The Washington times., 1915-01-18
Detroit Star Says Invaders
Have Encouraged Trickery
and Have Used Bribery to
Gain Many Of Their Ends.
"Contract ls Sacred" Declares
Cobb, "And the Player Is
Coming to Understand lust
What This Means to Him."

Inc fe0cr0l League mas Ieacueu
such a desperate stage in its battle
against organized baseball that, &C.
cording to Ty Cobb, Detroit's great
outfielder, the invaders are willing
to ruin the entire game, if they are
not recognized. Cobb was dragged
into corner and asked for his ideas
on the matter last week at his home
in Augusta, Ca, and gave them.
IT believe" said Ty, "this action
proves the Federal League fully
realizes the futility Of its fight end
is taking one last desperate chance
to injure it's rival as much as pos
sible. The Federal League cannot
80 into court with clean hands. It
has encouraged by trickery and in
many caies through bribery the vio-
lation of contract obligations on the
part of players.
}, Much Of this doubtless has been ac-
complished by evasion and technicality.
But the fact remains that the principle
10 distasteful to the honorable men OF
the profession and In direct violation OF
the constitution Of the Baseball Players
fraternity. I need not cite specihc
cases, but will mention that OF Rune
Marauard, who was induced to at
ment binding him to the Giants for two
II think baseball players are begin
ming to realize that subterfuge has no
part in the successful prom9fi9nn nss OF hsnn sne
injured greatly therefrom the past sea,
son. And though It Is still honest ana
will always remain so. the vacliiatlms
attitude of many mercenary prayers
the publics mind in some quarters,
"No one blames a player for selling
his services to the very best advantage.
But a contract. written or verbal. IS
sacred thing. Evasion through ;.snnr tecnnr'
"Let the least corruption creep INTO
the manipulation Of the game ana the
careful work Of years will be DESTROYED:
The baseball player has as much AZ
stake In the approaching hght as any
one. The outcome means no less than
his future"
Ty Cobb, for many years his stable
mate, believes that wild Bill Donovan
viii effect the desired uplift with the
New York Americans.
"BNl is a royal good fellow says Ty.
"and possessed Of a personality that ls
bound TO- win the support OF every
Rustiine spirit and one OF the gamest
pitchers I have ever seen When
first broke in at Detroit ELL was han
dicapped by incompetent catching.
have seen him time and time again
lose by one run under the most ex'
asperating faults of his battery mate.
Yet never once did he whimpor. lie
always tried to shoulder the RESPONSE
bility. c ~
lust about as much baseball as any
man alive. and possesses the faculty OF
applying this knowledge properly. | an,
sure he will give New York vastly
improved club before the end Of the
"Bili has a number of smart players
with which to begin. Mark nv word.
this fellow Pipp at first base will Al
the long felt want since Hal Chase was
who should round out a mighty handy
fielder He is young and should i'm.
prove his stickwork. which he has giver
evidence Of doing in the recent tour OF
the all-star teams of the National and
American Leagues.
Il rank Roger Peckinpaugh second
only to Bush among the most valuable
is speed phenom and an excellent
lead-off man. as attested by the fact
of the unusual number of bases on balls
and stolen bases he showed in his first
year in fast company Maisel is not a
heavy hitter, and may never be. but
with a team of average hitting power
would surely shine If only through sheer
speed and aggressiveness.
Birdie Cree is a hitter. but Donovan
needs an outfielder or two. regard
High as most valuable prospect. Yor
NAV depend upon il that Bill will come
out with the proper garden strength ir
time.
III Ray Caldwell returns. Donovan
will be provided with exceptionally
classy pitching talent. No doubt he vii
secure in some way the southpaw talent
for many years. In a league that boast.
SO good left-handed hitters it Il
absolutely essential to present goot