Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb was one of Major League Baseball's greatest players and fiercest competitors. For 23 straight seasons, from 1906 to 1928, he recorded a batting average of more than .300, including three seasons in which he hit better than .400. More impressively, his career batting average of .367 has never been topped. A member of the National Baseball Half of Fame's inaugural class of 1936, Cobb still holds the major league records for career steals of home (54) and career batting titles (11). Cobb, though, is remembered for more than his prowess as a ballplayer. His desire to win at all costs led to violent behavior on and off the field. On the diamond, he was accused of playing dirty. Off the field, he was notorious for his out-of-control temper, violent assaults, and public and private embarrassments. Cobb was a sports legend, but he was not a hero.

Children's Literature

Ty Cobb was a great baseball player but not a great person. In this biography Ty is shown to be an aggressive and talented player but also a violent racist with an explosive temper. He could not control his temper and often struck someone if he felt he was insulted or treated unfairly. With the same amount of determination and aggression, he played ball. His career was outstanding with record batting averages, bases stolen, and major-league hits. The book describes not only his childhood, baseball career, and older years, but it also includes information about the history of baseball and descriptions of life around the turn of the 19th century. This series about Baseball Superstars includes a time line of special events, a glossary, baseball record, resources, and an index. There are also boxes giving more detailed information about such topics as stealing bases, the history of baseball gloves, early automobiles, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This series would be helpful for students interested in doing research about baseball and/or outstanding baseball players. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose