The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-29
By H. G. SALSINGER

American Newspaper Alliance. All
 rights reserved)
 By H. G. SALSINGER
 Ty Cobb has always lived in moods. He would change from the happy and gay to the gloomy and morose. Some times he was q mate for Pollyanna, at other times a fit companion for hypo- chondriac.
 There were times when he wondered what it was all about and what use it could be. On one of these occasions he said:
 'If I had my life to live over again I would be surgeon instead of ball player I think I could have done a great deal of good in surgery. l would then have been of some deep use to humanity"
 At other times he decided he would quit baseball. Often, in the last five years, did Cobb seriously consider leav- ing the game. He intended to settle down, fish, hunt, read and enjoy life.
 Changing Moods
 Down south we know how to live," he would say. Down south there is not the hustle, the hustle, the tear and wear that you find in the north. We get something out of life down there. We know what home is and where; in the north, most people believe that an apartment of few rooms is sufficient, we could never think of such a thing down south We know food down there and we know how to relax. There is not the battle and strife for the dollar that you find in the north. Tell me, what do they get out of life-these peo- pie that are fighting for fortunes that few of them ever get? They grow old and helpless long before their time and when they have passed their usefulness what have they got? What do they get out of life even if they do succeed in getting money? By the time they accumlate their fortunes they don't know how to enjoy the money"
 At other times he would say:
 When I Cuit baseball, which will be very soon now, I shall depart with one deep regret, and that is that have done no real good to humanity. suppose everybody will have forgotten me in a few years time."
 In recent years he often tired of baseball, as this observation by Cobb shows:
 Il am fed up with the continual strain. I am tired of it all. All the ambitions I had when broke into pro- fessional baseball down in Augusta in 1904 have been satisfied. Yes, have achieved more in baseball than I set out to achieve. Now can go back and settle down and get something really worth while out of life.
 living ConfIa pratiOn
 Year after year he made up his mind to quit. At the age of 32 he said it was his last year. Then another season and another farewell resolution. But he was still playing daily six years after his first resolve to quit.
 'Thirty-five is the age limit for pro- fessional baseball men in the big leagues" he said at 32. When a man reaches that age he loses his ginger, his pep and his speed. am not in top form now. Since 1914 I have gradually let down.
 After a ball player reaches 30 he becomes methodical. I have become methodical and today find myself dop- ing out each play before I make it, with Il view to conserving as much energy as possible.
 Most of the success am having is due to psychology. I apply it constant ly. For instance, when the Tigers are leading and the opportunity presents itself, I often take chances, making a freak play or stealing a base when there is no necessity for it. 1 create series of mental hazards for the opposing team that causes the player to tumble none