I’ve been doing this Monster Card Monday thing for quite a while. It’s about time we saw a Ty Cobb card here, don’t you think?
This card represents Cobb’s 1911 season and certainly is deserving of being here. In 1911, Cobb delivered his highest career batting average which is no small feat considering his lifetime .367 lifetime average. At second place, Cleveland’s Joe Jackson hit .408 that year and Cobb still eclipsed him by 18 points.
Consider this… in 1911, Cobb led the AL in runs, hits, doubles, triples, rbis, stolen bases, slugging and of course the aforementioned batting average. It was no surprise that he took home the MVP award in 1911 beating out second place Ed Walsh. By the way, this MVP award was the first awarded by committee (replacing the Chalmers Award) and was precipitated by the previous season’s scandal involving Cobb and Lajoie.
| Year | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | DET | 146 | 654 | 591 | 147 | 248 | 47 | 24 | 8 | 127 | 83 | 44 | 43 | .420 | .467 | .621 |
If you’re a fan of small ball, you will love this card. Cobb has the rare speed number on 55 with four 11s and one 10 in the single column. He some gap power with four 0s with ten 2s (plus one 3) in the second column. Even with all his speed numbers, he still has a 44-7 plus four 8s which go all the way out to 61.
Speaking of rarities, check out the result at 53. Cobb has a hit number there, a 9. The error number, a 17, is moved to 24. He’s also good candidate to hit and run with since he has a total of FIVE 31s probably the highest amount in APBA history that I’m aware of.
Thanks to Rich Zawadzki whose collection I grabbed this from.
As always, you are welcome Tom!
This is from the All-Time Greats “A” set (ATA) that I purchase around 1988.
Excuse me, my eyes are still tearing up a bit. FIVE 31’s. I am a huge hit and run guy and this is just the card for me. I only see one 33 further helping diminish the double play posiblities. The only thing I don’t like is the 12 being at 36. No fault to Cobb of course. But still WOW what a card. I think with the 4 zero’s he could even max out at 10 homers.
Billy Herman turned in a couple of 5 31 cards in pre-1950 card sets.
When combined with all the other fruit salad on this card, in a speed lineup Cobb would hit .420 even against 1968 pitching.
Not a 13 to be found…….
DOM in NY
if memory serves, Dick Groat had 5 31’s on his 1964 card.
It’s like you’re on a mission to save me time and money!