Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb was a professional baseball player who played primarily for the Detroit Tigers during his 24-season career. A record holder in many categories, he is considered one of the greatest, and fiercest competitors to play the game.

Fast Facts:

1. Full name was Tyrus Raymond Cobb
2. Born: December 18, 1886
3. Died: July 17, 1961
4. Birthplace: Narrows, Georgia
5. Nickname: The Georgia Peach
6. Set 90 baseball records
7. Holds record for highest career batting average: .367
8. Led the American League in batting average 11 times

Life and Career

Born into a turbulent Georgia family in 1886, Cobb began playing baseball at an early age. In 1905, three weeks before he began playing centerfield for the Detroit Tigers, his mother shot and killed his father, believing him to be an intruder. The following season, Cobb, in limited playing time, hit .316, and never finished a season under .300 for the rest of his career. He won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1911, batted over .400 three times, won the batting title eleven times, led the American League in hits eight times, led the AL in runs scored five times, and even led the AL in home runs once (although he hit only nine.) He set over 90 records during his career, including highest career batting average (.367) and most career batting titles (11), both of which still stand today and will probably never be broken. Upon his retirement, he possessed the record for most career hits, with 4,189; this record would stand until 1985, when Pete Rose passed Cobb on the list. Cobb was known in baseball as an ornery and temperamental competitor who would do anything to win.

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