The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-04-16
81 CANNOT GIVE
IN TO COBB NOW"
SAYSPRES. NAVIN
Tigers Boss Gives Out Signed
Statement on the Peach's
Holding Out
SAYS HE is FIGHTING
FOR PRINCIPLE ALONE
TO Meet CObb's Demands Would
Be to Make the Man Great
er Than the Game

President Frank J Navin OF the De-
trolt baseball club gave out the fol-
lowing signed statement this morn
ing:
The difference between Mr.. Cobb
and the Detroit Base Ball Club is not
over matter OF money. There are
fundamental principles involved
principles OF discipline recognized in
all walks OF slife,
1T is conceded by everybody that
Mr.. Cobb is the best ball player in
the world Mind Mr. Cobb Is also the
best paid ball player in the world. But
this Is not the Issue.
Mr.. Cobb did not make base ball;
base ball made him. A player can
not be bigger than the game which
creates him. To give in TO Mr. Cobb
now, in his present attitude would be
to concede that he is greater than the
game itself, for he has set all Its laws
at defiance.
Mr.. Cobb instead of reporting for
spring practice and giving the club
the benefit OF his knowledge and his
play. organized a transforming team,
and went through the South starring
himself, with daily ultimatums to the
Detroit Club, as young man who
could do just about as he pleased, and
, get away with il. If Mr. Cobb can
persistently defy the laws of the
game, what effect will he have on
the other players, and where will his
am-aboyethe-law theory end? We
may as well turn the club over TO him,
and eventually the league
IF Mr.. Cobb doesn't like a room a
hotel clerk gives him, he quits the
club for week. If he doesn't like
what silly man in the grand-stand
yells at him. he punches his face, and
Is again out of the game He quit the
game when we were fighting for a
pennant, and publically stated that he
would not play another game with his
comrade in left field Davey Jones, on
account of some misunderstanding
with that player If he doesn't feel
like practicing, he stays away from
the park. He has grown to believe
that his greteness precmdes his be-
ing subject TO club discipline. Men
like Lajoie, Mathewson, Wagner-to
their teams, meaning as much as
Cobb does to Detdoit-recogniZe the
need OF discipline and live up to the
laws OF the game. ] think Mr.. Cobb
will eventually recognize the fault
until he does, there can be no un-
derstanding between us.
He demands $4,000 for his SER
vices and then goes to the other end
OF the country TO fire ultimatums at
me through the public press, proclaim
ing that no representative of the De-
troit club has been sent to talk busi
ness with him. Mr. Cobb is an en-
ploye OF the Detroit Baseball club he
knows where the Office is. Other play
ers who have differences with a club
come In and talk over their affairs;
they do not seek the farthest corner
of the continent, issue ultlmatums and
| announce that the club owner has not
come To see me.
II Mr. Cobb is allowed to get away
with his present stand all discipline
on the Detroit team would be de-
stroyed, for we could not hope to have
the rest OF the players maintain their
enthusiasm and loyalty. knowing that
! Cobb could do IA he pleased while they
We're held strictly accountable TO the
laws of baseball
In the past | have patiently put up
with a great deal from Cobb: IL has
| now reached a point where there must
be a show down.
The follower Of the game can read
| lily understand that no one is more
anxious for the Tigers TO win pen
Dant than myself
| Yet. TO have a winning team there
! must he discipline-the players must
! work ss unit. Nine OF the ability OF
/ Cobb could not win a pennant without
law and order prevailing g-without
each man merging his individuality
into the team as a whole. Mr.. Cobb
has not seen fit to accept that view.
! point. This Is the whole reason for
! the controversy" ~.