LOT #80029 |
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1955 Ty Cobb Handwritten Letter and Signed Photograph re: Famous Frank Baker Spiking Incident, PSA/DNA Gem Mint 10....
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$19,120.00
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Description
1955 Ty Cobb Handwritten Letter and Signed Photograph re: Famous Frank Baker Spiking Incident, PSA/DNA Gem Mint 10.Please note: This piece has been graded PSA/DNA Gem Mint 10.
The history of baseball is full of disputed tales. Did the Babe really call his Shot? Did the Cubs retrieve the correct ball in the chaos of Merkle's Boner? Did Sam Rice maintain control of his catch as he tumbled into the outfield seats in Game Three of the 1925 Series? In this thrilling offering, the great Ty Cobb attempts to put to rest the widely held belief that he intentionally spiked Frank "Home Run" Baker as he slid into third during a 1909 meeting of the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics. He writes:
"The picture I send is of the so called Baker spiking which I was so unfairly accused of by a drunken sports writer Horace Fogel on some Phila. paper. This play was in Detroit so he writes a lurid story really to arouse the fans in Phila so when Detroit came there next would boost the attendance. This has been a practice by the unscroupulous (sic) writers. I have always resented this deeply and the play happened in 1909-- 46 years ago and it's still referred to, now very few not more than 6 people have a reprint of this play, so you are one of them..."
And it sure does look as if the Peach has a point. In the provided reprint of the famous image, Cobb's blazing spikes are clearly past Baker's arm, belying reports that he had opened up a wound there as the Hall of Fame infielder applied the tag. Cobb's handwritten letter is penned on three pages of his personal note paper (each page 4x6") and signed with a simple "Ty." The 8x10" photo is autographed "Ty Cobb" with a date of "4-15-55." In both cases, Cobb's ink survives with magnificent 9+/10 boldness, and neither the letter nor the photo exhibit any condition flaws of note. Full Grading LOA from PSA/DNA, Gem Mint 10. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication.
More information about Ty Cobb Sports Player.
Auction Info
2012 August 2 Vintage Sports Collectibles Platinum Night Signature Auction- Baltimore #7057 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2012
2nd
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 13
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