Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-22
KAY JAY
SFORT
CHAT

The statement in one of the morn
ing papers yesterday morning to the
effect that the Gannett and Eickery
Il Hill players would play Friday
evening for purse OF S1OO has
aroused no little comment in Au-
gusta. The teams are meeting Fri
day evening but there is no money
involved as far as the players are
concerned. Several players on both
teams are prep school stars who will
undoubtedly go to school another
year. All the players are amateurs
and the statement that there was
either purse or any betting going
on among the players would tend
to put their amateur standing in
the shade. There is no purse offer
ed the members of the teams. win,
lose or draw. and the gate receipts
will go toward the athletic funds of
each club.
Just as the sporting world appear
ed TO be in for a dry season. out
crops a scandal involving two of the
most colorful players who ever wore
spiked shoe. namely TN Cobb and
iris Speaker. The scandal saws that
these stars We're hooked up in a
crooked battle in the season OF 1919
and involves Joe Wood and Dutch
Leonard, Cleveland and Detroit
pitchers, in the fracas. Just why
the details were held out until this
late hour is unknown and why it
does any good to dig it out at this
late stage of the game is another
mystery.
Cobb has been the idol of baseball
fans for many years, not only in
Detroit but all around the circuit.
lie has been noted as an aggressive
player who took great pride in his
fielding and batting average and who
always gave his best in every game
in which he ever participated. Al
the end of last season he announced
his intentions of quitting the game
and is out of it for good.
Speaker. manager OF the Cleve-
land Indians and hero of many q
battle on the diamond is also ac-
cused of being involved in the rump-
us. Speaker, clever fielder and a
dangerous hitter. was of much the
same type as Cobb. Clever, a quick
thinker and still fast fielder.
Speaker announced that he, too. was
done at the end of last seasons
schedule.
And now, when both of these he
roes of the diamond have quit the
game as the idols of the fans, the
rumor begins TO be spread around
that they didn't always give their
best in every game they took part
in. They both make emphatic de-
mails of any knowledge of the affair,
Leonard. one of the members of
the group alleged to be involved in
the affair. has come out with the
statement that bids fair to topple
the two stars from the high position
they once held in the hearts of the
fans, If the charges are found to be
true. Leonard. a comparatively Sman
potato in the American Leaguel az
compared with Cobb and Speaker, is
the cause of all the trouble.
We don't believe that either
Speaker or Cobb ever stopped to
anything that was not above board.
If their makeup had possessed these
qualities. it would have cropped ont
long before this late date. Leonard
admits that he was crooked enough
to bet on game he thought was fin
ed and his charges should not be
considered too heavily before the
whole truth is out. Cobb and Speak
er were both great kidders and
some Joking remark might have been
passed among the four players. We
don't believe the former Indian ano
Tiger managers ever tried to put
anything over on the public that
gave them their living and we will
continue to be from Missouri until
the charges have been definitely
proven.