Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-20

time since midses son OF 1917. when
gave way to How ard Shanks, who
Johnny Lavan.
As captain of the team during his
playing career since Grin took charge
three years since he reureo' NC
Bride has been Griff.s chief adviser
and subchairman of the BOARD Oh
strategy, At times in the last nine
seasons he has been placed IN charge
for game or two OIL infrequeht
occasions when league buA mess heceS-
STATED Grif's absence and lnvarlabiy
handled the job in credn-apie ma n
ner. But if Griff adheres 40 MS an
nounced intention of staying on the
road until he finds the playins talent
needed to strengthen the cklb TINS
will be the first opportunity McBride
will have had of demonstrating ms
managerial ability over any co.nslo-
cradle stretch of time.
McBride's regime as manager pro
tenn starts today in a double heaCer
with the Tigers. necessitated oy tLe
postponement due to rain yesterday
How long il will continue is prob
lematical. depending upon the period
required for Griff to corral mock
of minor league phenoms' to deter
mine that there amt no SUCH am
mails" or that those showing promise
already are slated for delivery else
where
If the president is gone for two
weeks or more, which may be consid-
cred very unlikely, Cap viii nave
a chance to demonstrate something of
his fitness as a, team leader, although
it would be unfair to rate his worth
by what the team accompliSheS IN so
short a time, or in any period for that
matter as it is at present made up
Playine Won't Handicap Mac.
The fact that Mcbride will be Shout
dering double burden in that he also
will be playing is not calculated to
adversely affect a man of his temper
ament and capacity in the execution
of managerial duties, but considering
the weakness of the outfit he tenn
porarily has fallen heir to staying at
the helm even for the remainder of
the season would not constitute a
fair test of his caliber as a pilot. If
there is any doubt as to his qualifica-
ticns il concerns his ability to handle
pitchers, and that cannot we'll be de-
termined at this time when there are
no fingers on hand. or at least those
worthy of being designated as real
pitchers are not working at it
Mac possesses both intelligence and
sound Judgment, has a forceful and
pleasing personality and commands
41ike. Few players know base ball
ally better and in addition he enjoys
the confidence of the fans, who will
Be pulling for him to a man to make
good whether he is on the job two
days. two months or until he is ready
t6 step out of the game. to which he
has been a credit since he broke in
&sscore OF years ago.
I Accident Robs Cobb Of LaureIs.
sFor the second time in fourteen
seasons r Raymond Cobb this year
faces the prospect of seeing another
payer crowned batting champion of
the American League. Starting with
the campaign of 1907, when he hung
up an average of $50. Cobb annually
pitchers in Ban Johnson's circuit
until 1916. when his 81 fell Is
POINTS short of the mark established
BY Iris Speaker. He regained his
lost laurels in 1917 and retained
them the following two years. This
season. after his customary slow
start, Cobb had just struck his stride
and started his inevitable ascent
when an accident put him out of the
game After an absence of a month
he returned to the lineup of the
Tigers but had to retire again after
ten days, when the injury to his
leg was aggravated in the first game
Of the double-header with the Ma
second game, but again was COM
YELLED to quit by the crippling effect
Of torn ligaments back of his left
Knee. and now has decided to give
% attempting to play regularly and
devote his efforts to pinch-hitting in
the hope that rest will restore his
injured limb to normal condition.
With the season half gone and I'M
Able to run without limping badly.
Cobb has but a slim prospect of over
hauling the athletes who, unham-
pered by injury. have attained fancy
sticking averages. According to the
latest available figures. the Georgian
IN a. games has connected for Sc
hits In 173 times at bat. a percentage
of 1924. or just IS points in the rear
OF Iris Speaker. who is leading the
PROCESSION with -409. followed by Sis
Ter. with .407; Jackson. .39S; Ruth,
$50, and Rice. .369-
Cobb Resigned to Fate.
z Cobb is resigned to the loss of top
honors in sticking, although the philo-
4ophical view he takes of the situa-
lion is tinged with regret that an
accident should put him out of the
cunning.
4"Looks as if there is too much
RFound to be made up now" Cobb OBJ
aerved, especially since / may not
be able to play again regularly for
Some time. maybe for weeks. I'd like
to be in shape. though to try. / was
meeting the ball as squarely as l ever
did when a collision with Flagstead
put me out of the game. The ball
loomed up as big as toy balloon and
was getting my two a game regu-
4arly. I thought | could keep going
litter getting back in the game in
New York, but suppose I'll have to
Keep off that leg. since it caved in or
me here. and give it rest. No. I'm
not going home. I'll stick around and
DO some, pinch hitting. maybe. until
can use my leg without danger OF
Permanently hurting it, The injury
does not seem to interfere with my
hitting at all; it's just in starting
or stopping quickly that 1 notice the
1ameness-
ss-It's pretty tough to have to sill
around and watch the other fellows
In there, especially after having beer
ut il so long, but l guess I'm lucky
TO have gone this far before meeting
with a serious accident.
In more than one season Cobb ha:
had a comparatively low battine
mark at this stage of the race. onl,
TO come with rush in the closing
months and finish at the top of tn,
heap. With that famous speed of foot
which enabled him to beat out 81
many irheld taps in compiling bas
hits impaired. his prospects of over
most nil. But. il his underpinnins
were sound. who would Offer big odd
that. starting as late as July 20, T.
Cobb could not overcome a handical
Of SIS points when the batting cham
pionship, most cherished of all hon
ors to a ball player. was at stake