Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-09
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

Owner Navin of the Detroit club says
he does not propose to accede to the de-
mands Of Ty Cobb. who wants three
year contract at $4,000 year.
In his stand against paying this enor-
nous salary Navin will naturally have
the backing of every club owner in the
country To give Cobb the contract he
asked for would have the effect Of fur
Their increasing the salaries Of all the
players The star on every team would
demand a figure as near to CObbs as he
dared and the result would be that
clubs salary list would be materially
boosted Cobb is undoubtedly entitled to
more money than any other player now
in the game. He is not only an attrac-
ton, but he is the greatest player the
game has developed. But $4,000 for
playing ball for three years, or rather
eighteen months. is rather high compen-
sation-too much. in fact. for club In
a city like Detroit to come across with
The players. naturally, would like to see
Cobb get all that he asks. for to have
the salary standard raised in his case
cannot but help all the players.
Cobb AYERS that he has set his price.
and that he will not make a single con-
cess!on, so that the chances are that the
Tigers will at least start the season
without him.
Mike Gibbons. who after being picked
to beat McGoorty, gave a rather
disappointing exhibition in New York re-
Gently like most fighters. has come
through with an alibi to explain his de-
feat Gibbons says that besides not be-
ing In good health, he was accidentally
struck low early in the fight and that
this blow slowed him up. But those who
sat at the ringside have a different ver-
sion They say that Gibbons is great
fighter only when he has an opponent
outclassed and that he shows little or
nothing when he is up against man OF
class OF course the chances axe that
he and McGoorty will be matched again,
and perhaps the next contest will be on
its merits. which Is doubtful about their
first meeting.
Eppa Rixey, late of Virginia. who made
good with the Phillies last season, may
be among the hold-outs ere long. From
Charlottesville comes the story that
Rixey does not propose to report to the
Phillies next spring unless the club
makes good a promise made him when
he Joined the team. Rixey, il Is said.
claims that he was given to understand
that II he made good with the team he
would be rendered a dve-thouSand-dOllar
contract for next season. He claims that
the club has baked on this figure and
that he proposes to remain at home
unless IL is carried out. Rixey undoubt-
edly made good with the Phillies- He
was easily one Of the best pitchers in
the league. and considering the fact that
IL was his first trial In fast company
there is a chance Of his showing a lot
moro in time.
Joe Jackson. like Cobb and Sam Craw-
ford. is not satisfied with the salary Of
fered and threatens to quit. The hold
out epidemic seems to be prevalent
among the American League siuggers this
winter. which should be pleasing to the
pitchers OF that organization. Jackson
feels that he is about as good card as
Cobb and he wants to have a contract
which calls for real money.
Charley Comiskey. owner of the Chi
cago White Sox, says that ball clubs
ought to be owned and conducted by ba Sc
ball men. He wants retired players to
be magnates and under such conditions
insists that the game fould be benefited.
There Is no doubt that much of the
trouble which has developed in base ball
has been caused by those who just hap
insists that the game would be benefited.
simply for financial investment. Base
ball cannot be conducted as are other
lines Of business ball club Is a pub
lie institution Long experience In the
game makes IL possible to conduct clubs
along the lines which. please the public
and Comiskeys scheme to give the re-
dred players o chance to run the clubs
viii meet with popular favor.
There win be a lot ,of base ball his
tory made this week With the Ns$iona
League meeting In New York and tn.
American In Chicago many questions ar.
to be settled. and the chances are that the
old league will furnish the most news
Not only does the National elect q presi
dent, but the Breanahan case Is to be de
cjded. while the deal for Tinker viii
either be contaminated or dropped. Then
too. an lnterieague series Of sixty-foul
games - being advocated and will com,
I'D tor dlsC0ssion.
In the American League there II really
little doing. Routine business VIII b