Joe Cobb (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Stanley Cobb was a Major League Baseball
player who appeared in one game for the Detroit Tigers
on April 25, 1918. Born in Hudson, Pennsylvania
, Joe Cobb was not related to his Tiger teammate Ty Cobb
. In his one big league game, Cobb drew a base on balls
in his only plate appearance
, but did not play in the field. (He is one of only five players in history to draw a walk in his only time up without playing a defensive position, the most famous of these being midget Eddie Gaedel
.)
Outside of the majors, Cobb had an extensive minor league career, which began in 1917. After three seasons (including his one game with the Tigers), Cobb dropped out of baseball before returning in 1923 with the Jersey City Skeeters
and the Baltimore Orioles
. In 1923-24, Cobb was the starting catcher
for the Orioles, one of top teams in the International League
. The 1923 Orioles had a record of 111-53, and the 1924 Orioles are considered to be one of the five greatest minor league teams of all time, having finished with a record of 117-48.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=5 After the Orioles won the 1923 pennant, The Sporting News
wrote an article describing Joe Cobb's role on the team: "[Manager] Dunn’s first moves were to obtain catcher Joe Cobb from Jersey City . . . and to sign veteran pitcher Chief Bender
. The addition of the peppy Cobb put new life in the Orioles." http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=19 In 1923, Cobb hit .320 with 72 runs and 80 RBIs. In 1924, Cobb was named to the International League
all-star team and hit .320 with 84 RBIs and 75 runs. Cobb also had the distinction of catching for future Hall of Famer Lefty Grove
, who had his breakout year with the 1924 Orioles, going 26-6. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=5
Cobb continued to play in the high minor for clubs in Jersey City, Baltimore, Fort Worth and Wichita Falls before slipping to Class B ball by 1929, when he was in his mid-thirties.http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Joe_Cobb In 1931, Joe Cobb was player-manager of the Harrisburg Senators
of the New York-Pennsylvania League, after which he retired.
Joe Cobb died in 1947 at age 52 in Allentown, Pennsylvania
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who appeared in one game for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on April 25, 1918. Born in Hudson, Pennsylvania
Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Hanover Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,488 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which of it is land and is water. The Susquehanna River drains it and...
, Joe Cobb was not related to his Tiger teammate Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
. In his one big league game, Cobb drew a base on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in his only plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
, but did not play in the field. (He is one of only five players in history to draw a walk in his only time up without playing a defensive position, the most famous of these being midget Eddie Gaedel
Eddie Gaedel
Edward Carl Gaedel was an American with dwarfism who became famous for participating in a Major League Baseball game....
.)
Outside of the majors, Cobb had an extensive minor league career, which began in 1917. After three seasons (including his one game with the Tigers), Cobb dropped out of baseball before returning in 1923 with the Jersey City Skeeters
Jersey City Skeeters
The Jersey City Skeeters were a minor league baseball team which operated in Jersey City, New Jersey. The club started in the 1860s and by 1870 joined the National Association of Base Ball Players....
and the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. In 1923-24, Cobb was the starting catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Orioles, one of top teams in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. The 1923 Orioles had a record of 111-53, and the 1924 Orioles are considered to be one of the five greatest minor league teams of all time, having finished with a record of 117-48.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=5 After the Orioles won the 1923 pennant, The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
wrote an article describing Joe Cobb's role on the team: "[Manager] Dunn’s first moves were to obtain catcher Joe Cobb from Jersey City . . . and to sign veteran pitcher Chief Bender
Chief Bender
Charles Albert "Chief" Bender was a pitcher in Major League Baseball during the first two decades of the 20th century...
. The addition of the peppy Cobb put new life in the Orioles." http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=19 In 1923, Cobb hit .320 with 72 runs and 80 RBIs. In 1924, Cobb was named to the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
all-star team and hit .320 with 84 RBIs and 75 runs. Cobb also had the distinction of catching for future Hall of Famer Lefty Grove
Lefty Grove
Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove was a professional baseball pitcher. After having success in the minor leagues during the early 1920s, Grove became a star in Major League Baseball with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, winning 300 games in his 17-year MLB career...
, who had his breakout year with the 1924 Orioles, going 26-6. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=5
Cobb continued to play in the high minor for clubs in Jersey City, Baltimore, Fort Worth and Wichita Falls before slipping to Class B ball by 1929, when he was in his mid-thirties.http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Joe_Cobb In 1931, Joe Cobb was player-manager of the Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
of the New York-Pennsylvania League, after which he retired.
Joe Cobb died in 1947 at age 52 in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
.