The most notorious play of Ty Cobb’s mythologized career came on a hard slide into third base guarded by Philadelphia’s Hall of Fame hot corner Frank “Home Run” Baker on August 24th, 1909. The spikes of Detroit’s centerfielder gashed Baker’s forearm as Cobb slid into third base, with the local sportswriter’s accusing Cobb of premeditated violence towards Baker. Offered in this lot is an ultra-rare handwritten account of the play from Cobb, written on the back of a black-and-white photograph showing the collision at third base between the two Hall of Famers.

Cobb writes, “The ‘terrible’ Baker spiking play, have always resented the unfair accusation one Horace Fogel wrote the story, play was in Detroit, he wanted to arouse the fans I suppose and improve gate in Phila, he did at my approval. Note Baker is in line and on the offensive, I am well inside and away from bag toward home plate. Baker never lost an inning of play was only knicked[sic] on forearm and most important my foot is over and past his arm trying to tag bag and his arm is not even knocked aside”. Clearly, the pugnacious Cobb believes that he is in the right, and the sensationalist sportswriters of the time are to blame for the incident. This inscription has been written in blue pen on the back of the iconic photograph. This exceedingly rare piece of baseball history comes with a LOA from JSA. 

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