Evening journal., 1915-06-26
COBB KING OF ALL.
SAYS benny KAUFF
Federal League Champion
Admits He Is Not
Georgia Peach
THEIR PHYSIQUES
VARY SOMEWHAT


Fans can 90 to bed O. nights now
and sleep the sleep of the just.
momentous baseball question has been
settled. Benny Kauff, the Feds heavy
sticker. has admitted he is not Ty
Cobb. After seeing the famous Geor-
gian play baseball it didn't take Benz
jamin long to make up his mind that
there was one worlds greatest ball
player" and the owner of that cog
nomen Is T. r. Cobb
When Jawn McGraw shook a con-
tract calling for a huge chunk OF
dough in Kauff's face last month,
causing him 10 jump from the Brook
feds to the Giants, II was said that
Kauff would SHOW up" Cobb. Ac-
cording to the Federal Lacquer, he
didn't make that crack. He also adds
that Cobb will continue 10 reign as
king Of bsseballians until some other
fellow takes honors from him.
"I didn't say what they quoted me
as saying" says l<auff. IF | felt that
was as good as Cobb and would per-
form as we'll or better, in the Ma
tional League as he does in the Amer
lean League. | would be foolish 70
make public my thoughts.
IT'S the same as a manager OF a
player claiming pennant while FAN
ming in the hotel lobby. You can't win
bali games in hotel lobbies. They
have to be played and won on the ball
field. And any time | think that I'm
as good as Cobb I'll have to get out
on the lot and prove it-not admit II. -
The Feds Ty Cobb is constructed
vastly different from the Detroit de-
mon. He's only five feet seven inches
tall against Cobb's ak feet. and
weighs ia pounds Cobb will 90 much
lighter than that Being five feet sew
en-. Kauff crowds a lot Of his weight
in his shoulders He's built more on
the order of a welterweight boxer or
a varsity halfback He doesn't look the
ia that he admits.
Since breaking into tho national
pastime for a living. Kauff has always
been hitter He started out with
the Parkersburg, w. Va. club in 1910
After playing there two seasons he
went to the Hartford, Connecticut
League. team, where he played under
Bob Conneriy. the Cardinals scout
who formerly managed the Hartford
club.
his career in the minors, and il wal
because of his good work with thu
Hartford club that the Tndianapolil
American Association team drafted
him. According TO Kauff. Jimmy Nc
Gill. the owner Of the IndianapoliI
club. refused TO pay him the salarl
he demanded. which explains his pres
ence in the Federal League today.
t.-tr Ia1I
the coal mines OF Central Ohio. HI
admits he was one of the best Goa
miners in the state at the time h
quit to 90 into baseball This Il
softer and there's more dough in IL,
answered Kauff when asked II he pre-
ferred baseball to coal mining.
A desire to get more money and 4
break into organized baseball cause'
Kauff TO leap from the Brookfeds Z
the Giants last month He was pre-
vented from remaining with the CT
ants because the national commission
declared him ineligible for having de
serted the Indianapolis American AS
sociation team
Il felt that had not been use
rightly when 7 was transferred frou
the Newark Club" said Kauff. MI
Ward wanted me TO sign a contrac
calling for a lo'g salary and toss in
large bonus. , wanted She large sal
ary and small or no bonus named 4
the contract.
"I understand that no great effor
was made to keep me in the Nationa
League Had | jumped to the Ameri
can Lee que I believe that I would to
day be playing in the America
League. The American League woul
have made a sterner fight for m
services"
Besides leading the league in hittin
being the only batter in the organic
alton swatting above 400. Kauff
also the champion base stealer {
the league He's faster than the aver
age player. but doesn't depend entire
ly on his sped to negotiate his theft
TITS all in getting your lead an
slide" said Kauff IN explaining hi
success on the towpaths. There ar
several players in the Federal Leasu
who are faster than I am. but the
don't steal as manv bases. becaus
they don't figure out their leads {
don't slide properly into second base
Kauff admits that he's not in 7
Cobb's class. but the Fed star ma
rank as cock OF the walk some da
He's only "a years old. against Cobb
p. although there are some WI
claim that Tyrus was bigger sta
AZ "a, than BENJAMIN is today Bl
Benny's nice fellow. and some da
may not have to admit that Cobb
his superior.