View Full Version : Did Babe Ruth ever pitch to Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe?
Shoeless Moe
02-10-2014, 01:47 PM
Does anyone know? If so anyone know how they fared.
What a matchup that would have been.
and how valuable would a picture of that be?
guy3050
02-10-2014, 01:53 PM
Here is how they did during the years in which Babe Ruth pitched against Ty Cobb.
1915 – Boston won the pennant; Detroit was second, 2 ½ games back. Cobb led the league in batting with .369. Ruth was 18-8. Against Ruth, Cobb was 5-for-13 for .385.
1916 – Boston won the pennant; Detroit was third, 4 games behind. Cobb’s .371 was second to Tris Speaker’s .386. Ruth was 23-12. Against Ruth’s pitching, Cobb was 8-for-25 for .320.
1917 – Chicago won the pennant. Boston was second, 9 games out. Detroit was fourth, 12 ½ games back. Cobb led the league in batting with .383. Ruth was 24-13, his victory total second only to Chicago’s Eddie Cicotte, who had 28. Against Ruth, Cobb was 8-for-22 for .367.
1918 – Boston won the pennant; Detroit was 7th. Cobb led the league with .382. Ruth was 13-7. He had now started playing the outfield when he wasn’t pitching. Cobb was 2-for-7 for .286 in only two confrontations with Ruth the pitcher.
1919 – Chicago won the pennant. Detroit was fourth. Boston was sixth. Cobb led the league in batting with .384. Ruth was 9-5. In three meetings, Cobb was 8-for-12 against Ruth for .667. This was the last year Ruth was used regularly as a pitcher.
1921 – New York won the pennant. Detroit was sixth. Cobb’s .389 average was second to his teammate Harry Heilmann’s .394. Ruth was 2-0 as a pitcher, his final victory coming against Detroit as Cobb went 1-for-5.
TOTALS – Ruth was 12-9 with 14 complete games against the Cobb-led Tigers over six seasons. Cobb’s .381 average against Ruth’s pitching was 14 points better than his lifetime mark.
Shoeless Moe
02-10-2014, 02:15 PM
Very cool!
Great stuff, thank you!
I Only Smoke 4 the Cards
02-10-2014, 02:37 PM
Cool stuff. If I recall, Cobb had some not too nice things to say about Ruth as a pitcher and person in general.
tedzan
02-10-2014, 02:58 PM
A definite read....it will answer all your questions regarding Ruth vs Cobb.
And, check-out the Appendix....it provides a game-by-game description of Cobb vs Ruth (May 1915 to Sept 1928).
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd339/tz1234zaz/bookcobbandruth.jpg
TED Z
guy3050
02-10-2014, 03:01 PM
Cool stuff. If I recall, Cobb had some not too nice things to say about Ruth as a pitcher and person in general.
And Ruth had mixed feelings about Cobb
"(Ty) Cobb is a prick. But he sure can hit. God Almighty, that man can hit." - Babe Ruth
ls7plus
02-10-2014, 04:47 PM
Absolutely fabulous stuff about two of the greatest whose stature, in stark contrast to many, only seems to grow ever larger with time!
Best,
Larry
brewing
02-10-2014, 05:04 PM
This proves it. Cobb is better!!!!
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I Only Smoke 4 the Cards
02-10-2014, 05:44 PM
This proves it. Cobb is better!!!!
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Apples and oranges
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Shoeless Moe
02-10-2014, 07:32 PM
....but both fruit!
jbbama
02-12-2014, 12:43 PM
its an interesting read.......Cobb had his way with Ruth
TUM301
02-12-2014, 02:49 PM
Seem to recall reading Ruth pitching to Jackson in 1 of his 1`st, if not the 1`st game he pitched in Boston. Also remember something about an inside the park H R that day. Will double ck on both.
h2oya311
02-12-2014, 04:25 PM
Wonder how Ruth would have faired batting against Cobb pitching. Then we'd know who was better!
Shoeless Moe
02-12-2014, 05:24 PM
Wonder how Ruth would have faired batting against Cobb pitching. Then we'd know who was better!
Cobb would have plunked him every time.
Buythatcard
02-12-2014, 05:32 PM
Ted, thanks for posting that book. I never knew it existed. I must read it.
its an interesting read.......Cobb had his way with Ruth
They seem rather friendly in this NY Times shot on a card...
http://luckeycards.com/ptunc1930stobaceraangolanruthandcobb2.jpg