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Three 1938-39 Cobb Letters to Cleland Regarding His Stats & Donations to Baseball's New Hall of Fame
Estimate
12,000 - 15,000 USD
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Description
Ty Cobb received the most votes of any ballplayer during the first historic Hall of Fame vote in early 1935. It was therefore extremely important for Cleland to have the irascible star’s cooperation and hopefully also have Cobb donate relics representing his great career. This lot contains three handwritten historic letters by Cobb to Cleland. The first is a two page letter by Cobb dated August 18th, 1938, and is pure Cobb, smooth, challenging yet ultimately very useful and extremely important.
Ever the politician, Cobb began his missive almost apologetically by acknowledging Cleland’s two prior unanswered letters and stating that he hopes Cleland will not “think of me as ungrateful because I have not complied.” Further, the Georgian went on to state that he was “deeply appreciative of being voted the honor place as ball player # 1.” But then the letter took on a more challenging tone but one that was precise and ultimately very important to the ultimate success of the fledgling museum concept.
First, almost as an aside, Cobb stated that, perhaps he owned “nothing that would be fitting to place in a museum.” That was a typical refrain that Mr. Cleland heard many times in the previous two years but then the former Southerner, a man who had always felt more comfortable steeped in matters of formality and tradition, got right to the heart of the matter. He essentially complained that he had “never received an official and formal notification or been advised of a general plan of this museum.” He went on to state that “I had hoped there would be an official opening so I could attend.”
This was a mistake Cleland would not make again. He immediately sent a reply to Mr. Cobb with a museum booklet, a sketch of the plans and details of the gala opening scheduled two years hence. Cobb’s second reply came almost immediately, this time it was a three page handwritten letter. Dated September 24, 1938 the missive at one time contained great news but was quite distressing and disconcerting as well. Happily, Cobb informed Cleland that he had “just sent by parcel post to you the best of what I have left of baseball mementos.” Those artifacts were, by anyone’s definition, impressive. Cobb went on to explain that he sent “something from my Detroit days, a sweater jacket shirt, and pants and stockings from the Philadelphia Athletics, and a pair of shoes, and sliding pads I used for many years.”
Cobb then returned to a somber tone because, similar to the first letter, it would be Cobb that would point out a mistake that would, if left unchecked, been the cause of consternation and disappointment. If unchecked it would have also likely ended Cobb’s cooperation with the venture.
Cobb pointed out to Cleland two mistakes that were contained right in the Hall of Fame plaque that Cleland had described to him in his latest letter! First, Cobb wrote that the information erroneously contained his base hit total as being 4025 when it “should be 4191!” Second, Cobb pointed out that the record incorrectly stated that his major league baseball career spanned the years 1904 to 1930 when, in fact, he points out that “I went to Detroit in August of 1905 and retired at the end of 1928.”
Cobb cautioned that mistakes were not acceptable and that each Hall of Famer’s record must be precise for “each detail (must be) perfect as any one mistake rather discredits the proposition as a whole!” Cobb also showed his obvious concern in the closing paragraph by informing Cleland that “If these mistakes appear in my record no doubt there are others that might be in error.” Cleland was justifiably mortified after reading Cobb's letter for it took that number one vote getter himself to point out not one but two major gaffes that would appear on the man’s own Hall of Fame plaque.
Naturally an embarrassed Cleland immediately corrected the errors but, from a historical point of view, it is interesting to imagine the considerable confusion that would have endured for generations had the hit record not been corrected at the urging of Ty Cobb himself. The third letter from April 29, 1939 ends on a positive note, confirming that Cobb did end up sending the prized game used baseball bat that he used to make many of the 4191 hits to the Hall in early 1939. And, of course, that summer the great hitter did attend the ceremonial gala on June 12th celebrating the opening of the museum and his induction into the Hall of Fame. LOAs from PSA/DNA and JSA.
Ever the politician, Cobb began his missive almost apologetically by acknowledging Cleland’s two prior unanswered letters and stating that he hopes Cleland will not “think of me as ungrateful because I have not complied.” Further, the Georgian went on to state that he was “deeply appreciative of being voted the honor place as ball player # 1.” But then the letter took on a more challenging tone but one that was precise and ultimately very important to the ultimate success of the fledgling museum concept.
First, almost as an aside, Cobb stated that, perhaps he owned “nothing that would be fitting to place in a museum.” That was a typical refrain that Mr. Cleland heard many times in the previous two years but then the former Southerner, a man who had always felt more comfortable steeped in matters of formality and tradition, got right to the heart of the matter. He essentially complained that he had “never received an official and formal notification or been advised of a general plan of this museum.” He went on to state that “I had hoped there would be an official opening so I could attend.”
This was a mistake Cleland would not make again. He immediately sent a reply to Mr. Cobb with a museum booklet, a sketch of the plans and details of the gala opening scheduled two years hence. Cobb’s second reply came almost immediately, this time it was a three page handwritten letter. Dated September 24, 1938 the missive at one time contained great news but was quite distressing and disconcerting as well. Happily, Cobb informed Cleland that he had “just sent by parcel post to you the best of what I have left of baseball mementos.” Those artifacts were, by anyone’s definition, impressive. Cobb went on to explain that he sent “something from my Detroit days, a sweater jacket shirt, and pants and stockings from the Philadelphia Athletics, and a pair of shoes, and sliding pads I used for many years.”
Cobb then returned to a somber tone because, similar to the first letter, it would be Cobb that would point out a mistake that would, if left unchecked, been the cause of consternation and disappointment. If unchecked it would have also likely ended Cobb’s cooperation with the venture.
Cobb pointed out to Cleland two mistakes that were contained right in the Hall of Fame plaque that Cleland had described to him in his latest letter! First, Cobb wrote that the information erroneously contained his base hit total as being 4025 when it “should be 4191!” Second, Cobb pointed out that the record incorrectly stated that his major league baseball career spanned the years 1904 to 1930 when, in fact, he points out that “I went to Detroit in August of 1905 and retired at the end of 1928.”
Cobb cautioned that mistakes were not acceptable and that each Hall of Famer’s record must be precise for “each detail (must be) perfect as any one mistake rather discredits the proposition as a whole!” Cobb also showed his obvious concern in the closing paragraph by informing Cleland that “If these mistakes appear in my record no doubt there are others that might be in error.” Cleland was justifiably mortified after reading Cobb's letter for it took that number one vote getter himself to point out not one but two major gaffes that would appear on the man’s own Hall of Fame plaque.
Naturally an embarrassed Cleland immediately corrected the errors but, from a historical point of view, it is interesting to imagine the considerable confusion that would have endured for generations had the hit record not been corrected at the urging of Ty Cobb himself. The third letter from April 29, 1939 ends on a positive note, confirming that Cobb did end up sending the prized game used baseball bat that he used to make many of the 4191 hits to the Hall in early 1939. And, of course, that summer the great hitter did attend the ceremonial gala on June 12th celebrating the opening of the museum and his induction into the Hall of Fame. LOAs from PSA/DNA and JSA.