War on the Basepaths Page 48

  68 Detroit Free Press, August 17, 1922, p. 13.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE FIGHTING SPIRIT

  1 In the premodern era, nine players bettered Cobb’s single-season stolen base record in the National League and American Association.

  2 Detroit Free Press, April 29, 1924, p. 16.

  3 The Sporting News, September 29, 1962, p. 13.

  4 Atlanta Constitution, December 18, 1924, p. 10.

  5 Atlanta Constitution, October 29, 1933, p. 4B.

  6 Detroit Free Press, March 6, 1921, p. 22. To combat the wounds he’d receive while sliding, Cobb began sewing sheepskin into his baseball pants around 1912.

  7 The Sporting News, August 13, 1942, p. 4.

  8 Various newspapers, November-December 1922. The Writers’ Association voted 5–4 to back Kieran’s score and wanted an asterisk on publications indicating that Cobb’s average was not supported by the organization. Baseball As I Have Known It, Fred Lieb, 1977, p. 68–72. Kieran offered quotes about the matter in The Sporting News, February 8, 1940, p. 9.

  9 Detroit Free Press, September 11, 1922, p. 13. At the time, it was reported that Cobb had passed Lajoie with 3,237 hits on September 1. Lajoie’s all-time hit totals were later raised to 3,243.

  10 Detroit Free Press, April 15, 1921, p. 12.

  11 Detroit Free Press, May 10, 1922, p. 16.

  12 A New York writer claimed that Detroit players were “rough” on the base paths, and inspired by Cobb. The Sporting News, June 5, 1924, p. 4.

  13 Detroit Free Press, April 2, 1922, p. 21.

  14 When Cobb convinced Heilmann to ride Veach, he did it with the caveat that he’d explain the entire concept to Bobby after the season, and smooth matters over between the two. However, Cobb neglected to do so and Veach reportedly maintained a sour relationship with Heilmann from that point forth. Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 29, 1963, p. A-13.

  15 Detroit Free Press, March 26, 1922, p. 26.

  16 Jones returned to play in the second game of the doubleheader. Detroit Free Press, July 5, 1922, p. 12.

  17 Detroit Free Press, July 14, 1922, p. 14.

  18 Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1922, p. 13.

  19 Cobb did not like to alter the personal hitting style of his players and didn’t unless he was asked. The Sporting News, May 17, 1923, p. 4.

  20 A local sportswriter claimed that this was only the second time Cobb had ever yielded to a pinch hitter in his career. The lone incident occurred in 1906 when catcher Freddie Payne, a righty, went in to bat against lefty “Doc” White of Chicago. Detroit Free Press, May 6, 1922, p. 14. Research indicates that there were at least three other instances of pinch hitters being used for Cobb. Sam Crawford did it on April 24, 1906. Babe Herman reportedly did it sometime during spring training in 1922, and George Mullin was also credited as having done it. Interestingly, for years, Payne was acknowledged as the “only man” to have batted for Cobb. See Detroit Free Press, April 25, 1906, February 4, 1911, and June 23, 1912 and The Sporting News, December 21, 1944, p. 11.

  21 Baseball As I Have Known It, Fred Lieb, 1977, p. 72–73.

  22 Grand Rapids Press, October 31, 1922, p. 16. Ehmke, who finished 17–17 in 1922, achieved a 20–17 record for Boston in 1923. He said, “I am winning because [Red Sox manager] Frank Chance lets me pitch the way I want to. He never bothers me.” His comment was a quip at the constant oversight Cobb gave him in Detroit. The Sporting News, October 4, 1923, p. 4.

  23 Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 15, 1922, p. 30.

  24 The Sporting News, January 4, 1923, p. 1.

  25 The Sporting News, March 22, 1923, p. 1.

  26 Howley had been Detroit’s coach under Cobb’s leadership since 1921 and was taking on the managerial job for Toronto of the International League.

  27 The Sporting News, March 8, 1923, p. 1.

  28 Detroit News, April 1, 1923, p. D1.

  29 Athens Banner-Herald, March 1923.

  30 Augusta Chronicle, March 28, 1923, p. 6.

  31 Detroit News, April 5, 1923, p. 34.

  32 Augusta Chronicle, April 8, 1923, p. A2.

  33 Johnson was reportedly fired from working any other exhibitions for the Tigers by Cobb immediately after the game, only to be rehired by Ty after the latter had time to cool down. Standing the Gaff: The Life and Hard Times of a Minor League Umpire by Harry “Steamboat” Johnson, 1994, Bison Books edition, p. 51–54.

  34 Augusta Chronicle, April 8, 1923, p. A2.

  35 Detroit News, April 19, 1923, p. 36.

  36 Detroit News, May 19, 1923, p. 14.

  37 The Sporting News, May 24, 1923, p. 1.

  38 The Sporting News, June 7, 1923, p. 4.

  39 The Sporting News, June 21, 1923, p. 1.

  40 The writer defended Cobb, stated that Ty had always given his best to the fans of Detroit, and wondered why he was being insulted in such a manner. The Sporting News, June 14, 1923, p. 1.

