Cobb, Ty (1886-1961), was one of the greatest and most exciting players in baseball history. He ranks among the leading hitters in the history of major league baseball with a .367 lifetime batting average. His career total of 2,245 runs scored stood as a major league record until Rickey Henderson broke it in 2001. Cobb’s career total of 4,191 hits also was a major league record until Pete Rose broke it in 1985. Cobb won 12 American League batting titles, including 9 in a row from 1907 to 1915. He won the triple crown of batting in 1909 by leading the American League in batting average (.377), home runs (9), and runs batted in (107). He also stole 892 bases during his 24-year career.
Tyrus Raymond Cobb was born on Dec. 18, 1886, in Banks County, Georgia, near Homer. He was nicknamed “The Georgia Peach.” Cobb, an outfielder, began his major league career with the Detroit Tigers in 1905 and played with the team until 1926. He also managed the Tigers from 1921 to 1926. He spent 1927 and 1928, the final years of his career, playing for the Philadelphia Athletics. Cobb was a fierce competitor who was unpopular with opponents because of his frequent rough play. In 1936, he became one of the first five players elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He died on July 17, 1961.
