War on the Basepaths Page 35
The legendary “Big Train” Walter Johnson, winner of 417 games, was scheduled to join the party headed overseas, but backed out at the last minute after accepting a managerial job for the Washington franchise.9 Ex-major leaguers Bob Shawkey, Fred Hofmann, and Herb Hunter, along with National League umpire Ernie Quigley were confirmed for the tour, as was Cobb’s friend, George “Putty” Putnam, co-owner of the San Francisco Seals Pacific Coast club. The Cobb family arrived in Seattle on October 18 and Ty participated in a farewell exhibition the following afternoon at the Coast League Park. Sportswriter Ken Kay Kelso noted that Cobb played “with all the enthusiasm of a rookie” in the contest, teamed with the American Mail Line squad against the West Seattle Athletic Club, going 3-for-5 with three runs in a 12–5 victory.
Kelso interviewed Cobb and took specific notice of his disposition. He wrote: “You’ve read in the papers of the many mix-ups Ty Cobb has been in, haven’t you? And you got the idea he was a rather tough hombre didn’t you? Well, you’re wrong. He isn’t. He’s the softest spoken, most courteous and gentlemanly ball player in the game—a fitting person to be the idol of every youngster in America.” He explained how Cobb accommodated autograph hounds, was jovial when lightheartedly ribbed from the audience, and added, “No finer emissary could have been selected for a goodwill tour of Japan.” On October 20, Cobb, his family, and associates boarded the American Mail Liner President Jefferson and sailed from Smith Cove terminal at the Port of Seattle, beginning its voyage across the Pacific.10
For years, college teams from Japan and the United States had barnstormed in each other’s countries, and Herb Hunter was experienced in ventures to Asia, leading a noteworthy tour of major leaguers in 1922.11 Baseball’s popularity was astonishingly robust in Japan and the arrival of superstar Cobb was momentous. Thousands turned out for the nine exhibitions, including a crowd of 22,000 at Tokyo, and scores more appeared to see Cobb deliver training sermons on the fundamentals of the game and good sportsmanship.12 Attendance was believed to have been curtailed by the ceremonies surrounding the coronation of Hirohito as the Emperor of Japan, also taking place in November 1928, but die-hard baseball fans demonstrated their enthusiasm, and Cobb was followed on the streets by kids awestruck by his presence. Had Cobb been able to tour with an All-American ball club instead of just a handful of countrymen with Japanese college players filling in the gaps, there would have been an even greater response.
Stopping in Honolulu on the way back, Cobb and his family were photographed wearing Hawaiian leis, and completed their journey on the President Jefferson, arriving in San Francisco on December 12. The “trip was a successful one,” it was reported, and much was accomplished in the way of further escalating interest in the sport.13
Cobb didn’t completely shun baseball in 1929, and he briefly worked out with the St. Louis Browns in Florida and Baltimore Orioles in Georgia during the spring.14 His real focus was on a continued global exploration, venturing first to Cuba in late March and then a more pronounced expedition to Europe beginning in June. His journey, accompanied by Charlie and their children, Shirley, Herschel, Beverly, and Jimmy, launched from Hoboken, New Jersey, on June 15 on the S.S. President Roosevelt, and would encompass several months of sightseeing.15 The Cobbs trekked from Germany to Scotland and absorbed all of the landmark attractions along the way. Ty, an avid reader of ancient European culture, not only appreciated the aesthetic beauty, but the historical importance as well, particularly the Appian Way in Rome. Italy, overall, was his favorite location, and he later told a reporter that evening time at St. Mark’s Square in Venice was “too wonderful to describe.”16
Cobb also enjoyed the iconic architecture of Paris, and the lack of thorough baseball coverage in Europe did a great deal to stifle his natural impulse of following every little detail related to the sport.
On September 10, 1929, the RMS Majestic arrived at New York and five members of the Cobb Family debarked. The sixth, Ty himself, remained in Europe for a few additional weeks, really maximizing his vacation to the fullest, while Charlie was compelled to return to get their kids ready for school.17 The divide at the end of the family retreat wasn’t really surprising. Charlie was the primary caregiver to the Cobb children and Ty usually was caught up in baseball, hunting, or some other occupation, away from home for weeks and months at a time. His prolonged absences, aloofness, and irregular disposition made the relationship between Ty and his wife and kids unique, and the Cobb Family structure, like everything else in his life, was utterly complex.
