The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-21
SPIRIT
GONE FROM BALL
LOT, SAYS COBB
ut Takes Better Player
to Make Grade Now"
Tiger Pilot States

NEW YORK. July 2o.-There are
more good baseball players today
than ever before-more good ones In
proportion TO the poor ones--and It
requires more OF an all around man
to break in and stick In the big
leagues than II did I'm the heydey of
the departed "immortals' a genera
ton ago.
This is the studied opinion OF
Tyrus Cobb one OF the greatest
players of all time, who stands to-
day on the threshold of that cloister
inhabited by half a dozen managers
who' have been handed consistently
losing. down-hearted teams. rejuve-
mated them and made sturdy, classy
pennant contenders Of their new
combinations. Cobb always has been
an individual star and n paragon
for small boys who surround him for
n pat on the head every time he
leaves the playing field. He holds
the American league record for the
highest batting average .42O: the
highest lifetime average. around
$40; has topped all competitors IL
times, nine in succession and now Is
fighting IL out with George Slsler
for this years title.
Speeds Up Tigers.
Late In 1920 Cobb succeeded Hugh
Jennings as manager OF the second
division Detroit Tigers. He discard
ed some worn out material, retained
tho nucleus OF a club and now has
an aggregation within calling dis
tance OF first place.
You don't know what n pitcher is
giving YOU now" Ty said in the
Tigers clubhouse after coming from
8 TO defeat OF the Yanks, in
which he contributed two hits.
pitching goes In cycles. once II
was the fast ball, then the curve.
then the spltball. then the emery
ball and now it's combination Of
everything"
There have been tremendous"
changes in baseball during the Is
years that Ty has been in the game,
he said, innovation and renovation.
improvements and detractions, some
OF them detracting from tho flavor
OF the sport and others adding to
the requirements that man must
have to land In the majors.
The greatest change has been In
the pitchers box, which has necessi-
tated corresponding changes in the
art OF batting but Ty Cobb feels
sure that the ball is "lievlier" now
and that new pellets In large meas
ure accounts for the abnormally long
drives and the dozens OF home runs
that cluster the box scores.
Spirit Is Gone.
or all that has gone from the game
Ty regrets most keenly the fighting
spirit OF tho old time, the combative
mood of men like himself who came
into the profession when loyalty to
his club was demonstrated and who
fought as defenders and copquerors.
not as interesting entertainers draw
ing great salaries for cold skin, THE
old home town has gone" he said.
The biggest thing that ne has got out
OF baseball Ia his profession, Cobb
said. The Georgia peach disagrees
with many baseball critics who con-
stantly marvel at his ability and
grace, for nearly every competent
observer pronounces Cobb natural
ballplayer"-like '-ropsy" from his
own southland who had neither
father nor mother, but was Just born.
The critics said that Ty had no
baseball parents, that he wasn't de-
! veloped-that he just was. But he
| says: i've plugged and worked hard
| and plugged all the time. every day,
You have to plug In baseball just
| like you have 10 plug in business and
| sometimes thlnk l could nave maze
| good at something. There are other
| good baseball players"
Ty repeated his observation OF the
string--I'm slowing up. tire more
easily and require more sleep
no more late nights for me. But I'm
going 20 play as long as I can,
though I don't know how long that
will be. You know I should have
| hit that last one today"