On March 16, 1907 — After watching Ty Cobb quarrel with a black groundskeeper and with teammate Charlie Schmidt, Tiger manager Hugh Jennings was tired of dealing with Cobb’s abrasive behavior and tries to deal him to the Cleveland Naps for outfielder Elmer Flick.

The Naps turned down a trade with the Tigers which would have exchanged Flick for the 21-year-old Cobb. They countered with Bunk Congalton, but the Tigers declined. Flick had been holding out but he signed a few days after the proposed trade. After Cobb was nearly traded away, Jennings attempted to repair the difficult relationships between Cobb and the other Detroit players. “Cobb is too good a hitter to let get away, when a little diplomacy will get the boys together”, Jennings said

Flick will go onto hit .302 and lead the league with 17 3 baggers. Cobb will go on to hit .350 and lead the AL in hitting. He will also go on to become one of the top 5 players in Major League Baseball history and still holds the all-time record for career batting average at .367 which I will assume will never be broke.

Both players ended up in Cooperstown, Cobb was part of the initial class and Flick joined him in 1961.

PODCAST – Future Hall of Famers are Ty Cobb and Elmer Flick almost traded for each other

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