New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-17
TIMELY BITS Of SPORT
Owner of Tigers Handles ~
Cobb Without Gloves.
SALARY NOT ONLY ISSUE
Great Hitter Makes Reply IN
Bitter Terms, Calling 1t a
Vicious Attack.

Frank J.. Navin, president Of the Detroit
club. in the American League lssueu d
formal statement yesterday in which ne
handled Ty Cobb without gloves and sa!d
that the breach between the hard hitting
outnelder and the Tigers was due as
much to question of discipline as o'
money The statement follows:
'It is conceded by everybody that CoOD
is the hest ball player in the world, ana
Cobb is also the best paid ball player III
the world. But this is not the issue.
Cobb did not make baseball; baseball
made him. 70 give in to Cobb now would
be to concede that he Is greater than the
game itself and set all its laws at deli
anGe. Cobb. instead Of reporting for
spring practice and giving the club the
benefit of his knowledge. organized a
team for a transforming tour through the
South. starring himself with daily ulti-
matums TO the Detroit club
"If Conb can persistently defy the
laws of the game. what effect will ne
have on other players and where VIII
his i am above the law theory end,
We may as wen TURN lHt AlNb oNfi 90
him ana eventually the league.
III Mr.. CoDo doesn't like room a
hotel clerk gives him he quits the club
for q week II he doesn't like what At
silly man in the grandstand yels at him
he punches his face and is again out Of
the gam. He quit the game when We
were lighting for a pernant. and publicly
i. ttsfs,
comradc In left field. H. Jones. on ac-
count OF some mis- understanding with
that player. II he doesn't feel like prac-
Using ne stays away from the park. lie
has grown 10 believe that his greatness
pr-cluJes his beinS subject to club dis
cipline. I thinI Mr.. Cobb eventually VIII
recognize his fault: until he does there
ean b. 10 understanding between us.
Il think cobb will eventually recos-
nize his fault Until he does there can
be no understanding between as. lie
Demands sl5.0O0 for his services and
then goes TO the other end of the coun-
try to ire ultimatums at me- through the
press. II has now reached point
where there must be show down
Mountain and Cobb the Mahomet
When Cobb. VINO is ia Augusta. Ga.
read Ar Nayins statement he said.
MIR Navin's opening statement. In
which he SAYS discipline and not money
is the important question At issue be-
tween US. is enough To queer his whole
vicious attack upon me
1T seems that Natin has shifted
around IN his position For several
weeks past IL has been a matter nf
money. of not being able TO pay what
ask. All Navin has offered me is q con
tract calling FOR the same amount | -
ceiyeG last year. lie has certainly made
me- no other offers In this connection.
wish To DENY the statement that am
the best paid ball player In the world.
I'm regard to his failure To report for
spring practice. Cobb said. "Navin told
me not 20 report FOR spring practice -
was holdout Had reported. I
would have been required 10 pay all nav
expenses on the training trip
The steady downpour Of rain. of which
most baseball enthusiasts have heard IN
the past few days prevented the open
Ing al the international League season
ia Newark and Jersey city. yesterday.
AZ over the circuit the heavens wcpt.
sending the hopeful fans Scurrylng
back 10 their offices and keeping the
players in their hotels. The clouds broke
at about o'clock and IL was hoped that
a game might bee squeezed In here and
there. but after few minutes the rain
continued. ana all hope was abandoned
for the day. 10 those who are planting
beans tomatoes and other products Of
the soil. this spring moisture. Of which
the poets rave. Is all very well. but To
the distressed baseball enthusiast IT is
desperate.
The weather man. however. is not de
sirous Of losing his standing with the
fans" and he has promised fine. clear
weather to-day. and for several days I'm
fact. II he keeps his word all will bc
forgiven and I'm addition 10 the Yankees
opening at the Polo Grounds the Indians
will set the ball rolling against Toronto
IN Newark while the Skectcrs will try
and defeat Buffalo I'm Jersey city.