Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-25
BASEBALL HEADS
WILLING TO LET
SCANDAL PASS
But Cobb. and Speaker Aren't
Leonard Conspicuous by
His Absence

Chicago. Dec. 24.-(P)-The fire of
basebalrs Christmas scandal smoui-
dered today. Basebalfs masters are
content to let it go out. The fire
victims-Ty Cobb and iris Speaker
also want the blaze extinguished,
but complete generation is the only
extinguisher they want used.
Both Cobb and Speaker, generally
rated as the two greatest players OF
modern baseball, continue their
pleas for a chance to face the man
who started the fire-H. b. tDutcn)
Leonard, former Tiger pitcher.
Leonard, the recipient or letters
from Cobb and Joe Wood, once a
Cleveland pitcher, continues nom
committaI regarding the charges
linking the names or Copp anu
Speaker with q game between CIene-
land and Detroit September 20, 1919,
which he said was fixed for DETROIT
to win. ,.,o Az
the talking" Leonard said at ms
ranch near Fresno, Cal. When the
i
Meanwhile there are rumbnnSs
that presage counter-charges from
Cobb's friends. Cobb, home in Au-
eusta. Ga. said American League
officials were equally guilty with
Leonard in this "rotten business" be-
cause they paid $4,000 to keep the
details of his story from leaking
out" The reference Is to the price
reported to have been paid Leonard
for letters written by Cobb and
Wood which form the basis of the
charges on which Cobb and Speaker
are linked with the questioned game.
Departure of Cobb from baseball
under a cloud after % years during
which he established more records
than any other player has revealed
the existence as long as a year OF
rupture between Cobb and Frank
Navin, president of the Detroit IL
gers.
Cobb, II is now revealed, was
slated for removal as manager OF
the Tigers at the end of the 1870
season, The blow was checked,
however, by great civic testimonial
banquet rendered Cobb in recogni-
ton of the part he played in spread
ing the name of Detroit throughout
the land. The affair was sponsored
by Mayor John w. Smith, who also
presented to Cobb as gift from the
city a $1,000 hall clock. Navin,
President Ban Johnson of the Amer
lean League, and Connie Mack, man
ager of the Philadelphia Athletics,
were high figures of the game who
attended, and 1t was at this event
that Navin presented Cobb with a
check for $4,000 which he said was
in recognition of Cobb's contribution
to the success of the Detroit base
ball club.
] Cobb, now that his integrity has
! been questioned, has charged that
tie $4,000 was not a gift, but act
ually a part of his salary.
The financial success of the De-
troit ball club has been marked dur
ing Navin's regime as president and
Cobb's years as player Navin in
past years has let it be understood
that ae attributed much of the pop
ularity of baseball in Detroit to Ty
Cobb and that Cobb, therefore, could
stay on the Tiger payroll as long as
he wished.
Expressions of confidence in Cobb
and Speaker continued to come from
many sources. Among the latest
was a resolution passed by the Phila-
delphia Sports Writers Association.
At Augusta, Ca, citizens went
ahead with plans for testimonial
banquet for their fellow townsman.
Joe Wood told his story yesterday
to Burnside Winslow, chairman of
the baseball committee of the Yale
Athletic Association by whom Wood
Is employed as coach, but no state
ment of the university's attitude was
made known. Wood told Winslow
he had never bet on fixed" ball
game in his life.
Ban Johnson said he did not think
''this unfortunate affair" would have
any effect on the American League
fortunes next year when new man
ayers will pilot the teams Cobb and
Speaker led during 1926.