Evening star., 1924-11-25
CHAPTER XIV.
BY II. G. SALSINGER.

N Ty c Obj base ball has the
greatest base-runner of all time
There have been other players
yho stole more bases than Cobb and
theirs who were considered great
ase-runners, but they performed in
hat is regarded in sport as "the
Png ago." When they played the
Iles of the game were different and
he style OF play also was entirely
ifferent, combination making
ase stealing an easy matter COM
ared to the rules and system Of
lay in vogue the last Is years.
When Cobb first began making rec
tds as a base runner (and his mark
pntinues to stand and promises to
bntiune for many seasons) he was
kgarded as child of fortune. "Just
ind luck" players would say in ex-
aiming his success. A certain per-
kntage Of success in base ball Is due
luck, but player cannot continue
ason after season on luck alone to
complish what Cobb did; he has to
ave something besides luck. Cobb
I'D 1t.
What puzzled unbiased students Of
,se bail was how Cobb could run
.ses SO successfully. Analysed.
pbb lacked qualities that other men
Id. In no department Of play was
the best equipped player from a
echanical standpoint. To run bases
ecessfully a man must be fast. Cobb
as fast, but there We're other play
$ who were just as fast and a few
hat were regarded as faster Still,
hey never compared with Cobb as
ase runners.
What Cobb Possessed.
In base running Cobb had speed,
but he also had brains, and it was
thia combination that made him a
great runner. He was not a faster
|nsn but he was keener observer.
Sobb had knowledge. nerve. courage
And speed. The most valuable Of
these qualities was knowledge.
Cobb, figuratively, always had an
ace In the hole in running bases. He
aid not run haphazardly, depending
dpon his speed to get him by. He
had made a study of pitchers as a
batter. and he also made a study OF
pitchers az a base runner. He real
Ized that two things were necessary
to run bases successfully. One was a
long lead and the other a quick start.
He had the quick start. No player
ever broke away as fast as Cobb. He
vas going at top speed with his sec
ond stride. He had developed that
better than any one else. But to get
D long lead was a different matter.
In his study of pitchers Cobb had
observed that certain of them had
an individual move just before maxi
Ing q throw to first. A pitcher has
TO make some kind of move to turn
10 first and Cobb decided that most
pitchers had certain little tell-tale
He studied them closely
and discovered that all Of them had
Stole on Cy Young.
Cobb had little dimoulty in steal
LnE bases on Denton T. tCy) Young,
6ne of the greatest pitchers the
Ieaxue ever saw. This was always
puuzling to other players. Young had
) good move to first. He caught
many players mapping. 1t was unwise
10 take a long lead with Young in
The box and the wisest thing run
pers could do was to keep close to
The bag. But. good as Young was,
Cobb found it easy to steal on him.
Tt was always a mystery and still.
Ehfs explana alton of Cobb's success
move that 1T was really no trick at
k1l.
In observing Young, Cobb discov-
bred ono day that Young, who always
held the ball with both hands near
bis chin when in pitching position
Ei6h men on bases, drew the hands
against his chest as he started to
Find I'D. Cobb watched him for sew
sral Innings and saw that Young
hever threw the ball to a base after
6ulling the hands to his chest. AS
long az the hands were extended
IRON, the body he was likely to throw
10 a base, bat as soon as the hands
Lugred the chest Young threw the
Sall only in one direction ana that
ras toward tho plate.
wAiIe He Had Hall.
After that Cobb always watched
Founes hands. While they were
hut in front of him, claspinE the
au, Cobb stayed close to the base,
lit as soon as the hands were drawn
against the chest Cobb broke for
g next base. Because he was
finting while Young still had the
Ill he got such a start that 1t was
1possible for the catcher to throw
IN out
Younx could never understand why
shA vaS able to steal on him. His