Tyrus Raymond Cobb.


 When Cobb retired in 1928, he was the holder of 90 major league records during his career, and he received the most votes (222 out of a possible 226, or 98.2%) of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.


…not bad for a man who was universally hated...


That inaugural HOF class included Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, and Babe Ruth (the voting was in that order). No other player received a higher percentage of votes until Tom Seaver did in 1992.


Some of his 90 records included a combined total of 4,065 runs scored and runs batted in (after adjusting for home runs) which is STILL the highest ever produced by any major league player. He still holds several records as of the end of the 2022 season, including the highest career batting average (.366) and most career batting titles with 11 (or 12, depending on source). Cobb retained many other records for almost a HALF CENTURY or more, including most career hits until 1985 (4,189 or 4,191, depending on source), most career runs (2,245 or 2,246 depending on source), and (until 2001) most career games played (3,035) and at bats (11,429 or 11,434 depending on source) until 1974, and the modern record for most career stolen bases (892) until 1977. He still holds the career record for stealing home (54 times) and for stealing second base, third base, and home in succession (4 times). He was the youngest player ever to compile 4,000 hits and score 2,000 runs. Cobb ranks fifth all time in number of games played and committed 271 errors, the most by any American League (AL) outfielder.


When asked, in the late 1950s how well he thought he would hit against modern pitchers, he responded "Probably only about .270...you have to remember I'm over 70 years old now." (Harrigan, 1997). Cobb also said of himself that "in legend, I am a sadistic, slashing, swashbuckling despot who waged war in the guise of sport."

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