Things had changed significantly for Ty and Charlie over the years. As newlyweds in 1908, an onlooker, after seeing them shopping, said, “You couldn’t see a better looking couple in Detroit than Ty Cobb and his cute little bride.”18 They were joyous, stylish, and inseparable, representing young love at its finest with nothing but brightness in their future. Cobb was ever conscious of his wife’s feelings through the years, as demonstrated in 1916 when filming the movie Somewhere in Georgia. The film called for him to perform close to his co-star Elsie MacLeod, but he was exceedingly bashful because he was concerned what Charlie would think.19 Years later, daughter Shirley read letters that Ty had sent Charlie from the road during his baseball career, and was taken aback by the sweetness of her father, indicative of his pure adoration for his wife.20
But on the other side of the coin, Cobb was known for his harsh discipline, and there were allegations of abuse, both mental and physical, to Charlie and the Cobb children. From his perspective, aside from being the breadwinner, he was responsible for ensuring that the family lived up to his high standards when it came to work, schooling, and household management. His personality and temper were overbearing to say the least, and in trying to convey his message, he was more like a drill sergeant than a compassionate father. He commanded respect, and through an “atmosphere of fear,” as Shirley later explained, Ty received it.21
In terms of his expectations, Cobb demanded unreasonable and unrealistic productivity from those closest to him. He wanted his wife and children to put the same kind of pressure on themselves that he placed on himself to be successful, exhausting every inch of their being to thrive in whatever endeavor they were engaged in. It was difficult to understand and, unfortunately, there was no one alive who could ever measure up to his standards. Being a man of the public, too, he wanted only favorable press about the success of his youngsters, especially anything involving his namesake, Ty Junior. Journalists loved to bring up the sons of baseball stars, assessing their athletic abilities, and although Junior wasn’t following his father’s footsteps, he was fostering a good name as a tennis player.22 Ty undoubtedly wanted his son to be a winner.
Cobb also wanted his children to be tough. In 1916, a writer for Baseball Magazine conveyed a story about Ty Junior, explaining how he was confronted by an older boy and insulted. His father heard the argument and insisted that “Junior” stand up for himself, telling him, “If you don’t go out and lick him, I will lick you.” Needless to say, the youth did what his father ordered.23 So concerned about their fighting abilities, Cobb hired veteran professional boxer Kid Beebe, a bantamweight from Philadelphia, to train two of his sons, presumably Ty Junior and Herschel, in 1928. “I think everyone ought to be able to handle his dukes,” Cobb explained. “You know, I got into plenty of tight places during my baseball career, and it is always better to be prepared.”24
Of his boys, Herschel was the most inclined toward physical athletics. He told Grantland Rice that he liked a sport that was “rougher” than tennis, golf, or baseball, and was a particular fan of football.25 But his brother Jimmy figured Herschel was the only son with “natural ability” on the baseball diamond. However, he noted that Herschel’s chances to advance as a ballplayer diminished “when he injured an eye.”26 Shirley Cobb was athletically proficient in her own right as a competitive equestrian rider. Amongst her achievements was the blue ribbon prize in the ladies’ horsemanship class at the 1928 Augusta Horse Show. Notably, the Cobb
family talent wasn’t limited to sports, as both Shirley and Beverly were gifted pianists, and Jimmy would later gain national recognition after saving the life of a drowning fellow cadet at a New Mexico Military school.27
Ty’s European adventure ended aboard the SS Bremen, sailing from Southampton, England, and arriving in New York on October 1, 1929. During the voyage, he bonded with a fellow traveler, Dr. Royal S. Copeland, a U.S. Senator originally from Michigan, but elected in New York, and the two “talked about everything.” Copeland, in a syndicated article, revealed their discussion about eating habits, and explained how Cobb stressed a two meal a day limit.
