War on the Basepaths Page 45

  8 The Sporting News, June 19, 1941, p. 5.

  9 Detroit Free Press, July 22, 1911, p. 8.

  10 Other substances were used as well to create the spitball.

  11 Detroit Free Press, February 19, 1908, p. 7. Joss was injured in 1910 and was set to make his triumphant return when he took ill in April 1911. A short time later, at thirty-one years of age, he passed away. Cobb played in the Addie Joss Benefit Game for his family on July 24, 1911 at League Park in Cleveland, joining Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Sam Crawford, Hal Chase, Frank Baker, and many other All-Stars. The latter contingent beat Nap Lajoie and the Cleveland squad, 5–3 and Cobb went 2-for-4. Over 15,000 people were in attendance. Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 25, 1911, p. 7. Additionally, Cobb purchased a $100 box at the event, and wrote an organizer to say, “Please don’t use my name in the papers,” with regard to his donated money. “I want to do all I can for Addie’s family, but I don’t want to attract any notoriety.” The organizer convinced Cobb to agree to use his name and the story became public. Detroit Free Press, July 21, 1911, p. 9.

  12 Philadelphia Inquirer, November 30, 1910, p. 10.

  13 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 25, 1910, p. 2S

  14 Detroit Free Press, October 19, 1910, p. 9.

  15 The Sporting News, November 3, 1910, p. 4.

  16 A race between Cobb and Rucker was to be held daily from November 3 to November 5, 1910. Detroit Free Press, October 20, 1910, p. 10.

  17 Detroit Free Press, November 4–5, 1910.

  18 Indianapolis Star, April 5, 1911, p. 10.

  19 Matty McIntyre, who had led previous tours of Cuba, was a member of the Detroit contingent. Notably, he was dealt to the Chicago White Sox in January 1911.

  20 Habana was also billed as the Habana or Havana “Reds” and Almendares was dubbed the “Blues” in some reports.

  21 Detroit Free Press, November 8, 1910, p. 9.

  22 Detroit Free Press, November 28, 1910, p. 8.

  23 Sporting Life, December 31, 1910, p. 8. Jose Mendez, a noteworthy Cuban pitcher, was said to have struck Cobb out “four times in succession” during this tour. Sporting Life, November 18, 1911, p. 6. However, according to the December 31, 1910 edition of the same publication, Cobb only struck out once during the series. Augusta Chronicle, December 18, 1910, p. 8.

  24 Augusta Chronicle, December 21, 1910, p. 10.

  25 Petway was said to have caught Cobb on the basepaths three times in a single game. Atlanta Daily World, August 9, 1939, p. 5. Lloyd and Hill are members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

  26 The New York Age, September 28, 1911, p. 6.

  27 Ex-world heavyweight boxing champion James J. Corbett was in attendance. Augusta Chronicle, January 13, 1911, p. 4. The trophy was valued at $600.

  28 Letters to Cobb from Navin dated February 9, February 23, and March 6, 1911, Ernie Harwell Collection, Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library, Detroit, Michigan. The University of Alabama ballclub refused to play the Tigers unless Cobb was in the game. Detroit Free Press, February 7, 1911, p. 9. Cobb’s delay was said to be caused by his desire to bring his wife and son to Detroit and set them up in a comfortable residence prior to the launch of the season. Detroit Free Press, February 25, 1911, p. 9.

  29 New Orleans Times-Picayune, March 16, 1911, p. 13. Cobb went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run. Cobb made his first hit of the spring the following day in an 8–0 Detroit win over New Orleans.

  30 A Detroit businessman traveling through Charlotte told a local newspaper he had firsthand knowledge that Cobb was ostracized by the entire Tigers franchise and not speaking to anyone. Players were reportedly happy when he failed. Charlotte Observer, March 14, 1911, p. 2. The validity of this information cannot be substantiated.

  31 Sporting Life, April 1, 1911, p. 3.

  32 Sporting Life, May 6, 1911, p. 1.

  33 See Sporting Life, April 22 and May 6, 1911.

  34 New York Daily Tribune, Friday, March 31, 1911, p. 8.

  35 Evening Star, Washington, D.C., April 3, 1911, p. 13. It isn’t known if these shoes were the ones he had lead weights implanted in, as mentioned in Chapter Six.

  36 New York Sun, April 10, 1911, p. 5.

  37 The Tigers won 21 of its first 23 games.

  38 Detroit beat Cleveland 5-4. Detroit Free Press, May 1, 1911, p. 1.

  39 Detroit Free Press, May 13, 1911, p. 9.

  40 The SABR List & Record Book, 2007, p. 8.

  41 Detroit Free Press, May 23–24, 1911.

  42 Philadelphia Inquirer, June 9, 1911, p. 10. A Detroit report stated Baker wasn’t touched by Cobb’s spikes in the sixth inning. Detroit Free Press, June 9, 1911, p. 9.

