Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-16
ABSENCE OF STAR PLAYER
CHANGES OUTCOME OF GAMES
Base Ball Public Is Always Disappointed
When Some Famous Player Is
Not in the Lineup, Due to
One of Many Causes.

often they call him safe when he believes
he is out. and out when he thinks he was
safe. yet he seldom protests In a way
that shows the umpire up. He has his
little say unbeknown to the crowd and
goes his way.
One day during the season OF 1911
Cobb was not feeling very well. SO he
told Manager jennings Ty didn't care
to play that afternoon, but Jennings
thought him Well enough to perform.
Now. when Ty doesn't care 10 play he
usually gets away in some manner In
this particular instance / was the goat
! for Cobb's scheme. The very first strike
called on Ty in the opening inning was
objected TO in manner different from
Cobb's custom. / passed over the pro-
test The next called strike caused an
even stronger kick. ] was getting bit
peevish myself. for / knew both balls
were through the heart of the plate. The
| next ball was a called strike without Ty
Offering at it. He had been retired on
strikes on three pitched balls-a very un-
| usual thing for him. After l had called
this strike Ty stayed around the plate 50
long and made such fuss that / was
simply forced to chase him to protect
myself. If 1 had allowed him to get
away with such proceedings every men,
Der OF the opposing team would have
been on my back during the rest or the
game. No sooner had l pronounced the
fatal words, which were sweet to Cobb's
ear. than he made break for the club
house. Detroit had the pennant won. the
game meant nothing, ard Ty had an
auto trip that he had planned. SO fell
for his feigned abuse and played right
into his hands. My only regret was in
not being wise to TVS intentions. /
thought no more of the matter until that
! evening. when a big. husky-looking chap
accosted me in the lobby of the hotel
and said:
II suppose you were compelled to put
Cobb out of the game today, Mr.. Evans
but 1t was a big disappointment to me-"
I'm sorry" l replied. II tried to let
Ty ge. away. but he was too persistent"
1T is too bad that Is the only system
possible for Furnishing such an offense.
You can't imagine how | regretted the
| trouble" Naturally | was curious to
| know why this stranger had taken such
an interest in the mix-up OF the after
| noon. and / asked him about It,
Was Much Disappointed.
We'll you see it is this way" said the
stranger. Il live in small town in
| Michigan. coupe. of hundred miles from
Detroit. Ever since Cobb Joined the
Tigers l have been reading about him.
! and waiting for the time l could get to
| see him play. l saved up a bank roll
| after wonderful efforts, planned a little
vacation for myself that would give me
couple of days In Detroit. 1t rained
yesterday. today you put Cobb out of the
| game, and tomorrow the club goes to
| Chicago while l must be back at work
After several years of saving and antici-
| patton. l get to Detroit. only to see the
! umpire tie the can on the very player
came all this way to see.
l felt bad for the fellow. for he was In
dead earnest. l tried to explain my part
| in the affair. and he was kind enough to
say that. although sore all over at me for
a few minutes, he realized 1 was forced
| to act 1t struck me that the player
ought to try his best never to overstep
the limits of kicking, also that the umpire
should be careful to get the best of rea-
sons for ejecting player from the game.
Often it doesn't seem to the spectators as
if the umpire were using good judgment,
, but If they could but hear what was pass
ing on the field they would offer no OBJ
| lection to the edict of the judge of play.
Seldom are any of Connie Mack's play
ers elected from the game. Do not think
that the Athletics are not aggressive, for
they are. They kick. but kick in such
manner that 1t is mighty hard for the
umpire to take offense. As a result Mack
is always able to present his full strength.
! You never see players on his club in
definitely suspended, thereby depriving
the team of much of its strength. Mack
used to fine any of his players who were
elected. His theory has always been that
| the ejectinS of star deprives the team
of his services and doesn't give the patron
a true run for his money. 1t Is a theory
| that would help populariZe base ball If all
managers would adhere TO it.
| Copyright. 1919. by W. G. Eeans.)