The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-12-03

II has not always been true that the
sreat stars Of the game have cracked
.nstr way into the big le -gue with sen
T. '' 1snsIy sp ,hd In tas' the contrary
the two greatest hittsrs IN the country
TO-DAY according 10 their average and
don't lie much. wers NOT nir&eJ ~
great stars when the nfst came up Few
fans know that Jaclsin was with the
Cleveland. sconnie a Mack s WSe' the 5S
great slugger up heca use he WI. home
ff aoS., S Obj was one gncondition ally re-
4ehSed from minor league club.
Cobb. as IS well Iaown, was born in
k9yston. Ca, whore his father was n
school teacher. Cobb led the life % "a
BOY or the south, spending much time
IN the fall and win er hunting and play
ing baseball In thu spring and summer
OF local amateur team. In 1904.
when he was seventeen years old. "A
team was put in Augusta 10y tho South
Atlshtic league. and Con Struthers.
baseman on the Detroit club. was the
MANAGER. Cobb lad made quite a repu-
tation Tor himse locally hut was con-
siuered 70 be or y a Kid and was signed
as substitute. He got chance in
me hrst game thai Augusta played
stter working through the spring train
ing period. the practice being Fed on
The home grounds. An infelder who
had been signed failed % show up Tor
the opening came. one ~ the regular
outhelders was shifted 20 the vacant
spot and cobb played !u the outf,l1.
nc name OF the missing iUIsldtr who
gave cobb his FIRST chance al league
bhu is not known 20 me- huf 20 is "a
cineh that he IL still marking lime IN
some minor league ~ Doc tx playing bah
AT all. while his understuIy is right ~
the top or his profession.
oddly enough. Bull" Durham the
stocky pitcher who was once with tho
Giants FOR minute or two and fufred
TIE club when Marquard aid. pitched In
he who Toll ms Of mss i5ai,. ~ va
l am relating them. NV acquaintanse
win .Ty. cobb is not an intimate. one.
naII occasions and during the last three
-, Relea.sd Outright.
Cobb certainly looked Ike "A base
hall player TO me that FIRST day" said
Surham who oy 'he way. lost The OPEN
ING game Tor Tor AuEusfa. but he was
sightly built rather hashful country
KID, he had the great eve then that
ne mas nov an ne pi.See the tau for
2 nome run and double. The next day
he got a si1gle and - sacrifice hit. az
remember ~. The third day all OF MS
On me = Isusta team were surprised TO
What become or that kid cobb
~ released him outright last night
was the reply.
"Of course. since struthe-s had been
n DIX Lacquer. none OF Is wanted to
question his Judgment our loud. but
know ] thought 20 myself that ~ had
made o. mistake"
jected to his playing professional ball
when no started out. but after he re-
turned O. Rcyston and told hi= rarent
that he had been released following mis-
showing IN the two games the older
Cobb Just rose his back right up
I've got 10 chance O. 20 20 Admission.
Ala, IN the Tennessee-A lnharna esgus
for less money, f65 "a month 'Ty' az
last told h.s father
You'd better GO replied the IA
ther. II was from him that cobb gets
much q his hght and determination.
Don't lot them crowd YOU uut now
Never qLt unless you have the best ~
It."
Had Manager Fired.
think Cobb was fu Eet $50 month
with ne August club BE went 20
Admission and PLAYED - two months.
lie made a nar.ur record f1- tho minor
leagues and attracted attention fl
himself so that ~trIfIc~4 wanted him
back iu Augusta. but Cobb showed r.
fas1 or teTTe- and refused 90 return
unit the manager who had released him