Nicknamed “The Georgia Peach,” Cobb is widely considered to be the greatest player of the “Deadball” Era (1900–1920), perhaps the greatest player of all time. He held ninety major-league records by the time of his retirement and was among the first players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. ALS signed “Ty,” one page, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, August 16, 1951. Cobb writes to “Happy” Chandler (1898–1991), the then-recent baseball commissioner and future Hall of Famer. In part: “I had no opportunity to say what I wanted about you, no questions were asked relative to commissioner etc., I was ready. I enjoyed what I read of your except you did not open up on the few that you could have. I traveled back there with [Yankees co-owner] Del Webb, he I think in his way is contrite, he asked me some questions, I told him the truth that you had never say anything derogatory to him. I did state I thought you had been treated badly and that you had been a fine commissioner and that they had rocked the boat and had stirred up a “rats nest” of their own making, he was very silent after that. Hope to see you sometime and tell you more, they have troubles. Regards to Mrs. & to you.” After signing, Cobb adds a postscript (vertically, along the left edge), which he also signs “Ty”: “Hope see [Coca-Cola president Robert] Woodruff in N.Y. soon about Coca-Cola plant.” The upper right corner bears a pencil notation by Chandler, “Ans. L.H.,” which he signs with his initials, “ABC.” The events Cobb mentions relate to Chandler’s then-recent failure to be selected for another term as Baseball Commissioner. Chandler’s controversial but steadfast insistence on integration of the major leagues met with much resistance by a number of team owners, who replaced him with Ford Frick (who served until 1965). Cobb’s association with Coca-Cola began decades earlier, in 1907, when the twenty-year-old ballplayer endorsed the product in advertisements. Cobb ultimately became a major investor in the soft-drink giant—an act of shrewd foresight that made him a multimillionaire by the time of his death. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed in Cobb’s hand. A touch of very mild toning at right edge, otherwise very fine, clean condition. A superb letter of unusual interest! Auction LOA Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
