The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-20
MORE GOOD BASEBALL
PLAYERS THAN EVER
BEFORE, SAYS COBB
(By Associated Press1


NEW YORK, July 20.-There are
more good baseball players today than
ever before-more good ones in pro-
portion to the poor ones-and it re-
quires more of an all around better
man to break in and stick in the big
leagues than it did in the heyday Of
the departed 'immortals" a genera
ton ago.
This is the opinion of Tyrus Ray
mond Cobb one of the greatest play
ers of all time, who today stands on
the threshold of that closter inhabit-
ed by half a dozen managers who
have been handed consistent losing,
doWnhearted teams, rejuvenated them
| and made sturdy, classy pennant con-
tenders of their new combinations.
Cobb has always been an individual
star and paragon for small boys who
surround him for pat on the head
J every time he leaves the field. He
holds the American League record for
the highest batting average, .420; the
| highest lifetime average, around $40;
has topped all competition II times,
nine in succession, and now is fighting
it out with George Sisler for this
years title.
Late in 1920 Cobb succeeded Hugh
Jennings as manager of the second
division Detroit Tigers. He discarded
] some wornoUt material, retained the
rest of the club and now has an ag-
} gregation within calling distance OF
| first place.
Pitching in Cycles.
you must know what a pitcher is
giving you now" Ty said in the
Tigers club house after coming from
five to one defeat of the Yankees
in which he contributed two hits
Pitching goes in cycles. Once it was
the fast ball, then the curve, then the
spit ball, then the emery and now j
is combination of everything
). There have been tremendous
changes in baseball during the i
years that Cobb has been in the game
he said, innovations and renovations
improvements and detractions, sons
of them detracting from the flavor o
the sport, and others adding to tn
requirements that man must hay
to land in the majors.
The greatest change has been i
the pitchers box, which, of course ha
necessitated corresponding changes i
the art of batting but Ty Cobb feel
7 sure that the ball is 'livelier" nov
J and that the new pellet in larg
measure accounts for the abnormal
long drives and the dozens of hom
runs that cluster the box scores.
$ Regrets Fighting Spirit
!. OF all that has gone from the game
|. Ty regrets most keenly the fightin
{ spirit of the old teams, the combativ
i mood of men like himself who cam
1 into the profession when loyalty t
his club was demanded and who tough
e as defenders and conquerors, not a
: interesting entertainers drawing grea
n salaries for cold skill. 1.-THE old HON
town has gone" he said. The bigges
t thing he has got out Of baseball
t his profession, Cobb said. TIL
Georgia peach disagrees with man
e baseball critics who constantly marvt
at his ability and grace for nearl
/; every competent observer pronounce
4; Cobb natural ball player"-liE
+; Topsy from his own southland VIII
d had neither father nor mother, bl
was lust born"
J. The critics said that Cobb had I
/; baseball parents, that he was not d
(, veloped-that he just was. But
i says: I've plugged and worked hal
and plugged all the time every da
You have to plug in baseball just lii
you have to plug in business ar
sometimes l think l could have mao
good at something else"
Y Ty repeated his observation Of Il
| spring-"Tm slowing up. l tire mo-
easily and / require more sleep
more late nights for me, but l a
10 going to keep on playing as long
1f l can, though l don't know how loI
a. that will be- You know should ha'
ID hit that last one today"