Interesting pose on my Deitsche Detroit PC w/ Cobb

[rainier2004]

So I am sitting here looking at my cards while my kids nap and have really been digging my PCs. This is the 1909 Deitsche Detroit card, I believe that is Mr. Cobb sitting far left.

Then I notice the African-American child sitting next to him...corresponding with the book in 2015 showing that Cobb wasn't a racist. I could see the boy wanting to sit next to Cobb as he was the star, but I don't think he would have sat there if Cobb was a dick to him nor would have Cobb himself wanted to photographed with that boy next to him or even on the team for that matter.

[ullmandds]

nice pc steve! maybe cobb didn't know he was there!!!! just kidding! I'm of the school cobb was no more racist than anyone else from that era...and again...beautiful card!!!!

[Stonepony]

That's a nice observation!

" Well, I don't believe anyone is 100% a dick"- Rhomann Dey, Guardians of the Galaxy

Also interesting how far away he's sitting from Crawford and how they each seem to be leaning away from one another.

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by Gobucsmagic74

Also interesting how far away he's sitting from Crawford and how they each seem to be leaning away from one another.

Come on guys. All dudes know what's up. Crawford has gas!

[insidethewrapper]

Group portrait of Detroit Tigers posed on field in front of mostly empty stands. Stamped on duplicate back: "Reproduced by Burke and Brace Photo, 2638 N. Drake Avenue, Chicago 47, Illinois." Handwritten on duplicate back: "1905 Detroit Tigers. Top row: Donovan, Disch, Lindsay, Doran, McIntyre, Eubanks, Mullin. 2nd row: Lowe, Drill, Killian, Crawford, Armour, Wiggs, Cobb, Barrett, O'Leary. Bottom: Kitson, Warner, Coughlin, Schaeffer [Schaefer]." 1905 (Ernie Harwell Sports Collection, Burton Historical Collection via the Detroit Public Library)

[WillowGrove]

Nice PC Steve! I always focused on how Wahoo Sam seems to not want to be so close to Ty. Not sure about Ty and the kid.

And Mike that is a great team photo with a rookie Cobb. Really wonderful to see a first yeat image of him in a real photo. Thanks for posting.

[irv]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

nice pc steve! maybe cobb didn't know he was there!!!! just kidding! I'm of the school cobb was no more racist than anyone else from that era...and again...beautiful card!!!!

Same, and imo, it has been proven time and time again, most of the stories about Cobb were nothing more than a fabrication written by Stump, who, in all likely hood, wasn't any better than the person he was trying to portray.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/7...players-legacy

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4...s-not-a-racist
http://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2015/0...arles-leerhsen

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Group portrait of Detroit Tigers posed on field in front of mostly empty stands. Stamped on duplicate back: "Reproduced by Burke and Brace Photo, 2638 N. Drake Avenue, Chicago 47, Illinois." Handwritten on duplicate back: "1905 Detroit Tigers. Top row: Donovan, Disch, Lindsay, Doran, McIntyre, Eubanks, Mullin. 2nd row: Lowe, Drill, Killian, Crawford, Armour, Wiggs, Cobb, Barrett, O'Leary. Bottom: Kitson, Warner, Coughlin, Schaeffer [Schaefer]." 1905 (Ernie Harwell Sports Collection, Burton Historical Collection via the Detroit Public Library)

What a great picture, super early in Cobb's career. Did you have a date? Must be September and cool by the way they are dressed. Thanks for posting that.

[orly57]

Originally Posted by WillowGrove

Nice PC Steve! I always focused on how Wahoo Sam seems to not want to be so close to Ty. Not sure about Ty and the kid.

And Mike that is a great team photo with a rookie Cobb. Really wonderful to see a first yeat image of him in a real photo. Thanks for posting.

A fun fact about Cobb and Crawford: the two started as friends, but Crawford soon became jealous of Cobb's talent. The two came to hate each other. After Cobb's death, several letters were found from the Hall of Fame responding to Cobb's requests that Crawford be admitted.

[insidethewrapper]

Photo must be around Sept 1905 Cobb debut was Aug 30, 1905 and some of these players in the photo (Disch) played his last game with Detroit 10-3-1905.
This photo was within a few days or couple of weeks after joining the team. He looks so young.

[Bicem]

Pretty sure the kid next to Cobb is "Rastus" (real name Ulysses Harrison) who was the team mascot/helper/luck charm which was a common practice back then. It's no coincidence that he would be next to Cobb, Cobb treated him better than anyone else on the team, making sure he was fed and had a place to sleep, and even sneaking him into segregated trains and hotels on road trips. Cobb also gave him a job in Augusta after the 1908 and 1909 seasons.