Ty Cobb

After today's class, which touched on Ty Cobb, I couldn't help but dig a little deeper, and find a few articles on one of the games greatest players (and biggest asses). Dr. Spencer mentioned the recognition that was given to him by ESPN, as SportCentury athlete No. 20, and I was able to find an article on Cobb from ESPN. He was a pain ... but a great pain, was written by Larry Schwartz, it is an article that documents Cobb's career, both on and off the field. It was written for ESPN at the time when Cobb was named SportCentury athlete No. 20.

Schwartz starts his article by saying: "It's difficult to tell which is longer -- the list of records Ty Cobb left shattered when he retired from baseball, or the stories of his nastiness." His article goes on to explain some of the altercations and "black eyes", so to speak, of Cobb's off the field resume. But Schwartz praises Cobb's ability as an on the field player, listing a handful of accomplishments and record setting achievements.

I've always had a respect for Ty Cobb the player, how couldn't you? But I've always had second thoughts about him as a person. However, after reading the article by Schwartz I really understand just how impressive Cobb's on the field achievements were. For those of you who aren't familiar with some of Cobb's accomplishments here they are, courtesy of Larry Schwartz:

• He led the American League in slugging percentage and hits eight times

Steals 6

Runs 5

Triples and RBI 4

Doubles 3

HR once

• Three times he batted above .400 and in one four-year span he averaged .401
• 892 career stolen bases
• Owned the career hit record at 4,191 until Pete Rose (57 years later)
• Cobb won the Triple Crown in 1909
• 1911 Al MVP
• In 1936, in the first balloting for the Hall of Fame, Cobb received the most votes (222 of 226), outpolling Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson.

Cobb's list of accomplishments, in my opinion, is even more impressive than Babe Ruth, who almost everyone believes was the greatest baseball player of that era. Based only on statistics I would have to say that Ty Cobb was a better baseball player than Babe Ruth. Only his behavior on and off the field can be held responsible for the lack of this recognition.

On a final note, Schwartz indicates that after Cobb's passing, in 1961, "only 4 people from baseball attended his funeral." A travesty to a man who contributed so much to the sport, but an action by his teammates and opponents that speak volumes about his behavior as a person.

References:

Schwartz, L. (n.d.). He was a pain ... but a great pain. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014142.html

Jack Johnson

I was on ESPN this morning and happened to stumble upon an article from Outside the Lines. The title quickly caught my attention, Posthumous Pardon sought for Johnson. The Johnson referenced in this case was Jack Johnson. According to Rader, Jack Johnson had been the heavyweight champion between 1908 and 1915(p 147). "Few, if any, blacks were as well known or had infused blacks with greater pride than Jack Johnson (Rader, p 147)." Johnson was a great fighter who was able to break color barriers in the world of boxing and equal rights.

According the the OTL article, written by the AP, "Johnson was convicted in 1913 of violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for immoral purposes. He fled the country after his conviction, but agreed years later to return and serve a 10-month jail sentence." Many people believe that Johnson was targeted by authorities because of his success as a black man. His career as a boxer was controversial, and many whites detested his behavior and wealth. His promiscuous relationships with women, white women in particular, are believed to be the reason for his incarceration.

Posthumous Pardon sought for Johnson addresses the issue of a presidential pardon for the heavyweight champion Johnson. In fact, legislation has been in the works since early April on this issue, but the House and Senate are still awaiting word from President Obama. Sen. John McCain has been extremely outspoken on this issue. His interest no likely stems from his involvement in boxing as a young man.

However humanitarian this may seem, I think I understand why President Obama is hesitant to grant Johnson a pardon. Throughout history presidential pardons of the dead have been rare, and in this case I feel like Johnson deserves a pardon. But from President Obama's perspective their is much more than the issue of Johnson reputation. As the first black President, Obama has been under pressure to rewrite history or change the past, when it comes to African Americans. By carefully weighing each side of action, Obama is exploring the residual effects that would result from a pardon. While exonerating Johnson appears to be the right thing to do, I can't help but wonder if Obama is worried about establishing a reputation of sympathetic action towards black Americans in history.

References:

Posthumous pardon sought for Johnson. (2008, October 16). Retrieved October 17, 2009, from http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4565549

Rader, B. G. (2008). American sports from the age of folk games to the age of televised Sports (6th ed., pp. 147-150). NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.