The Washington times., 1926-01-06


me the trick OF sliding. have
been called a vicious slider and
have been accused Of purposely in
juring players. Such were not my
intentions. but had to protect my
self end meet roughness with
roughness.
IN the first game in New York,
Kid Elberfeld was playing short
stop. Up to that time had been
fast baserunner. but always had
slid into the bases head first. No
hody had told me different So
far, I had been successful, but 1t
was because had not gone against
crafty big leaguers-men Ike Fiber
feld-wfno knew every angle Of the
@Or, my first attempt I slid into
second head forward In flash,
Il seemed that Elberfeld gave me
the knee.
Stepping on the bag to receive
the ball from the catcher. he
blocked my slide by coming down
on my head with his knee. Ny
forehead and face were showed
into the hard ground and the
skin was peeled OF Just aD9ve
the eyebrows. The clever way
blocked me. When got to my
feet I was much subdued. I
had run into q real big Lacquer.
realized that he knew much Of
what would have to learn.
Il made no complaint. but, walk
ing back to the bench, began to
think. Every time rubbed my
aching head the more thought.
Incidents like that are lost on the
fans. The newspaper report merely
said Cobb out trying to take sec
ond."
.sThat is no way to slide into
base I said to myself. Tn all
wrong. BY going in there head
first the baseman has all the adj
vantage. Why didn't somebody tell
me about tnat?'
From then on I watched closely.
I. noted how Elberfeld and other
stars went into the bags-feet first,
spikes shining.
-"By going in that way" I said
to myself" the advantage is with
the slider. He is testing the other
fellows nerve. Why let him test
miner"
The next morning I went out and
practiced that slide. soon dis
covered that by throwing the feet
forward and landing on the side OF
the hips the feet would shoot into
the bag. As they struck something
solid the body would swerye around
TO one side.
That's how they escape being
touched" I declded. New, II a
runner can figure the throw he
can swerve to either side by little
practice.
I talked TO Manager Armour and
his answers indicated that my de.
duetion had been correct. l didn't
wait to be taught how to slide.
went right In and taught myself
after watching the others.
In q very short while ] was
able to 90 into q bag with all the
speed Of the veteran. In fact. 1
introduced what was a new slide
I'm baseball It came to me in an
effort to protect my ankles.
have small ankles and l knew
that II I took o long slide and
went jan1b into the bag would
likely twist my ankle and be out
So, instinct taught me what re-
gard as an Improvement on the old
style. Instead of taking the long
slide would run close UP to the
base and then throw myself forward
Quickly sort OF a swoop. The
force of a quick swoop or dart
would swerve my body around more
quickly. / would surprise the base
men and would get out of his way
before he knew II. Expecting q
he \ tn
In making this slide / ran into
several basenen and that is proba-
bly, why got the reputation of
being vicious Of trying, purposely
TO cut a fellow down. / am not
guilty Of any such intention.
After Elberfeld had given me the
knee and showed my head into the
dirt / figured that thereafter,
would put the test up to the base.
man and have him look out for
himself rather than intimidate me.
It's all a case of beating the
other fellow TO. the punch ~ still
fail to see why I shouldn't make
the baseman a little respectful of
me rather than have him make
me scared. ~
Often have wondered at the
many stories OF base runners try.
ing to spike a man while nothing
is ever said about baseTnan step.
ping on some green youngster'a
neck The fans see one and don't
see the other. Ball players know.
though.
AS ] write this I have on my
desk letters rom fans asking Tor
an honest statement as To the men
Z have pnrpQsely spiked They
mention several cases. Many more
hAsen1en have been injured by other
bhse runners than by me. Why
dpn't they pick on them? Anyway
q Will answer In ali franiness these
Questions In my next .arf,eIe.
When the fans know what / had