Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
''HOW MUCHLONCER
CAN | CO." He ASKS
First Double Play on Cobb
Was Tip.Off That He
Was Slowing.
BY GEORGE MORIARTY,
Big LeaEue Umpire.


HAsE BALL tragedies and disap-
- pointments are temporarily side
tracked during the month which
IL precedes the world series. This
is particularly true so far Is the
fans are concerned. They forget their
also ran home teams for the moment
to present convincing arguments in
favor of the Philadelphia Athletics or
the Chicago Cubs, as their sympathies
may direct.
However, the ball player never for
gets. While he has time to dwell upon
the world series, he is primarily inter-
eSted in his own welfare. The rookie
who is enjoying success In his first or
second year may look ahead in an
optimistic manner, but to the hardened
veteran it is another season about to
close, with the accompanying thought:
I wonder how much longer I can 60"
Although years of service nave slowed
him up he makes a valiant effort to
hide 1t. And there Is the rub. A pair
of legs will tell the story every time.
Keller Saved Props.
"Wee" Willie Keeler. one Of the
fastest outflelders of his time, never
taxed his legs unnecessarily. Keeler
commended that the decline of q Splinter
was easily apparent, In contrast to the
heavy footed athlete who maintained
an ordinary speed throughout his
career.
Ty. Cobbs case is an apt illustration,
although Ty showed little sign of wear
and tear until he passed his eighteenth
year In the majors. There was time
when It was virtually impossible to
complete double play by second and
first when Cobb was involved as the
batsman. His first double-play demise
was the cause of wide-eyed astonish-
ment among the players.
Cobb was doubled!''
1t spread around the American
League like wildfire. Players regarded
Cobb was doubled again, and the truth
was out; Cobb was really slowing up
The unacceptable Father Time had
| tapped him on the ankles.
Cobb, keenly aggressive, was always
last to accept defeat. Once, talking
with his teammates, he said: Don't
be afraid to extend yourselves in run
they have limited number of throws
or SprintS in their systems are wrong.
Force yourselves to extremes: it Is your
mental attitude that counts"
Ty Loved the Game.
1t was that which spurred Cobb on
| through "a years of achievement. Al
| though he had accumulated close to
million dollars he still loved the trail
OF making base hit, the triumph Of
outWitting the enemy and the accom-
panying applause. After his remark
able career at Detroit, he played two
years under Connie Mack before he
hung up his glove. His bat was as
dangerous as ever, but his legs forced
him out of the picture.
The lively ball has added years Of
grace to the average veterans career
because it has reduced strenuous sliding
and base running, so much so that
many veterans who have passed the
thirty-fifth milestone are still cayortine
in the majors.
| Generalship in playing the batter aids
the veteran In covering UP his lack of
| speed, but when a fly or a grounder
| goes wide OF his position and he fails
to start with the crack Of the bat, the
manager is first to detect the widening
mole in his defensive program.
All veterans must go the way Of
Cobb, Speaker and Collins. Their legs
gave out. Three years hence will prob
ably mark the departure Of o dozen
stars whose underpinnings cannot stand
the pace. The heat of July and August
takes toll each year.
Base balls greatest tragedy probably
centers around faltering legs. Though
all veterans become richer in expert
ence, and therefore craftier In the
actual science of the game, none has
ever been able to Offset the loss of leg
power Undoubtedly dependable bank
account softens the tragedy.
! (Copyright, 1929, by North American News
paper AllianceD