Having listened eagerly to the ex-ballplayer’s theories, Copeland stated that Cobb was a “philosopher” and was mighty impressed by his intellect.28
The press fervently awaited Cobb’s arrival home, yearning for his World Series pick and any news about his suspected return to baseball. Cobb was supportive of his old manager Connie Mack and predicted Philadelphia to win over Chicago. He told reporters that he was more interested in the executive side of the game than anything else. “I am not ready to say that I would not manage a club again, although, of course, I shall never play again,” he said. “The idea of a major league connection with the player production part of it, appeals to me most. Tentative offers have been made and I believe I will be back in the game next year.”29 Ever since his retirement, the rumors of his reemergence had been constant. Stories tied him to jobs from the Southern Association to the majors and everywhere in between. The Brooklyn Robins and Cincinnati Reds were often mentioned in the gossip, but Cobb denied any dealings.30
Cobb joined Christy Walsh’s troupe of syndicated writers, sitting alongside former rivals Babe Ruth and John McGraw, and covered the Series.31 Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics were dominant and, without the aid of Cobb and Tris Speaker, accomplished in 1929 what they weren’t able to do the year before by winning the American League pennant and World Series championship in five games over the Chicago Cubs. Before the end of October, economic prosperity and stability came to a crashing halt when the stock market plummeted, destroying the wealth of millions, including a number of Cobb’s peers in the baseball world. The commencement of the Great Depression was jarring, but not crippling to Cobb, and he’d survive the financial calamity with the bulk of his wealth safely intact.
The unceasing energy Cobb was known for on the field transferred seamlessly to the country club, and his new passion was actually an old one: golf. He broke back into the sport he disavowed during his baseball career at the Forrest Hills–Ricker Hotel course in Augusta, enjoying his first game in two years in the spring of 1929, and when he wasn’t traveling, he was on the links.32 Cobb was addicted to the personal challenge presented by golf; the intrigue of mind over matter and, after resuming play, his handicap was well over 90. But he was determined to improve, and worked at it every chance he had. He hobnobbed with fellow Georgian and golfing sensation-Bobby Jones, and even staged a party at his home after Jones won the 1930 Southeastern Open. Photos of the two shaking hands circulated in the papers, and Cobb was quoted as saying Jones was “the greatest competitive athlete” he’d ever seen.33
Hunting remained a hobby, and in the early part of 1930, Cobb welcomed two of his former Philadelphia teammates, Eddie Collins and George Earnshaw, to join him on an outdoor excursion into Burke County, Georgia. He also made arrangements to return to Detroit and see another friend, businessman John Roesink, owner of the Detroit Stars Negro League club, and helped inaugurate the new stadium in Hamtramck by throwing out the first pitch.34 On September 8, 1930, Cobb teamed with an all-star aggregation against a squad of all-stars from Boston in the latter city during an old-timers contest for charity. Amongst those he teamed with were Honus Wagner and Home Run Baker, while Boston featured Cy Young and Tris Speaker. Cobb, incidentally, played for both teams, pinch-hitting for the local favorites late in the game, and going 0-for-4 in total. Boston won, 8–4, before 22,000 appreciative fans.35
Invited to San Francisco to help open the brand new Seals Stadium by his pal George Putnam, Cobb agreed, and was joined by Harry Lea, a golfing and hunting companion from Virginia for the journey. On April 7, 1931, Cobb stood at the plate and became the stadium’s first batter, merrily swinging at a wild pitch thrown by Mayor Angelo Rossi and displaying great enthusiasm. Eight days later his festive vacation was interrupted by an upsetting report flashing across the news wire services. His wife Charlie had hired an attorney and filed a divorce suit in Augusta Superior Court, requesting custody of their three young children, plus temporary and permanent alimony. In addition to the startling notice was the damning “cruel treatment” allegation against Cobb, but little other documentation was provided to support her claims. Nonetheless, a hearing was scheduled, and the suit was pressing forward.36
“I do not know what to say except that I have always loved my wife, my children, and my home,” Cobb said in response to the news. “I am sorry such apparently hasty action as this was taken in my absence from home and without having consulted me in the matter. A family is an institution where the children’s interests should come first and even now I say that Mrs. Cobb and I should think of our children and not bring them into any court procedure.”37 A writer for the Greensboro Daily News noted that Charlie “probably got along with him well until he began to stay at home,” and it was likely very true.38 The nearly constant presence of Cobb’s domineering attitude was no doubt a contributing factor in their dispute. The Macon Telegraph added that local sympathy in Augusta was “with Mrs. Cobb,” but there was a general belief that their troubles would be mended “without a court trial.”39
Within a few days, Cobb returned to Augusta and began the task of reconciliation. His efforts were fruitful, and the divorce suit was withdrawn. In an official statement, it was stated that Charlie “took this step on her own initiative, and that no further comment [was] to be made on account of the sacredness relating to her decision.”40 By June 1931, Ty was headed back to San Francisco via automobile, and Bay Area writers were frequently declaring that the Cobbs were soon to make California their home. On the surface, it appeared that Ty was the only one interested in making it a reality. Charlie, during the family crisis, had proven her independence by relocating with her kids from their family home on Williams Street in Augusta to a new place at 1122 Greene Street. She remained steadfast as he left for California, and although there was not going to be a divorce, the couple was firmly stationed on separate coasts.41
To Ty, though, he loved the weather in San Francisco. His first trip to the city in 1920 etched an indelible impression on his mind and of all the places in the United States to live, Northern California was his choice. He clearly intended for his children to join him, as shown by a 1939 explanation of his big move, when he criticized Georgia schools weakened by the depression. California, he felt, offered a better education, and he wanted his kids to receive the best opportunities possible. He also candidly stated that he hated the summers in the South.
