Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14
as pitcher. The fans of Philadelphia un-

getting a hit. 1 was nearly at the point of
distraction. Now, the fans of Philadelphia
have always been after me since the unfor-
tunate spiking of Baker in 1910. I can
sympathize with Snodgrass for spiking
Baker in the 1911 series. The big fellow al
ways gets in the way, and you cannot help
it. AS the result of my spiking Baker in a
letters from Philadelphia people. This was
one of them:
TY COBB, Detroit Baseball Club.
If you play against Philadelphia, you will be
shot from of the buildings outside the park.
We know you are yellow. You showed it when
you spiked Baker. Now let's see if you are game
enough to play in that next SERIES If you do.
you are done!
Mrs. Cobb didn't want me to play. l
sized up the letter, though, as bluff that
someone, possibly a ganibler, wanted to keep
me out Of the series against the Athletics;
Besides, l was in that batting slump, and
i wanted to get out of 1.-THE first time.
came to bat the crowd got after me. They
called me everything, and ended up with
steady chant, @Strike him out! Strike him
out!"
Now, that crowd was doing me a service.
If there's anything that makes me work
harder, it's for someone to bait me. l get
fighting mad Then and there, although
didn't know it at the moment, my batting
slump was broken.
Plank was pitching for the Athletics. He
threw me a curve, and let it go by.
guessed the next one would be fast one,
and set myself to meet it. I guessed right,
and bounced the ball down the right field
foul line, and when l stopped running, at
third base, gave the crowd the laugh. My
slump was broken, and didn't care what
they said.
7 THINK have more trouble with crowds
than any other ball player. This is due
to the fact that when l broke into the big
leagues was pretty young and had temper
that was too quick for my own good. Only
in later years have l successfully curbed it.
But the crowds remember those fareups OF
the past. Then my manner on the held IS
aggressive. It's part of my game. couldn't
play ball if l didn't feel aggressive. But
think that anyone who knows me will tell
you that I am perfectly harmless, mild
: hammered, house-cat sort of individual off
the field.
recall an experience when we were play
ing in Cleveland I slid into third base
riding high with spikes aglinmer. did
this purposely; for Olsen, the Cleveland
basenan, had been shocking runners.
wanted to scare him. He saw the spikes,
and kept out of the way thereafter.
II guess we'll call it off, Ty," he said, and
grinned.
There was no hard feeling between us.
1t was all in the game
But right behind the visiting teams bench
was man with the voice of monstrous
bullfrog. Every time there was a lull in the
uproar of the park his voice would croak,
@Dirty work! Dirty work, Cobb! I'll get
you after the game! Look out for me at the
D1ayers' pateln
Well, he kept after me all the afternoon,
and began to set on my nerves. Finally |
shouted back something in his general di-
rection. l couldn't see who he was; but l
concluded he must be as big as house,
possibly pugilist. The game over, some
of the players offered to go out the gate with
me. If there was going to be an attack, they
wanted to see that got square deal. Aswe
passed through the gate heard the bullfrog
voice, only now it was very friendly. It said:
Hello, Ty! How are your
l looked around, and saw an amazing
sight. That voice was coming from man
who looked five feet high and didn't weigh
hundred pounds!
@That's the fellow who was going to eat
you up, Ty," said Moriarty.
Well, the players gave me the laugh on
that thing for couple of days.