  41 Detroit News, July 8, 1923, p. D1.

  42 Detroit News, July 25, 1923, p. 29. Cobb scored that inning as well, and the Tigers won both games of the doubleheader versus Chicago. The White Sox pitcher was Sloppy Thurston. Ruth’s famous called shot home run occurred during the 1932 World Series.

  43 Superstition played a key role in the rally of Detroit players during the 1923 season. While in Chicago in July, a mixed breed dog wandered into the Tigers clubhouse and walked across the team’s bats, which were lying on the floor. Detroit went on to win that day’s game, and the players decided to adopt the good-luck animal, naming it “Victory.” Detroit News, July 26–29, 1923. The dog went on the road with the team. Victory was mentioned again by the press at the start of the 1924 season, indicating that it was continuing on as the team’s mascot. Detroit Free Press, April 16, 1924, p. B2. Each of Detroit’s players was awarded $1,078 as part of the second place World Series money.

  44 Atlanta Constitution, August 8, 1923, p. 8.

  45 The Sporting News, May 31, 1923, p. 1.

  46 According to the report, Cobb hit Francis twice with an open hand, and Francis returned with a punch square to Cobb’s nose. The Cleveland crowd booed Cobb in the aftermath of the fight. Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 8, 1923, p. 14.

  47 Francis went 5–8 in 33 games for the Tigers in 1923. Following the season, he was sold to Atlanta. The Sporting News, December 27, 1923, p. 1.

  48 The record fell in the first game of a doubleheader and Cobb went 4-for-4 in the contest. The Sporting News, September 27, 1923, p. 1.

  49 The Sporting News, November 22, 1923, p. 6.

  50 Charleston Evening Post, December 28, 1923, p. 15.

  51 Collins went 3–7 and Pillette had a record of 14–19. Cobb worked with Pillette prior to the 1923 season, trying to get him to add a curve ball to his repertoire. But with the new pitch, he began to suffer control problems. Detroit Free Press, April 13, 1924, p. 24.

  52 Wingo hit 34 home runs for Toronto in 1922 and 20 in 1923. His purchase reportedly cost the Tigers $50,000. Springfield Republican, August 21, 1923, p. 8.

  53 The Sporting News, February 28, 1924, p. 1. Gehringer was reportedly discovered by Bobby Veach, and, after seeing him for the first time, Cobb was more than impressed. He considered Gehringer to be the “best prospect” he’d ever seen. The Sporting News, April 10, 1941, p. 9. Cobb convinced Frank Navin to quickly sign him to a contract.

  54 The Sporting News, March 27, 1924, p. 1.

  55 Detroit Free Press, May 3, 1924, p. 15.

  56 The Cobb “Day” celebration was arranged by Michigan Congressman Robert H. Clancy of Detroit. 130 members of Congress were at the game to honor Cobb and Ty was presented with a collection of books, one for each year of his baseball career. Detroit Free Press, May 8 and May 11, 1924.

  57 Detroit Free Press, May 17, 1924, p. 15.

  58 Philadelphia Inquirer, May 17, 1924, p. 20.

  59 Pittsburgh Courier, May 24, 1924, p. 10.

  60 Brooklyn Standard Union, June 14, 1924, p. 8.

  61 New York Sun
, June 14, 1924, p. 15 and The Sporting News, June 19, 1924, p. 1.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN: FADING FROM CONTENTION

  1 Detroit News, May 13, 1923, p. D2.

  2 Ibid.

  3 Walsh explained the situation in The Sporting News, January 20, 1938, p. 5.

  4 Seattle Daily Times, October 6, 1924, p. 19.

  5 The Yankees were tied for first place on September 18, 1924, but lost their next three games at Detroit, falling to second place, where they’d remain the remainder of the season.

  6 Atlanta Constitution, October 20, 1924, p. 7.

  7 Cobb earned $35,000 for 1922, and then received a $40,000, three-year deal, in 1923. Transaction Card Collection, National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York.

  8 The Sporting News, January 1, 1925, p. 1.

  9 Atlanta Constitution, February 28, 1925, p. 1. Due to conflicting newspaper reports, there remains a question of whether the incident in the restaurant occurred on February 26 or February 27.

