This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/16/2007.
Ty Cobb ranks, along with Ted Williams, as among the greatest pure hitters in baseball history. He established himself as one of the game's fiercest hitters, pioneering the "inside" bunting style and hitting the ball to the gaps for extra bases. His lifetime .367 batting average is still a record, along with 89 more that he held at the time of his retirement in 1926. He won the batting title at 20 years old in 1927, the youngest player ever to accomplish that feat and the first of nine in a row. Never a real long ball hitter (he hit 117 career homers), he purposely hit five in two days (1925) just to prove a point. Also well known for his ferocious no-quarter style of play, he was known to sharpen his spikes while seated in the dugout in full view of the opposing team. Until Lou Brock came along 50 years later, Cobb was also the career stolen base leader. He was a true legend and pioneer of the game, and was one of five players inducted in Cooperstown's first class. This spectacular Spalding ONL Giles baseball has been signed and inscribed in blue/green ink on the side panel by Ty Cobb, who added his customary swirl beneath, wrote "To William Lengfelder" and dated it "3/23/60," a year before his death. Ball is very clean with a Cobb signature an inscription that grade a strong 9, as fine as any in the hobby. Accompanied by a LOA from JSA.