  43 What Baker did exactly is up for question. There are reports claiming that he successfully booted Cobb, another saying he kicked and missed, and a claim that both men kicked at each other, but didn’t make contact. One newspaper stated they stomped on each other’s feet.

  44 Detroit beat the Athletics, 8–3 and Cobb went 3-for-3. Detroit Free Press, June 9, 1911, p. 9.

  45 Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 9, 1911, p. 14.

  46 Willie Keeler and Bill Dahlen had longer consecutive game hit streaks, 45 (over two seasons) and 42, respectively.

  47 Detroit Free Press, July 26, 1911, p. 12. Detroit Free Press, July 5, 1911, p. 9.

  48 Cobb had lost sleep for 4–5 evenings. New York Evening World, July 20, 1911, p. 12.

  49 New Orleans Item, August 15, 1911, p. 6.

  50 See Detroit Free Press, July 29, 1911, p. 8 and Boston Journal, August 13, 1911, p. 8.

  51 Harrisburg Patriot, August 16, 1911, p. 8.

  52 Washington Post, August 10, 1911, p. 8.

  53 Detroit Free Press, August 26, 1908, p. 9.

  54 Chicago Defender, August 12, 1911, p. 5.

  55 The Sporting News, November 20, 1941, p. 7. Yet another explanation of the Cobb-Jackson situation was offered in The Sporting News, September 10, 1936, p. 4. It was reported that Cobb was jealous of Jackson. Trenton Evening Times, August 14, 1911, p. 11.

  56 Cobb received 64 out of 64 votes by the eight writers representing the different American League cities. Frank Schulte won the National League Award. Detroit Free Press, October 12, 1911, p. 10. Cobb and Schulte were given Chalmers “36” models. Cobb’s play in 1911 also set a new major league record for hits in a single season, topping Jesse Burkett’s 1896 effort of 240.

  57 Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 13, 1911, p. 7. On September 17, Cobb used his Sunday in New York City to play for a semi-pro “All Star” aggregation against the Metropolitans at the Lenox Oval. Although his team was defeated, 6–4, Cobb went 4-for-5 at the plate and played both first base and pitched. Jersey Journal, September 18, 1911, p. 9. Notably, Sunday baseball was outlawed in New York. Cobb’s actions of playing for a team outside the Tigers violated National Commission rules and he was fined $100. Detroit Free Press, September 30, 1911, p. 9.

  58 Cobb’s guarantee was rumored to be anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000, but the amount cannot be verified.

  59 Trenton Evening Times, October 31, 1911, p. 7. Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 6, 1911, p. 14.

  60 Trenton Evening Times, October 31, 1911, p. 7. MacManamy was a Michigan-born actress and had made her stage debut only weeks before joining “The College Widow.” Boston Herald, May 5, 1918, p. 43. She became Mrs. Sue Kruger and continued her acting career into the 1930s. Also starring in the play were Martin Woodworth, Howard Teachout, and Robert Hill.

  61 As it was described, the widow was “not a widow at all,” but an “attractive young girl.” MacManamy’s character’s name was “Jane Witherspoon” and she was daughter of the Atwater College President. Further explanation can be found in the Cleveland Leader, January 7, 1912, p. 28. Cobb recalled the play’s debut being in Newark. Baseball Magazine, March 1912, p. 53–56.

  62 Richmond Times Dispatch, November 6, 1911, p. 10.

  63 Cleveland Leader, January 9, 1912, p. 11. As part of his media blitz in Cle
veland, he agreed to be “sports editor” of the Cleveland Plain Dealer for a day, appearing at the offices of the newspaper on January 10, 1912. A series of articles and comments by Cobb, including his time hanging out with Cleveland’s new catcher Paddy Livingston, were printed in the following day’s paper. Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 11, 1912, p. 10.

