Ty Cobb not the monster many have made him out to be?

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Sadly, all of his teammates portray Cobb as an intense loner without many friends. And they also state that he was picked on relentlessly - even by his teammates....hiding his glove, stealing his shoes, etc. I imagine that would get tiresome after a while - even for the most patient.

Z

Cobb had an awful introduction to the major leagues. His father was murdered/killed 3 weeks before he debuted, his teammates sawed his bats in half, hid his equipment, taunted him about his father's death, and a whole lot more - all while he was 18 years old. It's not hard to imagine that he was shaped for the worse as a result.

[Pilot172000]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Cobb had an awful introduction to the major leagues. His father was murdered/killed 3 weeks before he debuted, his teammates sawed his bats in half, hid his equipment, taunted him about his father's death, and a whole lot more - all while he was 18 years old. It's not hard to imagine that he was shaped for the worse as a result.

Even with all this going on, he managed to make some very good friends in baseball. Some of which like Mickey Cochran he took care of after baseball. Walter Johnson and Tris Speaker both were friends and thought well of him. His insistence of Crawford's induction into the HOF tells me that in-spite of the fact that Crawford did more to damage his reputation as a player and a person than anyone, he was forgiving.

[ullmandds]

hell...ty had a repertrois of 9 different slides!!!! Thats HOF worthy!

[RollieFingers]

what none of you are asking is why would the league knowingly
fictionalize a players entire life for the sake revisionist history and let a myth live
indefinitely?

I havent read the article yet so I dont know how they address his alledged beating up of a fan that the long baseball documentary had no problem retelling.
Even though they were supposed to do exhaustive research

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by RollieFingers

what none of you are asking is why would the league knowingly
fictionalize a players entire life for the sake revisionist history and let a myth live
indefinitely?

We're talking the people that sold the Cooperstown myth for decades...

I havent read the article yet so I dont know how they address his alledged beating up of a fan that the long baseball documentary had no problem retelling.
Even though they were supposed to do exhaustive research

The "fan" in question harassed Cobb for a year or more and had been asked/told multiple times to knock it off. It's worth noting that his teammates went on strike to protest Cobb getting suspended.

[Pilot172000]

Originally Posted by Tabe

We're talking the people that sold the Cooperstown myth for decades...


The "fan" in question harassed Cobb for a year or more and had been asked/told multiple times to knock it off. It's worth noting that his teammates went on strike to protest Cobb getting suspended.

Right on Both counts

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Pilot172000

Even with all this going on, he managed to make some very good friends in baseball. Some of which like Mickey Cochran he took care of after baseball. Walter Johnson and Tris Speaker both were friends and thought well of him. His insistence of Crawford's induction into the HOF tells me that in-spite of the fact that Crawford did more to damage his reputation as a player and a person than anyone, he was forgiving.

I would have to agree with you. It is puzzling to me how a man could be disliked almost universally by players & teammates, yet have friends that give a markedly different picture of him later in life. He was obviously an intelligent man - having used his pay to buy Coca-cola stock and an interest in a bottling operation which made him wealthy.

Makes you wonder what he would be like if you met him in person.

[tschock]

Question for all the lawyers in the house. If the above respondents in this thread were in a jury pool, would their posts here help you to determine whether or not you would dismiss them as a candidate?

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Mr. Leershen's book on Cobb won the SABR Larry Ritter award for 2016 last week

[Pilot172000]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Mr. Leershen's book on Cobb won the SABR Larry Ritter award for 2016 last week

I am gonna by this book and see first hand what he thinks.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Mr. Leershen's book on Cobb won the SABR Larry Ritter award for 2016 last week

Not surprising at all from an organization that does actual research.

One general observation from a number of these posts. It's interesting reading comments on 'facts' from those who either haven't read the article or repeating claims made from previously (fabricated) works as 'facts'.

I would also offer that Cobb wasn't as much "misunderstood" as he was "misrepresented".

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by tschock

Not surprising at all from an organization that does actual research.

One general observation from a number of these posts. It's interesting reading comments on 'facts' from those who either haven't read the article or repeating claims made from previously (fabricated) works as 'facts'.

I would also offer that Cobb wasn't as much "misunderstood" as he was "misrepresented".

My comments were made based on the 6-7 first hand interviews Ritter recorded when researching material for his book. The interviews were recorded and were first had accounts from teammates and other players that played with Cobb.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Mr. Leershen's book on Cobb won the SABR Larry Ritter award for 2016 last week

I am flabbergasted that they would award their top book prize to an author who thinks it's possible to get a home run on a ball hit back to the pitcher.

[Pilot172000]

Originally Posted by tschock

Question for all the lawyers in the house. If the above respondents in this thread were in a jury pool, would their posts here help you to determine whether or not you would dismiss them as a candidate?

I think you would have a hung jury. We could determine that he was difficult but negligently an A-hole!!