Ty Cobb’s Batting Tips

Image credits: Detroit Public Library

You might think that any ballplayer would welcome batting tips from Ty Cobb. Not so.

While Cobb was managing the Detroit Tigers 1921-1926, he tried to pass along hitting advice to his players. They didn’t want to hear it.

For starters, they didn’t like their player-manager. They complained that he was trying to make them hit like he did, and they either couldn’t or didn’t want to change their own batting stance or approach to copy his.

Cobb was among the first ballplayers to recognize that baseball was as much a mental as a physical game. He studied all the angles and developed the strategies that made him an effective batter and baserunner. But he couldn’t instill that drive or insight and mental acuity into other players. Too much thinking got in the way of trying to hit a curve or fastball.

Long after he had retired, Cobb maintained his interest in young players and continued to offer advice, whether or not it was wanted. He always emphasized the mental side of hitting.

Sam Chapman

Fast forward to 1938. Ty Cobb was living in northern California. Sam Chapman was a football and baseball star at the University of California in nearby Berkeley. He was due to graduate in the spring of 1938 and had offers from major league teams in both sports. 

Sam Chapman was fielding multiple offers when he received Ty Cobb's letter. Image credits: Baseball in Wartime

Cobb wrote to Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack, whom he admired more than anyone in baseball, urging him to try to sign Chapman. Mack offered Chapman a contract. When other teams offered more money, Chapman asked Cobb, whom he respected but had never met, who he should sign with. Cobb urged him to go with Mack.

Chapman followed his advice. He reported to the A’s in May and was immediately installed as the A’s center fielder.

The Letter

On August 19, the 51-year-old Cobb wrote the following letter to Sam Chapman, using a fountain pen and his trademark light green ink. If some of it seems difficult to follow, it may well have seemed the same to Chapman.

Dear Sam: I hope you will pardon my writing you and any suggestion is merely my interest in your work. You have over a considerable period proven you can hit, and from .350-odd down to present average shows something rather than the lack of hitting ability. Now too much hitting can be bad when you are meeting the ball good one after another stop. Don’t take strikes. Ask Mr. M. to let you hit first good one for a while. You may be unconsciously using a system of taking first strike and they know that. Never let them figure you out. Cross them up. Always stay in an offensive state of mind. One other very important thing. Don’t guess what the next ball will be. You will sort of know what is coming by figuring your pitcher and balls and strikes on you, but never guess.

In your practice try a little more weight on your forward foot than back foot, also keep back leg straight. Now if you try this I’m sure you will get results, and weight on forward foot will make you step incorrectly. Also not stride too long and keep your power in hand at all times. I mean be ready for any kind of pitch and you won’t pull away with any part of body. Decoy the pitcher by trying to convey to him you aim to take next pitch and remember the catcher is watching you and gives his signals. So start your decoy work for his benefit and as pitcher starts get ready to take your crack at ball. Keep your elbows away from body.

Best of luck. Sincerely, T. C.

(over) 

Forget yesterdays. Don’t worry. Just do your best. You have already made good. T. R. C.

This letter is long and poorly composed. I have just dashed it off without any form or polish. Drop me a line when you can and let me know your reaction as to batting results. Write and ask anything at any time. It will be a pleasure to me if can help.

Yours sincerely, Ty Cobb

Sam Chapman batted .322 In 1941, then spent four years as a pilot in the Navy. A consistent power hitter and RBI man during his 10 full seasons, he remained a favorite of Shibe Park fans.