  64 Detroit Free Press, December 24, 1911, p. 13.

  65 Detroit Free Press, December 18, 1911, p. 8.

  66 Duluth News-Tribune, December 19, 1911, p. 10.

  67 Detroit Free Press, December 24, 1911, p. 13.

  68 Shirley Marion Cobb was born on June 2, 1911, weighing nine pounds. Bellingham Herald, June 4, 1911, p. 13.

  69 Detroit Free Press, January 1912.

  70 Atlanta Constitution, December 14, 1924, p. B2.

  71 Detroit Free Press, May 1, 1912, p. 10.

  72 Detroit Free Press, July 5, 1918, p. 14.

  73 Sporting Life, January 6, 1912, p. 11.

  74 Atlanta Constitution, March 19, 1912, p. 10.

  75 Detroit Free Press, April 12, 1912, p. 1.

  76 Detroit Tribune, June 21, 1914, p. 1. Detroit Free Press, April 18, 1912, p. 10.

  77 Cobb left for Detroit on the 10:40 p.m. train. See the Chicago Daily Tribune and Detroit Free Press, April 16, 1912.

  78 Detroit Free Press, April 21, 1912, p. 17.

  79 Detroit Free Press, April 22, 1912, p. 8.

  CHAPTER NINE: BRAWLS AND STRIKES

  1 Fort Wayne News and Sentinel, September 16, 1918, p. 14.

  2 The Sporting News, April 16, 1908, p. 6.

  3 Detroit Free Press, July 3, 1910, p. 13.

  4 During the first game of the series, Cobb was awarded the George “Honey Boy” Evans trophy, his third such honor. New York Times, May 12, 1912, p. C7. Cobb would also win the 1912 “Honey Boy” Evans trophy, the final year the prize was awarded, on August 25, 1913 at the Detroit Opera House. Detroit Free Press, August 26, 1913, p. 10.

  5 Cobb claimed he was verbally attacked by Lucker, specifically, as soon as he stepped on the field for batting practice. The New York Sun, May 17, 1912, p. 10. Lucker told the press he didn’t get to the game until “after the first inning.” New York Evening World, May 18, 1912, p. 2.

  6 U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, ancestry.com. Lucker’s last name was often misspelled “Lueker,” “Lucher,” and other variants. Phelon claimed that Lucker was from Georgia and that he actually knew Cobb dating back to their time in the south together. The Sporting News, February 27, 1913, p. 4. Nothing further about that assertion could be located. Lucker worked in the headquarters of politician Thomas F. “Big Tom” Foley at 112 Centre Street.

  7 New York Sun, May 17, 1912, p. 10.

  8 Hugh Jennings told a reporter that he heard Cobb called a “half-nigger.” New York Press, May 16, 1912, p. 1. Lucker stated he heard someone sitting near him call Cobb a “half-coon,” and it was yelled while Cobb was still in the field during the bottom of the third inning. New York Evening World, May 18, 1912, p. 2.

  9 Fort Wayne News and Sentinel, September 17, 1918, p. 3.

  10 New York Evening World, May 18, 1912, p. 2.

  11 Ibid. A Detroit report stated Lucker’s face was “hamburger” and that he needed a doctor, but added that he wasn’t seriously injured. Detroit Free Press, May 16, 1912, p. 10.

  12 The Saratogian, May 20, 1912, p. 3.

  13 Detroit Free Press, May 16, 1912, p. 10.

  14 Ibid.

  15 The Sporting News stated: “It is significant that New York newspaper sympathy seems to be all with Cobb.” The Sporting News, May 23, 1912, p. 4.

  16 Ibid, p. 1.

  17 Ibid, p. 2.

  18 Ironically, Johnson was in attendance in New York and witnessed the hubbub personally. He sent Jennings a telegram on the morning of May 16, informing him of Cobb’s suspension. Detroit Free Press, May 17, 1912, p. 14. Sportswriter I. E. Sanborn wrote: “I don’t think Ty Cobb will find a great many sympathizers outside the confines of his own team, for the punishment inflicted on him.” The Sporting News, May 23, 1912, p. 1.

  19 Detroit Free Press, May 18, 1912, p. 1.

  20 The Tigers players, as part of their telegram to Johnson informing him of their potential strike, stated: “If players cannot have protection, we will protect ourselves.” Ibid. If a prolonged strike was to occur, the athletes were considering a barnstorming tour. New York Evening World, May 18, 1912, p. 2.

  21 Paddy Baumann played centerfield for Cobb. Philadelphia Inquirer, May 18, 1912, p. 10.

  22 Philadelphia Inquirer, May 19, 1912, p. 15. Before the game, Jennings consulted with John Nolan of the Philadelphia Bulletin and the latter reached out to a friend, Aloysius Stanislaus Travers of St. Joseph’s College, to help locate a group of amateurs to take the field. Each of the neighborhood boys would be paid $25 for their participation. Philadelphia manager Connie Mack lambasted the Tigers for their strike, calling them a “bunch of rank quitters.” The Saratogian, May 20, 1912, p.3.

  23 Washington Evening Star, May 19, 1912, p. 2.

  24 Philadelphia Inquirer, May 27, 1912, p. 10.

  25 Cobb was said to be a “natural insurrectionist,” and that he was “ever predisposed to take the law into his own hands.” The Sporting News, May 23, 1912, p. 4.

  26 Better relations between Cobb and his teammates were fostered by the series of events. After the strike was settled, Cobb made an effort to go to each of his fellow players, and personally thanked them what they had done for him. Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1912, p. 12.

  27 Cobb was eligible to play at Chicago on Sunday, May 26. Detroit Free Press, May 26, 1912, p. 17. The other Detroit players were fined $100 apiece and owner Frank Navin agreed to pay $1,800 to settle things up. Detroit Free Press, May 22, 1912, p. 10.

