Ty Cobb

Biography

Ty Cobb played baseball with a ferocity that scared opponents. The .366 career average remains the highest ever, achieved through a combination of skill and intimidation - he sharpened his spikes to discourage tags. Eleven batting titles came in a thirteen-year span. He stole home 54 times, a record that reflects both his speed and his willingness to take risks. The Georgia Peach was also a hateful man - racist, violent, widely disliked - whose talent forced respect even from those who despised him. He was the first Hall of Fame inductee, receiving more votes than Babe Ruth. The statistics validate the greatness, even if the person complicates it.

Career Highlights

• .366 career batting average (all-time record)
• 4,189 career hits
• 11x batting champion
• 1 MVP Award
• First player inducted into Hall of Fame

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