The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-18
COBB CALLED
BEST BATSMAN
IN Is YEARS
Babe Ruth Has Edge in Only
One Way, Says Evans-He
Gets More Distance
(HI BILLY ENA\S)

The greatest hatSman OF the last 20
years, every phase of the game con
sidered-my nomination is Tyrus
Raymond Cobb. generally considered
the greatest bali player of all time
Babe Ruth gets more distance to
his drives than Ty Cobb ever did,
but there alone has Ruth the edge
on Cobb as II batter.
Willie Keller was better bunter
than Cobb, perhaps Il trifle more
scientific in his actions around the
plate, but there alone did Wee Will
lie" have the edge on Ty.
Hornsby, Wagner. Laioie and Jack
son consistently got more power be-
hind their drives than Cobb, but in
that feature alone was their hitting
superior to the Georgia Peach.
Sisler. Speaker. Roush and Collins
are much the same style batsmen as
Cobb, but despite their greatness,
Cobb must be rated as superior bats
man, all things considered.
One Step Advantage
A lefthanded batsman is suppose ed
to have advantage because of hitting
from that side of the plate, thereby
gaining perhaps a step in the run
from the plate to first base. That
one step often makes a base hit
for a left handler that would have
been just an out for right handler.
Cobb is Il left-handed batter and
there was no faster man in the game
when he was in his prime. His extra
ordinary speed won for him many a
base hit that slower men would have
lost.
Cobb was an extraordinary bunter
and for that reason had me opposing
infield constantly in doubt as to his
intention, which was a material ad-
vantage. 1t was not unusual for
Cobb to fake bunt, purposely miss
ing the ball to draw the infield in
and then come right back by hitting
the bail through.
AT dragging the ball. a sort of a
push bunt, the intent being to get
the ball past the pitcher, thereby
making it almost impossible for any
infielder to make n play on the ball
he also starred.
A Heavy Hitter
While Cobb never was noted as q
homerun hitter and lacks the ter
rifle driving power of Babe Ruth
his swing was far from that of q
weakling and his batting records con.
tain goodly number of doubles
and triples. True, his great speed
turned many single into double
and double into triple, but some
how he got there.
A keen eye and master mind sup
plcmented the remarkable batting
ability possessed by Cobb which wa:
topped off by sublime confidence
in his superiority. Cobb always con
veyed the impression that every pitch
er feared Cobb as a batsman more
than Cobb feared him as pitcher
and such was invariably the case.
In his entire career of % years a!
an American Lacquer, only in on
game has any pitcher completed!
dominated Cobb. l happened to b.
calling balls and strikes in that gam,
while doc" White, then sta
southpaw with the Chicago Whit,
Sox, did the mys9fying.
Struck Out Four Times
Believe it or not, Cobb struck ou
four times in that ball game and a
remember he didn't make so mucl
as a healthy foul. In the, ninth in
ming Freddy Payne substituted 70
him, the only time during his carcc
that Cobb was removed from a gam
because of inability to bat.
However, "Doc" White has sine
told me that Cobb made him suffe
plenty for the field day he once ha
at the Georgia Peach's expense.
All things considered, Cobb mus
be rated as the master batsman 0
the last rs years.