(LOT 659)
Extremely Rare 1928 Ty Cobb Beats Out an Infield Single w/Gehrig at 1st Base – Philadelphia Inquirer Type 1 Photo - Measures Approx. 8" x 10" - PSA Type 1 Encapsulation
Here is one you certainly don't see very often! This amazing photo depicts the legendary Ty Cobb beating out an infield single at Philadelphia's Shibe Park on June 29, 1928 with the immortal Lou Gehrig playing first base. A remarkable action shot, Cobb tapped a weak infield "roller" to shortstop Mark Koenig who could not throw out the still swift 41-year old "Georgia Peach" as the "Iron Horse" stretches at first base to try and nab the fleet footed Cobb. One of the three hits Ty would accumulate that day, Cobb would both score and knock in a run to ably assist Connie Mack's Athletics in beating the Yankees by a 6-4 score. In the losing effort, Gehrig would secure two safeties and score a run as well, as these two baseball icons would only face off against each other several more times before Cobb hung up his spikes forever at the end of the 1928 season.

In an effort to bolster both his team's performance and ticket sales, after the 1926 season, Connie Mack would pick up aging stars such as Cobb, Speaker (1928) and Collins. While Cobb and Speaker would retire after the 1928 campaign, Collins did "hang around" to enjoy two consecutive championships in 1929 and 1930. As baseball enthusiasts surely know, that 1928 season would ultimately see the Yankees win their second consecutive World Championship, sweeping the Redbirds in four straight games. Ironically, after this Friday, June 29th game, Cobb's three hits would bolster his batting average to a robust .323, which is exactly where it would stand at the end of the 1928 season. An extreme rarity, this is the first illustration we have seen with just Cobb and Gehrig, and while the photo does reveal several notable flaws including various areas of surface emulsion and severe chipping at three of the four corners, the critical central image portraying Cobb passing both first base and Gehrig remains basically unscathed.

The verso includes the JUN 30, 1928 PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER credit stamp as well as a significant newspaper caption that reads as follows: "Tyrus Raymond Cobb opened the eyes of the Yankees today. Had the Hugmen treasured any idea that Ty had lost a lot of his speed, they became sadly aware of their mistake when the Peach hit to Mark Koenig in the fifth and then beat out the tap to earn a base hit. He later score on Hale's sacrifice and Miller's single, all of which helped to hog tie the Yanks". A truly extraordinary offering, it captures two of baseballs arguable top five all-time players in a single action pose, with the aging Cobb about to exit the grand old game, and Gehrig just beginning to instill his unequivocal mark on America's favorite pastime via his unparalleled slugging exploits!

MIN BID $500
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