In the collection is a letter from Lee MacPhail with interesting content in a letter about the 1910 batting race.
Before the 1910 season Hugh Chalmers, head of the Chalmers Automobile Company announced that the batting champions from both leagues would receive a Chalmers 30 automobile as part of a promotion. Ty Cobb appeared a shoe in to drive away with the new car and chose to sit out Detroit’s final two games.
Nap Lajoie of the Cleveland Indians squared off for a season-ending double header against the St. Louis Browns. Hoping to aid the popular Lajoie, St. Louis skipper Jack O’Connor instructed third baseman Red Corriden to play on the outfield grass, conceding any bunt attempts as base hits. Lajoie went 8-for-8 and a controversy was born.
American League president Ban Johnson declared Cobb the batting champ based on his average of .358069 to Lajoie’s .384059. The controversy was dissolved when Chalmers award each of the players a new car.
In 1978, Pete Palmer discovered a discrepancy in Cobb’s career hit total. He broke the story in The Sporting News in April, 1981.
Cobb’s total was initially recorded at 4,191. Researchers found a Tigers box score counted twice in the season-ending calculations. The statisticians gave Cobb an extra 2-for-3.
Not only did this credit Cobb with two non-existent hits, it also raised his 1910 batting average from .383 to .385. As Lajoie is credited with a .384 average for the 1910 season, the revised figure would cost Cobb one of his 12 batting titles and reduced his career average to .366.
The ensuing mathematical mess was described by one writer as follows: “It could be said that 1910 produced two bogus leading batting averages, and one questionable champion.”
In the above letter, MacPhail backs his fellow American League chief.
“President Ban Johnson certified Ty Cobb as the champion and I am sure he had good reason for it.”