Evening journal., 1915-07-12
HEADWORK PUTS COBB.
ABOVE HIS FELLOWS.
Master Brain OverpOwerS
His Opponents on the
Ball Field
PHYSIQUE IS
ONE OF HIS CARDS

ONE OF HIS CAKDSI
Columns upon columns have been
printed. and as much more written
on the subject OF psychology as ap-
piled 10 the playing ability of one
Tyrus Raymond Cobb. Sentences
laden with long nouns and words
rarely met with except between the
covers OF huge book compiled by
Unabridged Webster or some other
fellow. have been dramatically as
sembled to explain how Raymond
has a psychological effect upon his
opponents Science. too. has been
brought TO bear in order to show how
this temperament genius OF the ball
yard surpasses his fellows. last
analysis would show that Ty Cobb
has brains, plus the incentive and
ability to use them. "Headwork"
then, is the deciding factor which
puts Cobb head and shoulders above
his fellows. The results Of his head
work are an object lesson to the
city's amateur baseball players, who
seek to "shine" in the game.
The Detroit comet has a splendid
physique, without which he would be
unable TO accomplish what he has and
does. But there are hundreds Of base
ball players who are equally we'll en-
dowed in physical makeup, yet there
is not one who can get away" with
the stuff" that Ty does. And the rea-
son is that Tyrus has mastered his
mind as we'll as his body. There are
players who can run faster than
Cobb; who can throw farther; who
can hit the hall harder, and who, II
given time, can diagnose a play as
well. But there is none save Ty who
can in the fash of the moment cal
culate TO a nicely the ability or in
ability of the other fellow to execute.
Hans Lobert has circled the bases
In faster tims than Cobb. but he has
not done Il as many times Lobert
seems to have specialized on making
fast circuits cf the bags. Ty. how
ever, is the living paradox of an all
around specialist. He has learned to
do everything connected with g.
game better than his neighbor and
has accomplished that largely through
the cultivation OF his brain.
An example of how quickly Ty Cobb
thinks and how he grasps situations
hidden to others was shown one day
last summed IN Detroit. The Athletics
we're playing the Tigers. Cobb was
on first base. A strong wind was
blowing on a dead line from the d.
rection of the home plate 10 center
field. A fly ball OF ordinary length
was batted TO Strunk in center. In
stead of playing OF the bag. hoping
against hope for Amos to miss the
ball, Cobb stuck to the base, then
sprinted for second as soon as the
ball was caught He made the bag
In canter. although the fly ball was
one on which no one else would have
considered going down. Ty figured
that the wind was so strong Strunk
would be unable TO make an accurate
throw into second base. He figured
exactly right and gained a base
To enumerate incidents of this
character to show just how far Cobb
is advanced above his clouting col
leagues would be little more than TO
review each game in which he has
participated during his long and bril-
liant career in the American League
Yet a few general points may be
drawn In this connection.
/. For example. Cobb is often accused
OF running wild" on the bags Just
to make record and TO achieve per.
) sonal glory. The more tricks Ty
pulls" on the bases the farther into
! the air goes the pitcher and tn,
) greater the chance for the batter
either TO walk or to make a safe hit
When Ty is on base he keeps tn,
I pitcher constantly watching him.
Cobb worries the pitcher to such al
extent when he himself Is at the ba
D that he gets the pitcher in the air an,
thereby increases his chance for
5 safe blow.
Time and again. when Cobb wa
the next man up. he has taken hi
stand es near the batter's box as tn
, umpire would permit Just as tn
pitcher was about TO deliver the bal
he would begin rapidly walking 10
ward the plate. Nine times out OF tel
ball" would result. because Tv ha
diverted the pitchers attention I
himself just long enough to max
him lose his sense of plate location
Naturally, the confidence Cobb ha
helps him. but his confidence is mere
a ly brainwork. In fact Cobb has com
TO the realization that he can do mos
anything he attempts on the bali fel,
Therefore he 1oes IL. II might be sal
that Cobb is driven on by a twi
screw confidence. That is, he nc
only has positive confidence but
does not think his opponents have a
much as he, which doubles the e.
ficiency Of his own
Cobb is great as a bali player b,
cause he is great as a thinking ba
player All of the other truly gre;
all round PLAYERS have been men {
brains. Ty surpasses the field b,
cause he can think faster and moi
accurately than the rest.
% II may be said that Cobb's braiI
work in baseball is mastery Of min
over matter The results argue /
In common parlance. Cobb is the no,
doo of the opposing team In fac
he thinks play. and a play result
Just as he thinks il.
PRIZE HENS. THESE.