Jack Troy of the Atlanta Constitution responded to Cobb’s comments: “It does seem that one of the immortals of baseball could have used a little tact in his explanation. Certainly such a blunt declaration is not calculated to boost his friendship rating at Augusta.”42
Expecting an eventual reunion with his family, Cobb became accustomed to life in San Francisco. He immersed himself in the culture, venturing to resorts, relaxing, and when in the mood, traveled out to Seals Stadium to watch and occasionally work out with the local team. On August 15, 1931, he was the recipient of a welcome party tendered by ex-major leaguer Bill Lange at his Millbrae area home. Hall of Famer Johnny Evers and Ira Thomas, a teammate in Detroit, were on hand.43 The following month, he went out to San Quentin prison and helped arrange a special track and field event, a vivid example of his commitment to the entire community. Cobb was always busy, lending his name to various causes, attending luncheons and dinners, and was more sociable than he’d ever been in hi
s life. Reborn, in fact, and his new, outgoing attitude was not temporary.
Bill Leiser of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “A loner? Not the Ty Cobb of today. He smiles in a friendly way, and he remembers you. The boys who told me of Ty Cobb of long ago must have been telling me of some other guy. Or is it that, long ago, he was some other guy. Maybe, in those old days of every man for himself in baseball, he was.”44 Cobb was still adjusting to his new lifestyle, but there was absolutely no outward evidence of the rowdy player he once was accused of being. He was maturing, and as organizations up and down the coast beckoned for his involvement, he settled into a nice routine of golf and fraternization with a legion of new friends.
Cobb and several others were invited to the cabin of vaudeville comedian Clarence Kolb along the McKenzie River in Oregon in June 1932 to fly fish, and Ty took him up on his offer. Meanwhile, back in Augusta, an accident involving his fifteen-year-old son Herschel critically injured Tommy Hankins, a “popular local entertainer,” according to the Augusta Chronicle. The two were filling a gas can outside the Cobb residence when a match, lit by Herschel, ignited, setting Hankins on fire. His burns were severe and Tommy died a couple days later.45 Herschel wasn’t injured, but the tragedy was disheartening, and Charlie was inspired for a change of scenery, both to give her youngest a father figure and improved schooling. Ty told the press in July that he anticipated his family joining him “within the next month or so,” and made arrangements for a property in Atherton on the San Francisco peninsula.46
Of the five Cobb children, Ty Jr. was the only one not to move west. The twenty-two-year-old had proven to be the most like his father, high-strung and driven. He was also a little defiant, wanting to distinguish himself as his own man. But there was no way for him to escape the shadows created by his father’s fame, especially when sharing the same name. “The people think you ought to be as good as your dad,” he told a reporter in 1930, “and that’s tough. You see, I don’t want the people to think of me as Ty Cobb’s son. I want to be on my own. I want to do things myself.”47 Going back to his earliest days at Summerville School and Richmond Academy in Augusta, he devoted only a limited amount of time to baseball, instead preferring football, swimming, and, above all else, tennis. Aware of the tremendous energy his father brought to baseball, Ty Jr. still said that the national pastime lacked the “pep” required by tennis.48