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(More customer reviews)This is one of the most reprinted photographs of Ty Cobb, who was famous for coming into a base with his "steel showing," which was just a way of saying that he sharpened his spikes so that when start to slide into a base the fielder risked having a leg slashed open. The more we know about Tyrus Raymond Cobb, the less there is to like about him. His obsession with being first was pathological and when he got into big time trouble it was invariably because of his racist views. But when we look at the period of baseball history that pre-dates the lively ball (i.e., before Babe Ruth), I think that Cobb gets to be called the greatest baseball player of that era (the only other serious nominee would be Honus Wagner). What there is no doubt about is that there has not been a fiercer competitor than Ty Cobb (ironically the other name that comes to mind was Jackie Robinson).
Cobb was part of the inaugural class of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, receiving 222 votes out of 226 ballots cast (98.23%). You have to wonder what four members of the BBWAA did not vote for "The Georgia Peach." His Hall of Fame plaque is remarkably sparse given what it says: "Led American League in Batting twelve times and created or equaled more major league records than any other player. Retired with 4191 major league hits." The numbers the plaque only alludes to are quite impressive. Cobb had a lifetime batting average of .367, 297 triples, nine batting titles in a row, 23 straight seasons hitting over .300 (three seasons over .400), 2,245 runs and 892 stolen bases.
This 10 x 8 sepia toned double matted photograph shows Cobb sliding into third base, raising a shower of dirt as the opposing player jumps high into the air to avoid getting ripped open by those spikes. My favorite story about Ty Cobb reflects the fact he was from another era when baseball was "something like a war." The story goes that at the start of the 1960s, when baseball had been transformed by integration, night baseball, and expansion the question was raised as to what Ty Cobb would bat if he were playing baseball at that time instead of at the start of the century. The considered reply from the player (it changes depending on who tells the story) is that Cobb would only bat .260, maybe .270 tops. The person asking the question is astonished, but is then reminded that, after all, Cobb was then 80 years old.
Something I did not know about Ty Cobb is that on May 5, 1925 Cobb had three home runs, a double and two singles, establishing a single-game American League record of 16 total bases. Since that time the record has been tied (I believe first by Lou Gehrig when he hit four home runs against the Philadelphia A's), but has never been broken. In that particular game Cobb made of point of showing that he could play long ball, but then went back to his patented game of speed and strategy. Of course, it is not surprising that he was too stubborn to change with the times.
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Enjoy this photograph featuring MLB player Ty Cobb of the Detroit Tigers. A great collector's piece for all Detroit Tigers fans!About this photo: OFFICIALLY LICENSED Photo Custom printed and cropped on high-gloss photographic paper Mounted in an acid-free mat with precision cut beveled edges Made in a custom photographic lab, not on a printing press Each game-action or portrait photograph was taken by a professional photographer Photo File is an authorized licensee for this photo Outside matte is eggshell white with a black interior matte. Note: This is an unautographed photograph.
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