Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-08-25

who saw him play in the recent
series here noticed that limp
when he sped around the bases Of
Shibe Park.
Tobin was a star in the Federal
League some seven years ago. He
was very fast and hit like a fiend.
Win he was tranferred, along with
the other st. Louis Feds, to the
American fold in the Mound City his
hitting fell Of. They said the Amer
can League brand of pitching was too
strong for him. He was sent to Salt
Lake. He played great ball for the
Mormons in 1917 and then came back
Ito st. Louis. Then he began to hit.
Last year he joined the elite with
the willow. This year he is up with
the first five.
New York wanted Tobin last fall,
but Phil Ball said NAY" Did Johnny
sulk or balk or swell on himself? Not
that any st. Louis fan or magnate
knew. His salary offer this year was
satisfactory and the right fielder is
playing the best ball of his career.
With the decline of those outfield
stars, Cobb, Speaker and Milan, COM
eth Tobin to shine in their orbit. it
is being whispered over the major
circuit today that there is no man in
the outfield who is faster or more
sure than Tobin after a ball. Only
Heilman, Speaker and Cobb lead him
with the bat and he is just five
points behind the great Speaker.
In fact, doubt me, all things COM
sidered, if there is an outfielGer in
the majors today more valuable than
John Tobin. Right up to the best Of
the old stars, he has at least five or
six more years of great baseball in
his small but compact frame.
Tobin hesitated 80 pick the
pennant winner IN the American
this year. Il is too close and
even a thing between the Indians
and New York. He thinks that
New York has the more power
full machine and exeels in pure
mechanical ability, but that the
Indians have the better spirit
and the more effective team
play. This is the Yankees
great year." said TObin. ''If
they do not win this season they
never will"
In regard to the lively ball, Tobin,
along with Sisler, Gerber and others
of his teammates, believes that the
ball is not as lively now as it was
earlier in the season. Seems to me
they have taken some of the rubber
and cork from the center" declared
Tobin. He is also one of those who
believe that the pitching class of the
majors is not what it was five or six
years ago. There are not as many
great pitchers in the game. Those
who are coming up from the minors
do not seem to have the class that the
crops Of other years showed to the
cleaners in the field Of swat.
Tobin thinks that our own "Slim"
Harris will be one Of the greatest
pitchers of the league next year. And
he declares that of all left-handers on
the circuit, Roy Moore is the hardest
for him to hit. "That boy Moore has
me on his staff" said Tobin. "He
throws a wicked curve. When he
has his control he is a battling mys-
terry. And, mind yoa, left-hand pitch
ers do not bother me like they do
most left-hand hitters. find 'em as
easy as the right-handers. Moore is
a marvel"
Most players jeer st. Louis as major |
perth, but Tobin likes the old Missis-
,ippi river town. He has just bought |
4 pretty suburban home there and,
ike Hornsby, of the National club,
follows the life insurance game dur
ing the winter season. "I'd like to
be on the st. Louis team when it wins
l pennant," said Johnny. "When
either st. Louis team brings home a
flag the fans will tip the whole east
ern part of Missouri to an angle of |
wild jubilation. Talk about your he
roes; say, the boys who grab that
Dennant will be kings in their own
right back there"
George Sisler and Gerber both
Joined in with Johnny on this en-
phatie declaration. "All I ask Of the
Fates of baseball" said the quiet,
soft-spoken Sisler, els to be on the
team that flies the flag on the Mis-