enough to insure his rep utation for all time Add to this. how l l,; runner-an ability in which he scands l unequalled, his record breaking feats 1 as a run getter. his all around brilliancy as a fielder his quickness, dash and execution of daring feats almost i1- simultaneously, and they place him a little above and beyond the rank of any other player in the game to-day.
 Cobb is still young man. He has but reached the age when the average big league player is beginning to get a reputation. In the nature of things he shoul have several years of his best work still before him. What he will do in the future no one knows, bur he should certainly not so back for several years to come. It seems hardly possible that he can better his last 9tdi . lENOlh, OOl TUT liidl lt seemed hardly possible that he could better the record of the year before. Cobb's career has been constant sue ccssion of shattered records and seem- ingly, impossible achievement.
 But whether he 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 honor of being considered the greatest play CT in the world of baseball I believe mo 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 spe- cial favorite, but all sections and all cities. whether or not they agree on any other single topic in baseball. all agrce in giving Cobb credit for stand