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1607

Ty Cobb

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Ty Cobb

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Auction Date:2012 May 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Autograph letter, one page, 7 x 10.5, personal letterhead, August 7, 1941. First page of a longer letter to Joe [Engel], with Engel’s name added to greeting in an unknown hand. First page reads, “Am just back from Detroit where Ruth and I played our deciding golf game–and I find yours with enclosure, I appreciate very much your thought in sending me this picture, yes it brings back memories of long ago for I at that time was 12 years of age and I was on the Royston, Ga. first team and not a bad team for Royston had some good teams and did take some of the best semi pro teams even of Atlanta, Ga. at one time we had a team of nine men in professional baseball.

Now about this first baseman, I like him, he can field now in major league, a left hander, throwing and batting and a fine size also a real boy with habits and spirit. If you are coming out I hope you can come soon, I will be at my home in Atherton, Calif. close to San Francisco and very close to Palo Alto, Calif. also only 15 miles from San Jose where this boy lives, my wire address.” In fine condition, with intersecting folds, a bit of mild soiling, and two mounting remnants along reverse top edge.

Cobb writes to Joe Engel, a player for the Washington Senators, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians who achieved baseball fame as the president of the Chattanooga Lookouts from 1930 until 1965. In his letter, Cobb mentions his summer 1941 golf tournament with Babe Ruth, from which he had just returned. While playing golf at the Augusta National course in April of that year, Cobb challenged Ruth to a series of golf matches and suggested they could raise money for charity. “I have been hankering to take a shot at the Babe ever since I started playing golf,” Cobb told reporters. Ruth accepted the challenge. The two baseball greats played three matches in Boston, New York City, and Detroit to benefit the U.S.O. and Cobb beat the Bambino two to one. “I’m mighty proud to have won,” said Cobb, “and now I’m very glad we put up such a good match in the town where I used to play ball.”

In the letter, Cobb also reflects on his youth when he played with the Royston Rompers, a team of 12 to 16-year olds. Against his father’s wishes, Cobb began playing baseball for the team in 1899 when he was twelve years old. The Royston Rompers’ catcher-manager, Reverend John Yarborough, recognized the boy’s talents early on, and after warning the young Cobb of “all the sins ball players are likely to encounter--wine, women, song and gambling,” Yarborough recommended 17-year-old Cobb to the Augusta club, beginning his baseball career. A fantastic letter from the Georgia Peach alluding to his rivalry with the Babe and describing his induction into the sport.
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