The Washington times., 1920-12-16

y
AGAINST ALL DISCIPLINE.
Coeb's career In Detroit has shown
him to be a player utterly opposed to
all forms OF club discipline.
It has been many year since the
Georgian reported on time at the
training camp. Relying on his skill
and the strength OF his attraction at
the gate, he has deliberately declined
to report until the season opened.
At first Cobb pleaded important
business. Then he was IN" Then
he was coaxed to engage in some ex-
hibition games. He quit the Detroit
team one spring, following his we'll
advertised fight with Buck Herzog,
then with the New York Giants, and
did not play again until the regular
season opened. 1t mattered nothing
TO him that the Tigers suffered at the
gate because OF his disafrection. He
was the only Ty Cobb. that was
enough for him.
Those who know Cobb we'll have
good things to say of him. We don't
know him so well. But we have
talked to dozens of men in Detroit
who hand out sweet phrases about
Ty. On the other hand, down in
Augusta, Ga, Cotb's home town now
citizens who wouldn't recognize him
on the street. so cordially do they
hate him.
HE IS NOT POPULAR.
Unlike iris Speaker, Ty Cobb Is not
what one might call popular among
the players in his league. No one
disputes for an instant Cobbs un-
doubted ability. There is plenty of
ha nj h,,,
SO much for Cobb the man. Indeed
right in Detroit one may find plenty
or fans who like to talk of the day
Ty beat up poor butchers boy"
and they say IT in that peculiar man
ner which leads one to conclude that
they don't think such a lot Of Ty's
f1stic prowess
Placed at the head Of the Tigers,
Ty Cobb will have far more thinking
to do than ever before. One of the
brainiest players ever identified with
the game. he will find himself obliged
to think for the slower-witted men
on his team. He has never had to
do that as a player. That thinking
was for his manager. He may not
endure that situation without much
testiness. which in turn may effect
his own playing
How Ty can ever hope to exact
obedience from his players is quite
beyond us. Indeed. tales that Eddie
Ainsmith is on the market but con-
vince us that Ty would never dare to
try enforcing fines on the scrappy
backstop. Ainsmith is no mothers
angel child. He does about as he
pIeases. in season and out and II
would take more than Ty Cobb to
change him. Eddie would break Ty
nd
turning the trick, either.
PUBLIC LIKES HIM.
However, the public everywhere
likes Cobb. The fans simply pour out
to see him perform in any crucial
series, knowing that he is always at
his best when the stakes are the
highest. The They love to jeer him one
minute and cheer him the next. Fur
thermore, with the years Ty has
learned to give each about the same
amount Of attention. That is always
the way.
Making a success as manager
calls for many things. Aside from
the personality of the manager him
self, there is the necessity for hav-
ing strong team. Even IL Ty Cobb
should turn out a surprise to those
not believing him capable Of being q
real leader. he has hardly the makings
OF good club in Detroit
The bunch last year, with one or
two exception, were dead from the
neck up and wore Oregon boots No
rival team ever had to guard
against quick thinking on the part
of the Tigers. with one or two ex-
ceptions, which included Cobb, of
course. 1t was strictly an army
team ranking in this respect wi IN
that other slew-footed gang, the New
York Yankees.
There is no special reason for
ones thinking the Tigers will be
much better in 1921 than they were
in 1920. Ball players are scarce
these days. 1t is increasingly diff
cult for a manager to make good in
fast company even when backed by
millions. Miller Higgins can hardly
be called successful in New York, yet
the Yankee owners have literally
poured out their money to give him
players.
II Cobb starts out on the tail end
OF the procession, and finds himself
doomed to remain there and be ex-
posed to the taunts and insults Of
the mob, those who know him best
believe he will resign some fine
morning on rainy day and take the
next train to Georgia, disguised with
life. II will take adversities to test
Cobb rightly and few believe he can
endure much adversely.