Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-06

LedgueTs figure that waiter
Johnson. the Washington Twill
err is the most valuable man in or
ganlzed baseball. The same fellows
figure that Joe jackson ranks next,
cad that Ty Cobb. whom many be
fieve to 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 serl-
ously, which was soon after Joe Tin
ker MordeCai Brown and Otto Knabe
left the organized ranks. telegram
was sent to Johnson. Il 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.
UILIHAT would you have given him
w year," Tinker was asked.
Il 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?' II was
persisted.
Well. think Mr.. Weeghmln
would have given him between $4,000
and $4,000 a year" answered Joe.
Soon after came a rcpor! 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? II called for
s15, 600 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 short time
ago came o message from GreenVllle,
S. c.. the home Of the Nap slugger.
II was to the effect that jackson had
been offered s65 600 for three yea's.
That's almost 500. 900 a year. Which
shows what the Federals thought OF
Jackson.
Now, when the Federals were IN
session in Chicago on that memorable
day when the league was advertised
to "hlow" and when President Weegh-
man demanded a show down, one OF
the managers met Heine zimmerman.
what are the Cubs paying you ~
qneried the MANAGER.
y don't see that Il Is any Of 70 ,r
business was Heine's retort,
We'll we will give you $1,000
year and let YOU sit on the bench II
the courts hold that we can't play
YOU" was the come back.
NOV, don't get the wrong impress
~ sion Don't for a moment sup
pose that VIC 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 felders, batters base
runners. and that he is worth two
Jacksons. They will tell You that II
IS a toss-up when Il comes to rank
ing Cobb and Johnson. BY watching
the crowd YOU will get the impression
that Il is also a toSS-up between the
two SO far as their drawing power is
concerned
There's usually a fair crowd at
every lea que game in which Cobb par
ticipates 1t is also true that there
IS a big crowd at every game In which
Johnson IS advertised to pltch It's
almost impossible 10 estimate The
value to the playing strength Of n
team of a man like Cobb, He wins
many a contest during the year. But,
then. II is also mighty difficult TO fig
ure what q fellow like Johnson Is
worth. and especially what he would
be worth TO a team fighting for a
pennant.