Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-11-2012

Ty Cobb on the future of baseball, as reported in the January 11, 1912 edition of the Milwaukee Journal:

“Baseball will continue to increase in popularity…Every major league club will have a plant costing from $500,000 to $1,000,000. Many minor league parks will rival those in major league cities. Another major league will be formed within the next five years. Competition will become more keen, and star ball players will be paid fabulous sums. Ball players will be smarter. Unless conditions are satisfactory they will organize and force the magnates to recognize their rights. Players will also be faster. A more dashing style of play will prevail. This, together with the improvements in parks will attract monster crowds and the club owners’ coffers will be filled with gold.

Ty Cobb may have been a jerk, he may have been a racist, and he might just be the least likeable superstar in the history of the sport.

He was also prescient.