Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-07


he did not get there before the gan
stitutc in center field for an inning o
That made it more difficult Cobb
took liberties and privileges that no
other player took or dared take, and
my job became more and more EN-
barra ssing. My diplomatic resources
were being constantly put to the test.
But with all this | could not kick TO
Cobb. He embarrassed me and caused
me many unplea SAINT moments. but at
the same time Cobb did play remark
able bail He gave his last ounce.
Only once in all the years that | man
aged Detroit did Cobb appear to me to
be loafing in the least. That happened
one year when Cobb and the club failed
to agree on salary. Even then I do
not say that Cobb loafed Intentionally.
He seemed to lack his usual interest,
perhaps because he probably thought
that the club did not appreciate his
effort to the proper extent, and his
work lacked the usual fire and ag
Eressiveness. As soon as the salary
matter was adjusted Cobb again play
ed at the top of his form and con-
tinued at top speed thereafter.
Cobb Most Spectacular.
Cobb was the most spectacular fig
Ure in the game and the greatest
dra wing card in sport until Ruth APP
peared and took first place from him
as gate attraction. While many of
Cobb's plays had been pulled by other
men, still there was never one player
that pulled 50 many of them.
One time Detroit was playing Phila-
delpha With Cobb on second Sam
Crawford drove high and long fly
20 Danny Murphy in right field.
Before the ball could be relayed back
to the plate Cobb had scored Nine
days later he pulled the same play
again. and several times after that.
The same play had been made 10
years previously by Eddie Burke,
playing left field for the New York
Giants. Burke did it only once in
his lifetime. Cobb did it twice in nine
DAYS and made his feats the talk of
the season.
The first time that Cobb scored
was coaching at third. Detroit was
playing New York. Hal Chase was
pla wing first, and Jimmy Austin third.
] figured Cobb would so TO third.
round the bag. take lead for the
plate and stop. Chase figured the
same thing. Chase threw to Austin.
hut Cobb kept right on going. Austin
whired 10 tag the flying runner. but
there was no runner. BY the time
home. Cobb had scored.
Scoring from second base on a irl-
field ont has been done before Jack
(BulleD Thoney. pulled it twice in the
50 me game on Tim Jordan. of Balti-
more. Thoney at that time was play
ing with Toronto. If the first base
man hesitates q second. or even
fraction of a second. the play is bound
to succeed, for ii is always made on
Cl,, hi dnr fr,, irh no in.
fielder has 10 come far in, barely get
ting the runner at first. Ii the man
on second has d good lead he will
naturally score. The play cannot be
made on a fast grounder.
Cobb. while playing right field. sew
eral times threw out men on clean
drives into right. He threw out Harry
Hooper twice in one game. Tommy
Mccarthy, who played right field for
st. Louis and Boston. made the same
play a number of times.
Cobb frequently went from first to
third on a sacrifice bunt. but neither
was this play new. 1t originated be-
fore Cobbs debut in base ball; in fact.
the play has been used ever since l
started pla wing ball. Tom Brown
used to he lead-of man for Louisville
with Harry Taylor batting second.
When Brown reached first. he always
had TAYLOR give him the bunt sign.
Brown would start with the pitch and
Taylor hunted. Brown always man
aged To reach third cobb had Ross
man. fine bunter. following him in
the batting order. Whenever he got
on. he would get the bunt sign from
Rossman. and Rossman. who could
hunt any ball pitcher delivered, laid
II down. Cobb. starting with the
pitch. found it easy to take two bases
on the bunt. 1t was impossible to
throw Cobb out.
DOME Bush was an excellent base
runner, and while Bush and Cobb
were on the Detroit club they caused
worr..- on the pitchers part, especially
If they got on the bases at the same
time. With Bush on third and Cobb
on first, CC1o always started down.
Il the play vas made on Cobb, Bush
wuuld break for the plate. AS they
worked it. Bush always scored or Cobb
cot to second. One of them if not
both, was certain to advance.
AS ! have said, the most discussed
plays that Cobb made. the most spec
1acular, were not oricinat ted by him,
shut never has there been another man
tvho worked a many of them As Cobb.
ID No man ever worked them as
I ZEN az Cobb did.