Smartest pitcher Ty Cobb ever faced?

Interviews
 

 

April 30, 1921 Ty Cobb describes Cleveland’s Jim Bagby as “the smartest pitcher I ever faced.” Bagby, who won 31 games a year earlier, was off to an even better start in 1921. In fact, the big righty had just beaten Cobb’s Tigers in back-to-back games (April 25-26), with the second victory – his fourth of the season – coming in relief. During the two games in question, Cobb went 0-for-6 versus Bagby. To add insult to injury, “Sarge” – a switch-hitter – went 1-for-3, giving him a .417 average for the year (Cobb was hitting .306 at the time).

“The Georgia Peach” evened the score in their next meeting, touching Bagby up for two doubles and a home run on May 30. Cobb would finish the year batting .389 with a career-high 12 home runs. As for Bagby, the 1921 campaign – 14-12 with a 4.70 ERA – would mark the beginning of the end. After posting a 5.89 ERA over the next two seasons, the 33-year-old’s big-league career came to an end.

◾Sources: The Chicago Eagle, April 30, 1921. + https://www.baseball-reference.com

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@

Other Resources & Links

 

[et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas Hannon|zs45L” success_action=”redirect” success_redirect_url=”https://thisdayinbaseball.com/join-the-community/” success_redirect_query=”on|off|off|off|off” title=”Baseball history from Doubleday to Present Day” button_text=”Join us!” description=”

This Day In Baseball gives you cool facts and stories through baseball’s rich history.

” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#E02B20″ link_option_url=”https://thisdayinbaseball.com/join-the-community/” link_option_url_new_window=”on” border_radii_fields=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” global_module=”159917″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” /]