The Detroit times., 1913-04-11
When He Comes Back He Must
Obey Players Rules Like
the Other Men
NAVIN SAYS THAT HE,
NOT COBB, WILL BOSS
Tiger Magnate Says That With
out Chance for Pennant He
Is Willing to Lose Ty
BY RALPH l.. YONKER.

|, Ty Cobb has reached turning
/ point IN his career as Tiger
When Cobb returns TO the Detroit
lineup, he will be treated differently
than he has been in the past. Those
h little privileges that the fans have no
\ ticed have been accorded him on the
neld will be withdrawn. He will be
4 q puected to live up TO the letter Of
B players.
Cobb has had special privileges tor
10 long that il has grown tiresome 10
President Navin of the Detroit club,
and he has determined to put stop
TO II. 1t was only natural at first 10
accord to Cobb many privileges that
Z the rest Of the players didn't enjoy.
4 because OF his long term OF years
\ with the club, and because OF the fact
\ that he was generally acknowledged
to be the greatest ball player in the
world.
However his demand for a $4,000
per year salary and a long term con-
\ tract, has brought matters 10 an is
\ sue. II 10 now clearly drawn.
Here 10 what President Navn has
TO SAY about II:
Things have come 10 point where
v In self-protection | must determine
n whether Cobb is 10 run the Tigers or
am to. have decided that | am TO.
absolutely refuse to pay Cobb what
! he demands. I know what ! can ar
ford to pay him and I'll not pay him
4 cent more.
IN the future Cobb will obey all
the rules of the club the same as
other PLAYERS Our leniency with him
\ has created dissatisfaction among
other players. His great value will be
4 recompensed by big salary, but not
by any waving of the rules. -
''MAthewson, Walsh, Johnson and
I other valuable players without num-
+ Der obey the rules. They are paid
\ more for their services than ordinary
players and they are expected 10 con-
Duct themselves just the same as the
rest OF the men.
& 81 can show Cobb that | can pay
him more money than he can earn by
\ himself | am willing TO do that, but
II am not willing to be feeced. even
\ at the expense of losing the. greatest
Y player In the world.
Besides Cobb. there are other play
ers to consider. cannot pay him
huge salary and cut down on the pay
OF the other men In order TO make
his up. That. Of course. would create
dissa abstraction among the rest of the
players
II is clear that Navin is fully de-
termined not to pay Cobb $4,000
\ year. He has thought the matter
over carefully and has come 10 the
decision that he can better afford not
to than he can TO do So
There may be sentiment in base
ball rs a sport, but there is little or
!. 1t In baseball as a business Navin
has considered this matter from the
standpoint OF dollars and cents. He
has come to the decision that the tt
gers without Cobb and his $4,000
salary are worth more 10 him than
the Tigers with Cobb and his $4,000
salary.
Cobb chose an inopportune time 70
make his demands. II he had chosen
\ year when the Tigers were up there
In the race for the pennant. it is ex-
tremely likely that Navin would have
wavered and paid the enormous sal
ary But right now when Navin is
planning on developing club for fu-
ture pennants. Cobb isn't worth near
" to him what he was In 1907, 1908,
1909. 1910 and 1911 when the Tigers
were winning pennants or in the
race.
Navin and Cobb have come to
parting of the ways unless Cobb Is
willing TO play for the salary that
the Tigers boss has offered him. The
Detroit president feels that II is up
to him now to decide whether Cobb
shall continue doing as he has in the
past or shall make himself more valu-
able to the club by governing him.
self by the same rules as the rest OF
the players.
Now, In the cold calculation OF
determining salaries. temperament
and disposition are likely to be for.
gotten by club magnates and the ques-
ton, What is this man worth 10 mo
In dollars and cents?" is uppermoss.
Navin knows that Cobb's peculiar ac-
lions has cost him dollars In the past
and he Is bound TO put a stop TO them
\ IN the future.
This salary question has put the is.
sue, squarely up TO the Detroit boss
and he is determined TO see II
through.
Thus II looks as If the opinion, once
held. that the holdout affair was all
sthe bunk intended 10 stir up pub
4 licity for Cobb and the club was err
roneous and that both Cobb and Ma
a win are entirely on the level