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  Ty Cobb – Tris Speaker Photo Gallery

A Significant Date For Both Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker!

“I often tried plays that looked recklessly daring, maybe even silly. But I never tried anything foolish when a game was at stake, only when we were far ahead or far behind. I did it to study how the other team reacted, filing away in my mind any observations for future use.” —Ty Cobb

Ninety-eight years ago yesterday, April 11, 1928, was an important day in baseball history. On that day, forty-year-old veteran Ty Cobb and 41-year-old Tris Speaker start in the outfield on Opening Day for the A’s, batting second and third, respectively. The 8-3 loss to the Yankees at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park marked the first time the future Hall of Famers had played as teammates in a game. Later that year, Speaker recorded his final major league at-bat. He was struck out by Red Sox pitcher and future Hall of Famer Red Ruffing. The veteran outfielder known as the ‘Grey Eagle’ ended his 22-year Hall of Fame career with a .345 batting average, sixth best in major league history.

In the featured photo, we see Cobb and Speaker together as members of the A’s.

Here’s a little information about Ty Cobb’s career, spotlighting his great year of 1911.

Ty Cobb led the American League in 1911 in many categories, including 248 hits, 147 runs scored, 127 RBI, 83 stolen bases, 47 doubles, 24 triples, a .621 slugging percentage, and a 40-game hitting streak. Cobb also hit eight home runs, finishing second to Frank Baker, who hit eleven. He was awarded a Chalmers car for being voted the American League MVP.

“Shoeless Joe” Jackson led him by .009 points in the batting race late in the 1911 season. Near the end of the campaign, Cobb’s Tigers had a long series against Jackson’s Cleveland Naps. Fellow Southerners Cobb and Jackson were normally friendly both on and off the field. Cobb used that friendship to his advantage. He ignored Jackson when Joe tried to say anything to him. When Jackson persisted, Cobb snapped angrily back at him. Maybe it was these mind games that caused Jackson to “fall off” to a final average of .408, twelve points lower than Cobb’s .420.

Cobb is credited with setting 90 major league records during his career. He still holds several significant ones, including the highest career batting average (.366) and most career batting titles (12). He held many other records for almost a half-century or more, including most career hits until 1985 (4,189), most career runs (2,244) until 2001, most career games played (3,034) and at bats (11,434) until 1974, and the modern record for most career stolen bases (892) until 1977. He still holds the career record for stealing home (54), and was the youngest player to compile 4,000 hits and score 2,000 runs. Cobb still ranks fifth all-time in games played. He committed 271 errors, the most by any American League outfielder.

Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: All found on Google search

Information: Stats from Baseball Reference.com

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