  10 Atlanta Constitution, March 1, 1925, p. 14.

  11 Ibid. It isn’t known whether anything further transpired relative to this case.

  12 Atlanta Constitution, March 12, 1925, p. 10.

  13 Detroit Free Press, March 17, 1925, p. 16.

  14 Detroit Free Press, March 12, 1925, p. 14 and The Sporting News, March 19, 1925, p. 1.

  15 Boston Herald, April 10, 1925, p. 31.

  16 Detroit Free Press, April 21, 1925, p. 16.

  17 The Sporting News, May 7, 1925, p. 3.

  18 Detroit Free Press, May 5, 1925, p. 18.

  19 The Sporting News, December 27, 1961, p. 11–12. Cobb offered a version of this story in his autobiography, but claimed it happened in 1926. Ty Cobb: My Life in Baseball by Ty Cobb with Al Stump, 1993, Bison Books edition, p. 237.

  20 Detroit Free Press, May 6–7, 1925.

  21 Detroit Free Press, May 8, 1925, p. 17.

  22 Detroit Free Press, May 7, 1925, p. 18.

  23 Detroit Free Press, May 8, 1925, p. 17.

  24 Detroit Free Press, June 20, 1925, p. 14 and Detroit Free Press, July 10, 1925, p. 15. Cobb did a fair share of boxing while a member of the Tigers, working out heavily with team trainer Harry Tuthill. Atlanta Constitution, December 22, 1924, p. 9.

  25 The Sporting News, July 16, 1925, p. 1.

  26 The Sporting News, July 2, 1925, p. 4.

  27 Baseball-reference.com.

  28 Two different crowd estimates were published at the time – one claiming 20,000 and the other 30,000. Detroit Free Press, August 30, 1925, p. 1, 21. The banquet was held at the Book-Cadillac Hotel.

  29 The Sporting News, September 3, 1925, p. 4.

  30 Detroit Free Press, August 30, 1925, p. 1.

  31 The Sporting News, July 9, 1925, p. 3.

  32 Boston Herald, October 8, 1925, p. 15.

  33 Boston Herald, October 27, 1925, p. 20.

  34 Augusta Chronicle, December 29, 1925, p. 3.

  35 Augusta Chronicle, February 22, 1926, p. 5.

  36 The Sporting News, January 20, 1938, p. 5.

  37 Augusta Chronicle, March 2, 1926, p. 6.

  38 Augusta Chronicle, March 17, 1926, p. 8. Cobb discussed his eye troubles in Ty Cobb: My Life in Baseball by Ty Cobb with Al Stump, 1993, Bison Books edition, p. 235–240.

  39 The Sporting News, September 21, 1933, p. 4.

  40 Freeport Daily Review, January 29, 1925, p. 5.

  41 Augusta Chronicle, April 4, 1926, p. 3.

  42 Atlanta Constitution, April 5, 1926, p. 3.

  43 The Sporting News, April 15, 1926, p. 1.

  44 Detroit Free Press, April 28, 1926, p. 19.

  45 Springfield Republican, May 12, 1926, p. 16.

  46 Detroit Free Press, May 9, 1926, p. 21.

  47 The Sporting News, May 20, 1926, p. 1.

  48 The Sporting News, May 27, 1926, p. 4.

  49 Ty Cobb: My Life in Baseball by Ty Cobb with Al Stump, 1993, Bisons Book edition, p. 217–218.

  50 San Mateo Times, August 18, 1931, p. 8.

  51 Detroit Free Press, May 10, 1926, p. 17.

  52 Detroit Free Press, June 4, 1926, p. 17.

  53 Detroit Free Press, June 20, 1926, p. 21.

  54 Detroit Free Press, July 24, 1926, p. 14.

  55 The Sporting News, August 5, 1926, p. 4.

  56 The Sporting News, October 7, 1926, p. 1.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN: OLD MAN COBB

  1 Cobb’s group met up with local trapping legend Max Wilde and ventured into the Thorofare Wilderness, where Cobb scored a silver-tip grizzly bear, moose, buck deer, and elk. Cody Enterprise, January 12, 1927, p. 5.

  2 Omaha World Herald, September 29, 1926, p. 22.

  3 Ibid.

  4 Rockford Republic, December 23, 1926, p. 12.

  5 Winston-Salem Journal, December 22, 1926, p. 16.

  6 Boston Herald, September 23, 1925, p. 14.

  7 The Sporting News, August 13, 1925, p. 2.

  8 Winston-Salem Journal, December 22, 1926, p. 16.

  9 Senators-White Sox series at Chicago was held from June 12 to June 16, 1926. Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 30, 1926, p. 16.

  10 Cobb believed several West Coast papers had been offered the letters as well. San Francisco Chronicle, December 22, 1926, p. 6.

  11 Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 30, 1926, p. 16.

  12 San Francisco Chronicle, December 22, 1926, p. 6.

  13 Ibid.

  14 The Sporting News, December 30, 1926, p. 3.

  15 Ibid.

  16 Leonard claimed he was owed money for the 1922 and 1923 seasons, plus a portion of 1924, time in which he was blacklisted from Organized Baseball. Leonard denied he was paid the money for the letters themselves, even though most people figured that was the case. Chicago Daily Tribune, December 29, 1926, p. 19.

