Ty Cobb’s descendants pulling for Giants in World Series

From David Pollak at the San Jose Mercury News on October 24, 2012, with mention of SABR member Herschel Cobb:

The grandson of the most renowned player ever to wear a Detroit Tiger uniform will be rooting against family history Wednesday when the World Series opens at AT&T Park.

“Ty Cobb would be very excited about his Tigers playing in the World Series,” said Herschel Cobb, the 69-year-old descendant of one of baseball’s most combative and controversial figures. “But we live in the Bay Area and have been Giants fans for a long time. We’re going to be rooting for the home team to prevail.”

His grandfather might even understand.

Ty Cobb, a Hall of Fame outfielder with a career .367 batting average, had his roots in Georgia but made the Bay Area his home much of the year shortly after retiring as a full-time player in 1928.

When the Giants moved from New York to San Francisco in 1958, Cobb became a regular presence in the clubhouse.

“He used to come by Candlestick all the time and talk to the boys,” said Mike Murphy, the Giants clubhouse manager who was has been with the team since it arrived here. “But I didn’t know it was Ty Cobb until my boss told me.”

Cobb would visit with managers Bill Rigney and Alvin Dark as well as some of the players, Murphy said. The visits ended with Cobb’s death in July 1961 at age 74.

Herschel Cobb, an investment adviser who lives in Menlo Park, said he was about 12 years old before he was fully aware of his grandfather’s baseball accomplishments. Herschel’s father died when

he was 8, and his mother did not get along with the baseball giant.

“Growing up, Ty Cobb was not talked about in our home,” he said.

Read the full article here: http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_21840009/detroit-tigers-legend-ty-cobbs-descendents-will-be



Originally published: October 24, 2012. Last Updated: October 24, 2012.