The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-12-22

TO which it referred as wholly lcgiti-
mate and one of the sort frequently
entered into by baseball players.
The Georgia Peach said that, while
he refused to bet on games in his
own league, it was Il frequent custom
among players to make such bets.
Speaker Claims He + Goat
Speaker called himself the goat
Of the game, declared he was not
mentioned in the Leonard letters, and
added: 4 know nothing OF any
waeers being made in iris contest
or Of amy fixing. The only thing
they have agains; me is the word q,
IA man who IS behind this fla,eup,
Leonard. have requested repeated
y TIA: Leonard he brought in to
face me bat he has positively re-
fused To come into ii meeting
Speaker maintained that he had
been told Of Il threat by Leonard to
get him after Tie iattos had been
waived out Of the American League.
Leonard, VINO during his baseball.
career nal served both under Cobb
and Speaker, refused To comment on
the ease al his ranch home near
Fresno, Cali. u will not denv nor
affirm the eommiss toner's state
ment," lie said. Il wish To be non
commi,t.l at present"
May Have Caused designations
That the impending scandal had Il
part in the resignation OF both man
sgcrs. WIS limited from several
sources. althou:D Cobb denied this.
asserting that his resignation was
voluntary. Ban Johnson, president
Of the American League, expressed
the opinion that both Cobb and
Speaker saw the handwriting on the
wall and decided TO pull out"
Cleveland sport writers also believ-
ed Speakers resignation was due to
the impending storm and not Ell ae-
count Of salary or friction in the
management of the club.
Friends. who quoted Speaker as
saying he WAS willing 10 retire from
the game in order to protect another
player, suggested that the former
manager might start law suit to
clear his name.
Likewise there was no surprise in
Detroit over the ease, sport writers
there being aware as early as last
August that Leonard had made such
allegations. Leonard went to Detroi.
at that time with photostatic copies
of the correspondence with Cobb. He
was seeking reinstatement in major
league baseball at the time. He was
released in 1925.
Box Score Studied
While the controversy ragged base
ball followers scanned the box score
of the game Of seven years back. 1t
revealed that while Detroit won. 8
| to ), it was a hitting fest for both
| sides. Cobb got only one hit, while
Speaker crashed out three ground
! gamers in five times to bat, two Of
| them three aggcrs.
Speaker told Lands that he Ger
tainly wouldn't be pounding the ball
| in that manner il he wanted the other
| side to win.
Descriptions Of the game appearing
| in Detroit newspapers at the time
| said that both teams edited the
crowds by good sportsmanship.'
that Cobb was the only player not
offered an opportunity to fattcn his
batting average, and that Speaker
was virtually presented with two
triples"
Nothing to distinguish the game
| from the ordinary run was remember.
ed by players who participated. Sew
| eral of the Indians could recall moth
| ing about it, while others pointed tx
| the box score as evidence that theil
| former manager was innocent. Every
one rallied to the defense Of "Spokc.