  17 San Francisco Chronicle, December 30, 1926, p. 21.

  18 Evening Star, Washington, D.C., January 17, 1927, p. 28.

  19 Speaker resigned as manager of the Cleveland Indians on November 29, 1926. Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 30, 1926, p. 1. Cobb later said he “never resigned” from Detroit. New York Times, January 29, 1927, p. 11.

  20 Ibid.

  21 The Sporting News, November 4, 1926, p. 1.

  22 Boston Herald, November 4, 1926, p. 14.

  23 New York Times, December 6, 1926, p. 31.

  24 New York Times, December 22, 1926, p. 1. It was stated that a newspaper wanted to break the story and told Landis that either he revealed his information, or they’d spill the beans themselves.

  25 Rockford Republic, December 23, 1926, p. 12.

  26 Cobb claimed his salary was $50,000 a year, but Navin wanted it officially recorded as $40,000. Navin agreed to give him the other $10,000 under the table, after the season. Ibid. According to the records on file at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cobb earned $40,000 for 1926. Transaction Card Collection, National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York.

  27 Riverside Daily Press, December 22, 1926, p. 12.

  28 The Sporting News, December 30, 1926, p. 3.

  29 Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 22, 1926 and Omaha World Herald, December 23, 1926.

  30 The Sporting News, December 30, 1926, p. 1.

  31 Cobb and Speaker appeared before Judge Landis in Chicago on December 21 and offered testimony. Leonard was asked to be there, but refused. New York Times, December 22, 1926, p. 1.

  32 Pittsburgh Courier, January 1, 1927, p. A7.

  33 New York Times, January 28, 1927, p. 11.

  34 Ty Cobb: My Life in Baseball by Ty Cobb with Al Stump, 1993, Bison Books edition, p. 248.

  35 New York Times, January 29, 1927, p. 11. Cobb called it his “vindication year.”

  36 Brooklyn of the National League reportedly offered Cobb $50,000, but it was clear that he was going to remain in the American League. Brooklyn Standard Union, February 7, 1927, p. 10. St. Louis Browns manager Dan Howley also visited Cobb in Augusta trying to get him to sign.

  37 Ty Cobb: My Life in Baseball by Ty Cobb w
ith Al Stump, 1993, Bison Books edition, p. 249–250.

  38 Transaction Card Collection, National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York.

  39 Detroit Free Press, June 13, 1915, p. 15.

  40 New York Sun, February 9, 1927, p. 44.

  41 The Sporting News, March 12, 1947, p. 28.

  42 Boston Herald, March 18, 1927, p. 22.

  43 Philadelphia Inquirer, April 24, 1927, p. S6. Cobb stole home on April 19 and April 26.

  44 Philadelphia Inquirer, May 1, 1927, p. S6.

  45 Philadelphia Inquirer, May 7, 1927, p. 22.

  46 Philadelphia Inquirer, May 9, 1927, p. 18. Both Cobb and Al Simmons were suspended and fined for the Ormsby incident, and Ban Johnson, in his statement, cited Cobb’s “lack of intelligence in bumping the umpire.”

  47 Philadelphia Inquirer, May 11, 1927, p. 24.

  48 Philadelphia Inquirer, May 22, 1927, p. S10.

  49 The achievement came in the first inning when Cobb hit a double off Sam Gibson. Philadelphia Inquirer, July 19, 1927, p. 18.

  50 Philadelphia Inquirer, July 22, 1927, p. 19.

  51 Philadelphia Inquirer, September 28, 1927, p. 25.

  52 Philadelphia Inquirer, September 22, 1927, p. 20.

  53 Philadelphia Inquirer, November 3, 1927, p. 24. The Athletics were financially hurt by the fact that Sunday baseball was outlawed in Philadelphia.

  54 Ibid.

  55 Richmond Times Dispatch, March 2, 1928, p. 9.

  56 Augusta Chronicle, March 2, 1928, p. 1. Also Transaction Card Collection, National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York.

  57 The Sporting News, April 5, 1928, p. 1.

  58 Boston Herald, April 8, 1928, p. 22.

  59 The Sporting News, April 12, 1928, p. 1.

  60 The Sporting News, April 16, 1947, p. 5.

  61 The Sporting News, February 4, 1953, p. 8.

  62 Tampa Tribune, September 12, 1928, p. 13.

  63 Philadelphia Inquirer, September 18, 1928, p. 24.

  64 San Francisco Chronicle, September 19, 1928, p. 27.

  65 Philadelphia Inquirer, September 19, 1928, p. 12.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: IMMORTALIZED IN BRONZE

  1 Atlanta Constitution, June 8, 1913, p. 7.

  2 Pittsburgh Courier, February 16, 1946, p. 14.

  3 The Sporting News, June 25, 1942, p. 5.