  28 New York Sun, July 9, 1912, p. 5.

  29 Cobb mentioned being followed by a “shadow” and confronting the individual in the New York subway. Detroit Free Press, January 25, 1914, p. 20.

  30 Detroit Free Press, July 10, 1912, p. 10. There was speculation that Lucker would go forward with a charge of assault and have Cobb arrested, and also file a civil suit, but neither occurred.

  31 Detroit Free Press, August 13, 1912, p. 10. The men reportedly spoke a foreign language. Cleveland Leader, August 13, 1912, p. 7. In spite of his knife wound, a knee problem, and an illness, Cobb played in the Syracuse game on August 12, going 2-for-4 with two singles.

  32 Detroit Free Press, August 13, 1912, p. 10 and Detroit Tribune, June 21, 1914, p. 1.

  33 Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 1912, p. 8.

  34 Detroit finished the 1912 season with a 69–84 record. Cobb was seventh in league voting for the Chalmers automobile, receiving 17 votes. Tris Speaker and Larry Doyle, representing the American and National Leagues respectively, were recognized as the MVPs. Detroit Free Press, October 4, 1912, p. 12.

  35 Ty Cobb: My Life in Baseball by Ty Cobb with Al Stump, 1993, Bison Books edition, p. 104.

  36 Detroit Free Press, October 28, 1912, p. 8.

  37 Detroit Free Press, October 28, 1912, p. 8.

  38 Augusta Chronicle, March 25 and March 30, 1913.

  39 Detroit Free Press, February 25, 1913, p. 10.

  40 Spartanburg Herald, July 28, 1961, p. 14.

  41 Ibid.

  42 Cobb demanded an apology from Osborne, according to the latter’s statement, but he refused. He said Cobb “acted cowardly and overbearing.” Spartanburg Herald, April 11, 1913, p. 6. One of the reports claimed that Cobb pointed the pistol at Osborne’s teammates, asking them if they “had enough.” Spartanburg Herald-Journal, July 30, 1961, p. C1.

  43 Detroit Free Press, April 14, 1913, p. 8.

  44 Augusta Chronicle, April 17, 1913, p. 4.

  45 Augusta Chronicle, April 20 and April 22, 1913.

  46 The Sporting News, April 24, 1913, p. 1.

  47 Glaser was in Detroit at the time, performing at a local theater when he decided to intervene in the matter. Detroit Free Press,
April 25, 1913, p. 12.

  48 Detroit Free Press, April 26, 1913, p. 10. Cobb made $2,000 per month for five months beginning on May 5, 1913, equaling $10,000. Transaction Card Collection, National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York. That tied Honus Wagner for the most paid a ballplayer. The Congressional threats to investigate baseball were believed to have influenced Navin to settle the holdout swiftly and amicably.

  49 Detroit Free Press, May 2, 1913, p. 13.

  50 Detroit Free Press, July 6, 1913, p. 13.

  51 Detroit Free Press, July 13, 1913, p. 17.

  52 Sporting Life, September 27, 1913, p. 2.

  53 Detroit Free Press, September 1, 1913, p. 8.

  54 Cleveland Leader, July 5, 1913, p. 10.

  55 New York Sun, November 2, 1913, p. S2.

  56 Atlanta Constitution, December 12, 1913, p. 8.

  57 The Sporting News, May 26, 1938, p. 7.

  58 Detroit Free Press, November 11, 1913, p. 12. Transaction Card Collection, National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York. Cobb, sometime in 1914, caught Navin reading his private telegrams out of fear that he was going to jump to the Federals. Ty Cobb: My Life in Baseball by Ty Cobb with Al Stump, 1993, Bison Book sedition, p. 108–111.

  59 Denver Post, August 27, 1913, p. 8.

  60 Detroit Free Press, January 19, 1914, p. 10.

  61 Elkhart Progressive Democrat, March 17, 1914, p. 3.

  62 Gulfport Daily Herald, March 20, 1914, p. 1, 8. While in Jackson, Mississippi, Cobb addressed the state legislature and attended a reception at the governor’s mansion. Detroit Free Press, March 27, 1914, p. 12.

  63 Detroit Free Press, March 25, 1914, p. 10.

  64 Detroit Free Press, April 15, 1914, p. 1.

  65 New York Sun, May 15, 1914, p. 5. As a book, Busting ’Em was called a “symposium of baseball stories, mostly concerning well-known managers and players of the two big leagues.” Rockford Republic, July 20, 1914, p. 6.

  CHAPTER TEN: BUTCHERING PENNANT CHASES

  1 Detroit Free Press, May 21, 1914, p. 10.

  2 Detroit Tribune, June 21, 1914, p. S3. The Tigers would ultimately beat Washington, 1–0.

  3 Ibid.