Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-25
KING OF DIAMOND
HAD EVERYTHING"
Managers and Players Not
Able to Find a Flaw I
in Tvs Play. =
BY GEORGE MORIARTY,
Big League Umpire.

A THOUGH a generous crop OF
" rockies has appeared in the
"A major leagues this season, I'M
4 covering another Ty Cobb seems
as futile as ever.
Cobb is generally conceded the great
est player the game ever produced. That
he had everything" is obvious, because
a weakness in a player is quickly de-
tected and becomes common knowledge.
But managers and players have never
been able to point to flaw in Cobbs
play.
For the 'steenth time was asked the
other day: DO you think the game
will ever produce another Cobb" 1 do
not believe we shall ever see player
equal to Cobb. All great stars from the
days of King" Kelly, Arson and Ed
Delehanty to the aces OF the present
have been different type. Take modern
stars Ruth, Speaker. Roush, Hornsby
and Sisler have hit the peaks of fame
in a playing fashion that becomes only
themselves. Perhaps every star scintil-
1ates in his own sweet way because
nature frowns upon duplicates in hui
man machinery.
Had Way to Stop Cobb.
Nowadays when a speedy and sensa-
tional player breaks into the game he
is often compared with the once MASTER
full Cobb, who set the standard for
superlative performance in the field, at
bat and on the bases. Ira Thomas, who
caught for Philadelphia Is years ago,
paid high tribute to Cobb's base steal
ing ability.
II can stop Cobbs stealing" said
Thomas to his mates one day.
How can you do it, they inquired;
ITS easy" remarked Thomas. Il
and when he starts to steal second
throw to third"
Outfielders johnson, Detroit. and
Swanson, Cincinnati. are two Of the
Speediest players who have reached the
major leagues in the last 10 years. Yet
their chances to become really sensa-
tional have been greatly reduced be-
cause base stealing and base running
are at low ebb.
Cobb'S career lasted over a period
when skill on the bases was considered
a great asset. In fact. it made Cobb
the most spectacular player Of all time.
If Cobb had started his big league
activities in 1925 instead of 1905 many
of his magnificent records would not
have been made.
Some Odd Base Ball.
Here is a sample inning of modern
base ball that can be put away in
moth balls till something shows up to
transcend it in oddly. 1t was the
sixth inning of a game between the
st. Louis Browns and Boston Red Sox.
Eleven Boston batters went to the
plate and manufactured seven runs.
After this scoring there was still none
out when Ken Williams doubled and
was sacrificed to third. Rothrock then
grounded to Melillo. who threw home
to head off Williams.
Ken logged safely between inf1elders
till Rothrock, the batter-base runner,
had sped from the plate to third base.
] had not seen that stunt in years.
When williams was finally cornered
It was Manush. left fielder, who tagged
him out near third base In this in
ming three Boston batters were sent to
the plate to sacrifice. but their efforts
went foul. and after two strikes had
been recorded each batter drove out a
ceSSfully sacrificed to third base. failed
to score. Rather situation wherein
King Base Hit laughed at the bunt.
Cheap Circuit Drives.
Serious efforts are being made to
eliminate the 5-and-10-cent home runs.
While circuit drives were raging IN the
IdSI ulOIlII IWO IildSLldLCo oLAO q iCo6uC
president took the law into their own
hands and instituted the first steps
toward cutting the evil down to mini
mum.
Phil Ball. president of the st Louis
Browns. erected wire screen in front
Of his right field pavilion which has
already cut Is possible homers into
two-baggerS. The Philadelphia Ma
lions followed suit + The third step
was taken by the president Of the
elder circuit, who ordered his umpires
to soil each supply OF new balls before
the games.
Copyright. 1927