Ty Cobb and the hobby
 

I have always had a fascination with the older players but Cobb was one that has always stood out in my collecting habits. His picture also adores many of the walls in my office and man cave.

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Jonathan Richman did a song about Walter Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpUd7t5gQYU

I think any discussion regarding the enduring popularity of dead ball players requires a nod of gratitude to Larry Ritter and "The Glory of Their Times."

Yeah I don't follow the hobby, maybe it's because of all the Coca-Cola stock he owned.

I've always suspected a correlation between the enormous popularity of Larry's book in the years following its publication in 1966 and the emergence of a substantial hobby collecting the cards and memorabilia of that era not long thereafter. In my case, I picked up a copy in the small used book section of a comic book store I frequented, and it literally changed my life.

I believe in Charles Leerhsen's thorough research on Cobb, whom he credits as being an excellent fielder. He details Cobb as having had a tremendous arm, a good glove, and of course outstanding speed in tracking a baseball. Those WAR numbers don't always tell the correct story. Oddball rules and misinterpretations of errors could have accounted for those.

To me, it was the passion with which Cobb played and the skills to back it up which has made him so enduring.

I always thought Cobb was 6' 1'' and Ruth was 6' 2'', but this photo shows Cobb's stature as larger. He must have commanded some serious respect and intimidated opponents on the field. Spikes flying!

Cobby

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Cobbs personality and persona with the Media and the aggressive with which he played

He has some amazing cards and poses keep those cards coming

Such an awesome card Leon!

Cropping Jeff's great American League Pub. Co. postcard, you get the photo used for Cobb's T206 bat on card. I imagine it has been pointed out before, but still fun to see where the intense game face seen on his T206 bat on card (probably my favorite of his T206) originally came from. It looks like the artist might have taken a little liberty and uplifted Ty's right eyebrow to give him a slightly more menacing/mischievous look.

Brian

awesome postcard Jeff!! Agreed that he was aggressive as he did everything with all his might!

Here's a few.

My remaining faves...

I like Cobb because the guy was a real ball player capable of playing in any time. I'm not sure anyone doubts that. Maybe he doesn't still hit 366 today but he would still outhit everybody else. He also played the game the way you'd want your son to play; with his head down and his spikes out.

He also clearly loved baseball in the same way that Rickey Henderson loved baseball. Ty played through age 41 and still hit 323 even in his final season.

Ty Cobb - the GOAT
 

Ty Cobb hit over .300 for 23 consecutive seasons

In fact, he could have gone 0-for-his-last-2,541 at bats and still had a .300 career average.

As one story goes, in the year before his death, Cobb was asked by a reporter how he would fare in the modern game.

“I’d hit about .300,” Cobb said.

The reporter was aghast. Ty Cobb? Only hitting .300?

“You’ve got to remember,” Cobb added, “I’m 73 years old!”