The Washington herald., 1913-10-14
COBB PRAISES
OUR JOHNSON
Georgia Peach Declares Matty
at His Best Was Never
Walters Equal.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP
Southern League Manager Cannot
See Grifps Atlanta Recruits.
Pop Anson Talks.
BY WILLIAM PEET.

They can talk all they want about
Mathewson, Plank and Bender-an three
of them great pitchers-but take 1t from
me Walter johnson Is so far ahead OF
them there is no comparison.
-'You can hit Matty. Plank and Bender.
but when Walter johnson feels In the
mood and wants to strike you out. no
man living can hit him"
Thus spoke Ty Cobb, the Detroit
Tigers great outfielder, who attended the
Worlds series games last week filling
the role of q baseball writer.
Cobb says that IL Walter johnson
ever had a chance to get into worlds
series he would be unbeatable, no mat
ter what sort Of a team was behind
him.
II never batted against Mathewson,"
Cobb told the writer, land I never saw
him when he was in his prime. but no.
body can convince me that Matty was
ever the equal of Walter johnson"
Mike Finn, manager last season Of the
Mobile club of the Southern league, does
not think a whole lot Of the players
Griff obtained from the Atlantic club
Pitcher Love and Infelder wally Smith.
Said Finn to the writer: "wally Smith
hit fairly well early in the season, but
he did not set the league on fire. Love
cannot throw a curve ball and is a poor
fielder"
1t is not believed that Grif is bank
ing a whole lot on Smith, who is an
infelder, but the Old Fox likes Slim
Love, and believes that the tall boy
will develop into a first-class twirler.
Pop" Anson, the man who started
Clark Griffith in professional baseball,
or rather the man who gave the Old
Fox his first chance in the majors, is
in Washington doing a stunt at one
of the local theaters.
Anson gave out an interview yester-
day, in which he said:
The Athletics are fine playing ag-
gregation, but il / had my old Chicago
team, with the 'stonewalP infield, which
won six pennants, could beat them
by a good margin. Not hit Plank and
Bender? My boy, they would wallop
them all over the lot These men don't
compare with Clarkson. Goldsmith,
Larry Cochrane, and Eddie Ferguson.
Of the old guard"
Here's an interesting little story
about Eddie Plank, the Athletics vet
eran southpaw, and how he broke into
the game: Plank came to the House
of Mack in 1900, and received his first
trial in Baltimore, and not at Columbia
Park. He went into a game that had
been lost, beginning in the fourth in
ming. What he did to the Oriole bunch
is history. What he has been doing
to american League clubs since is well
known. Plank never pitched profess
sional ball until he Joined the Ath-
letics. He became connected with the
Athletics in a peculiar way-he having
nothing whatsoever to do with the
matter.
While pitching good ball for Gettys-
burg a number of men who played the
Grand Old Winter League OF the boards
in Peoples drug store. in Centre Square.
Gettysburg. decided that Plank should
go into the big league. They wrote John
McGraw, then with Baltimore. John
ignored the letter-which be has regretted
TO this day. One of them wrote to Char
ley Somers, Of Cleveland, and another
wrote to Connie Mack. Somers replied
that he would give Plank chance; Mack
wired for him to join the team in Wash
ington at once. Plank did. He got rigged
out in a uniform and has been pitching
consistent ball ever since. He never
varies-he is a fine example Of what
clean, honest living will do for an ath-
lete.
This is without doubt the last year
the bookmakers will be allowed to oper-
ate in Maryland. as Gov. Goldsborough
has strongly declared himself in favor
of the pari 'mutuel form OF speculation
which has proven SO successful at Pim-
lico. Col Matt winn is not opposed to
pari mutuels and has frequently stated
during the meeting that IL public senti-
ment showed a preference for the French
mode of wagering he will quickly adhere
TO its demand