baseball and perhaps the one that left the most lasting impression was his psychological intimidation. One part of that particular program was to nurture the monster image of himself that both he and the media were creating. The more horrible that opponents thought that he was, the more that he could expect to manipulate them to his advantage. For example, it was a good thing that opposing fielders thought that he sharpened his spikes. It seems that in 1908 at yourname 6Highland Park in New York, a couple of Detroit benchwarmers sat outside their dugout sharpening their spikes. Eventually, the story became that Cobb would sit “with mouth twisted and eyes ablaze” filing his spikes in front of the dugout. Cobb waited until after his playing his playing days to publicly refute those allegations, since they undoubtedly gave him some advantage over the years (Ty Cobb home page).I find little comfort in the popular picture of Cobb as a spike-slashing demon of the diamond with a wide streak of cruelty in his nature. The fights and feuds I was in have been steadily started to putme in the wrong…My critics have had their innings. I will have mine now. – Ty Cobb (Stump, inside cover) Cobb always liked to think that he had the advantage in every situation. When he was in doubt, he would remedy the situation. Since he came to the majors in an era when the pitchers dominated, he swung three bats in the on-deck circle, showing the other team his strength and baseball ability. He was able to hit the way he did be working himself into a hateful frenzy before each at bat. He would bend over to pick up a handful of dirt when the pitcher was beginning his delivery, frazzling the pitcher. One time, with Eddie Cicotte pitching, he kept his back turned and talked to Sam Crawford, waiting in the on-deck circle. Cicotte could not throw a strike, and Cobb walked on four pitches (Ty Cobb home page). “Baseball is ...
