Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-06
JOHNSON MOST
VALUABLE MAN
IN BASE BALL
FederaIs Rank Jackson Next to
Washington TwirIer and Place
Ty Cobb Third.
By Bill Bailey.

"H1CAGO, Feb, 6.-The Federal
Leaguers figure that Walter
Johnson. the Washington twirl-
err. is the most valuable man in or
ganized baseball. The same fellows
figure that Joe Jackson ranks next
and that Ty Cobb, whom many be-
lieve 10 be the greatest OF his day, Is
third Heine Zimmerman. the Cub
slugger, and several fellows on the
Philadelphia Athletics are tied for
fourth.
The best way to find out what fell
low really thinks Of something he
wants is to find out what he will pay
for it. It's a certainty that he will
pay the top price for the Thing he
values. And It's upon this basis that
the worth OF Johnson, Jackson and
Cobb is fixed.
Along about the time that the Fed
erals really began to be taken seri-
ously, which was soon after Joe TIN
ker, Mordecai Brown and Otto Knabe
left the organized ranks. a telegram
was sent to Johnson. 1t wasn't known
by Tinker and President Weeghman,
of the Federals, that he was under
contract. At any rate, they said they
didn't know. The Washington twirl-
er answered that he was under legal
obligations to play with Washington,
but that lie thanked them for the OPP
portunity just the same.
aXITHAT would you have given him
w a year," Tinker was asked.
u think Mr. Weeghman would have
told him to insert his own figures In
the contract" answered Tinker.
Eyes. but in dollars and cents what
would you have given him.? 1t was
persisted.
We'll. think Mr.. Weeghmln
would have given him between s25 900
and 500 900 a year." answered Joe.
Soon after came report that while
Cobb had been in consultation with
Frank Navin and and had practically
agreed upon terms that he had not
signed a Detroit contract. You re-
member the telegram that President
Weeghman sent him? IT called Tor
$4,000 a year and was to run for hve
years.
That's what the Federals thought
Of Cobb.
THE next fabulous sum offered was
to Joe Jackson. Just a short time
ago came a message from Greenvilie,
& C.. the home OF the Nap slugger.
II was TO the effect that Jackson had
been offered $500 for three years
That's almost s22 900 a year. Which
shows what the Federals thought OF
Jackson.
Now. when the Federals were in
session In Chicago on that memora bio
day when the league was advertised
TO blow" and when President Weegh-
man demanded a show down, one or
the managers met Heine Zimmerman.
What are the Cubs paying you?'
aueried the MANAGER.
.I don't see that II Is any OF yo IT
business was Heine's retort.
We'll. we will give you $1,000 a
year and let you sit on the bench II
the courts hold that we can't play
you" was the come back.
NOW, don't get the wrong impress
~ sion. Don't for n moment sup
pose that we are trying to tell You
that Jackson Is a more valuable man
than Cobb, or that Johnson is worth
more than either
Ball PLAYERS and the fans entertain
no such opinion. The majority of the
players have an idea that Cobb stands
alone among fielders, batters base
runners, and that he 10 worth two
Jacksons. They will tell YOU that II
is a toss-up when II comes TO rank
ing Cobb and Johnson. BY watching
the crowd you will get the impression
that II is also a toss-u between the
two so far as their drawing power Is
concerned.
There's usually a fair crowd at
every league game in which Cobb par
ticipates II is also true that there
is big crowd at every game in which
Johnson is advertised TO pitch. It's
almost impossible to estimate the
value to the playing strength of a
team Of man like Cobb. He wins
many a contest during the year But
then, II Is also mighty difficult to fis-
ure what a fellow like johnson Is
worth, and especially what he would
be worth TO a team fighting for a
pennant.