|
|
|
|
|
| Keymancollectibles.com |
The
Webs Best Recourse for Baseball Memorabilia |
November
20,
2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
In 1912 Ty Cobb Beats Up Fan and Wears a Yankee Uniform In New York -
Strikes & Pinstripes -Steven KeyMan |
|
| |
|
|
| |
On May 15, 1912, Ty Cobb beat up a New York fan which would later lead to the
first Baseball Player Strike, and the use of "Replacement players." Then in August, the Tigers returned to New York to play the
Highlanders and were forced to wear Yankee Pinstripe uniforms. Tickets to both
historic games have recently surfaced.
 Ty Cobb's first
visit to Hilltop Park in New York for the 1912 season resulted in an infamous
incident that would live on forever in baseball lore. When Cobb took the field
in the first inning of the May 15th game against the New York Highlander's,
(who were officialy renamed the Yankees the following season) Claude Luckera a fan
who had ridden Cobb hard in past, started his "good-natured" abuse. Despite
protests made by Cobb to the Umpires, and Highlanders manager Harry Wolverton
that the fan should be removed, the barrage of constant insults continued for
the first three innings.
Cobb who had been exchanging words with the fans became more and more
angry as the game progressed. During his at bat in the top of the fourth,
Luckera lashed out a racial slur towards cobb that sent him into a rage. Cobb
then jumped into the stands targeting Luckera sitting 12 rows back. Fists
flying Cobb struck Luckera on the forehead, knocked him down, and then
continued to kick and spike him. Years earlier Claude Luckera who was a
pressman, had lost his right hand and two fingers on his left in an accident.
Someone yelled out that the man has no hands! Cobb replied “I don’t care if he
has no feet!”
The umpire rushed into the angry mob of fans, accompanied by players of
both teams and rescued the "Georgia Peach" from serious danger. The Tiger
players wading through the crowd with their bats. Cobb was immediately removed
from the game, and playing field. After a delay of 5 minutes the game resumed
as threats continued against the Tigers until the end. Ty Cobb was suspended 10
games by American League President Ban Johnson who was in attendance, and
witnessed the mayhem. Tiger players wrote a letter to the league's president
stating "If the players cannot have protection, we must protect ourselves," and
so they decided they would strike to protest Johnson's suspension.
|
|
| |
Detroit Team Strikes When Johnson
Refuses to Reinstate Ty Cobb |
|
| |
Three days later on May 18, after playing one game without Cobb, the
Tigers took the field in Philadelphia with Cobb, planning to play the game.
After the umpires notified Tigers manager Hughie Jennings that Ban Johnson's
suspension of Ty Cobb stood, Cobb was removed and his teammates then walked off
the field with him refusing to play. Tiger owner Frank Navin had anticipated
the protest and had Jennings put together a squad of replacement players to
 take
the field. Hughie then marched out his recruits of semi-pros, college players
from the Philadelphia area, and amateurs. Two Tiger scouts were included on the
roster, 41-year-old Joe Sudgen who played first and 48 year old Jim McGuire who
handled the catching duties.
By the end of the third inning, the one sided game drew howling protests
from fans yelling for their money back. Finally a few thousand of the 20,000
fans in attendance nosily departed. After 1 hour 45 minutes and nine
errors, the Tigers replacements were slaughtered, 24-2, but not without
incident. Third baseman, Maharg was hit in the mouth by a ground ball and lost
several teeth. In the ninth inning manager Hughie Jennings batted for the
pitcher Travers who gave up 26 hits. The game was official and
counted in the standings.
Ban Johnson fined each striking player $100. and threatened to banish them
from baseball if they continued to strike. Cobb convinced his teammates to
return to action, and he completed his ten game suspension. By May 26, 11 days
after he had charged into the Hilltop Park stands, Cobb was back in center
field. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Tigers In Yankee Uniforms
Lose to Highlanders 3-2 |
|
| |
 Reported in
the newspapers as the funniest incident in the history of the sport; before the
first game of a 4 game series in New York, August 13, Home Game no. 54, the Detroit Tigers
tearfully informed the Highlanders management that they all have to play in
citizens clothes. Somewhere between Buffalo & New York the tigers lost Their
uniforms. The clubs President Frank Farrell, and Manager Harry Wolverton,
"didn't want to see such stars as Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Joe Lake, and others
spoiling fancy street suits in their efforts to keep the fans from being
disappointed." Wolverton suggested that the Tiger players wear the New York
Highlanders gray traveling uniforms.
The Detroit players reluctantly consented. Although the Georgia Peach was
spared, having to wear Yankee pinstripes, the Tigers still had to adorn New
Yorks interlocking "NY" team logo over their heart. Throughout the game the
players felt it in their bones that the move would be fatal. They were doomed
to defeat. The Tigers lost the game 3-2. |
|
| |
 |
During
the early years, when the American League merged with the National
League to form Major League baseball, from about 1901 to 1915,
complimentary ticket books were used as a promotion, to help attract
fans to the ballpark. Both the Game No.19 ticket (pictured above) and Game No. 54 ticket, came
from this Rare 1912 ticket book. After being properly authenticated |
and slabbed by PSA the
tickets will be offered in auction in the coming months. This is a rare
opportunity to own these tickets attributed to historic moments in
baseball. Check back soon for auction information or contact David
Shakir
theshak13@gmail.com to be updated by email.
|
| Check out the
1912 New York Highlanders Home Game Schedule for attributes to
all games |
| |
|
|
| |
KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES RELATED RESOURCES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back To
KeyMan
Collectibles
Collectors
Corner |
|
|
|
