The Detroit times., 1913-01-24
Increase in Demands Brought
on by Him Greater Than
Traffic Will Bear
"IT ISN'T IN THE
GAME SAYS THE BOSS
Navin Prefers Men Who Save
Their Money to Those Who
Are Penniless
BY RALPH L. YONKER.


Ty Cobb has placed the salaries OF
baseball players upon a standard high
er than the game can reach, accord
ing TO Frank Nayin. president OF the
Tigers
There Is limit at which the rise
OF the salaries OF players must stop.
rs In every other occupation, the
men engaged In baseball will demand
and get just as much as the traffic
will bear"
No one Who realizes that neither
players nor magnates are working
solely for their health at this great
American "pastine" can blame the
players for getting an much money as
they can nor the magnates, In turn,
for getting as much ability as they
can.
The question is: Has Cobb placed
upon baseball burden greater than
II can stand In demanding salary OF
$4,000 a year and three years con-
tract?
In making this demand, Cobb has
placed the burden not only upon the
Detroit club but upon major league
baseball as whole. Ii Is due to
Cobbs demand, too, that there is such
IN unprecedented list OF holdouts this
season.
III Cobb is 10 get $4,000, Speaker
thinks he ought To- get nearly that
amount. And Milan and Cree and
Jackson and others; Hence there has
oeen general dissatisfaction with the
salaries offered.
While Cobb might be worth $4,000
and more. TO the Detroit club In a pen
nant winning year. when there were
the receipts or the worlds series IN
addition To the money that winning
club always makes. he is now asking
more than the club can bear, accord
ing 10 Navin, in al admittedly bad
season.
Also, while Cobb himself might be
worth $4,000 TO club, all the other
players who want raises taken in the
aggregate are not worth TO baseball
what they demand III salaries.
1T isrt in the game" Is the terse
way that Navin settles the matter.
In commenting upon the signing or
players, President Navin came across
with this odd statement, which seems
like a paradox: 1T is always mucn
easier TO sign men who haven't saved
their money, but would rather have
my men save just the same.
The player who hasn't cent in the
world is not in n position TO dictate
TO the magnates as to salary. II he
won't sign with the club which owns
him, he can be kept out OF the game
theoretically. Practically, the SYM
patty of tho fans for a man of ability
will almost always bring him back
into the sport
Nevertheless. 1t Is the man with
comfortable home farm {. bank
roll who Is In position to get what ne
asks. He can often force magnate
10 pay him more than the owner reafty
thinks ne rs worth In order to placate
the public.
IL would naturally seem that the
magnates would encourage their men
TO get rid OF their money as fast as
possible then. But such Is not the
case. -,
"I would rather have man ike
Sam era wforG any time than one VINO
tosses his money away" says Navin.
Even IL Crawford Is demanding more
than I think that | can pay him,
would rather have my youngsters foE
low his example than that OF spend
thrift,
.'.rhe man who Is careful and Pft
dent in HIS business affairs is carefui
and prudent in the game, both on and
OF the field. On the field, he realizes
that he is working for himself and
for me aud he does his best at all
times. He doesn't take unnecessary
chances OF injury to grandstand: ON
the field he is careful not TO dissipate.
| know that he is taking good care OF
himself IL see him investing his
money in a home or putting IL in
bank.
80, II there is ever a choice be
tween a Sam Crawford who will de-
mand- more than can give him or q
man who is penniless, give me Sam
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