View Full Version : Interesting Ty Cobb Bat Card (1/1)


mikesilvia
07-11-2007, 02:00 AM
I thought this <a href="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=2205365&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2FTY-COBB-2007-Triple-Threads-Bat-Barrell-Nameplate-1-1_W0QQitemZ300127476546QQihZ020QQcategoryZ149905QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">2007 Triple Threads Bat Barrel Nameplate 1/1</a> was interesting. You get two pieces of a bat from a Ty Cobb used bat. It is a fold out card, so you are really getting 2 cards. I can't tell if the side with the "Cobb" in it is a piece of bat or just an image. If it is a piece of batt, wouldn't that make it three pieces? It already as 16 bids at close to $6,000!

http://i24.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/a8/9b/73e4_12.JPG

What do you guys think about destroying a historical bat to make a card like this? It looks like a Ty Cobb bat is very rare:
Info taken from the PSA/DNA website:

Ty Cobb - One of the toughest bats on the list and the lumber used by a man whose career batting average may never be approached. Could you imagine anyone hitting .366 for his career? I can't imagine most players hitting .366 for a season or two. Cobb is also the all-time leader or amongst the all-time leaders in several key categories. Cobb is second (only to Rose) in career hits, among the best in runs scored, doubles, triples and, surprisingly, runs batted in. Cobb was not a "slap" hitter by any means; he could drive the ball when necessary.

Cobb may not be the most likable player in baseball history but he was a fierce competitor. Despite his rough approach to people and life, Cobb is still one of the most collectible names in all of baseball. His performance on the field helped to overshadow his mean streak as a person. Cobb was even considered, by some, to be the best player of the first half of the century. That says a lot for a man who played in that first half with a guy named Ruth, a man who would eventually take baseball by storm.

Cobb bats are usually characterized by spike marks along the barrel. Cobb used his spikes in more ways than one and the infielders weren't too happy about that. Luckily, his bats had no feelings. Cobb was also known for occasionally using a unique taping method along the handle, leaving occasional space between the taped portions of woods. This is probably due to his unique hitting style, one that had his hands separated on the grip area. Regardless, Cobb bats are very difficult to obtain and much more scarce than Ruth examples.

JKC
07-11-2007, 05:35 AM
Awesome card of this historic figure!!! As for destorying a historical bat to make it, it is a really sad thing to happen. Makes you wish at times that they would keep the bat in one piece and have something like a contest to win the entire bat, but they don't. Oh well.

Thanks for sharing!

Darin

cwells52
07-12-2007, 10:18 AM
I personally like the "Nameplate" cards myself. I don't much care for the fact that they cut up a Cobb bat tho. The others of more recent players that I have seen like Paul Molitor and others are awesome pieces for a collector to pull or add to a personal collection. Great idea from Topps, might have made a few errors with the Cobb bat tho.

TheTruth85
07-12-2007, 12:52 PM
Thats a sweet card, but yeah its sad to see a piece of history cut up.


Andy

indyreds
08-18-2007, 11:21 PM
It is horrible to ruin a part of the history of the game with a card like this! I can not imagine that as a hobby we would reward the act with a 6,000 transaction! The contest to win an whole bat would not work either? Most of us would have to sell it as I'm sure the IRS would tax it out the rear and all you could say afterwards is that you once had it! Why original historic items like this are not in a museum or displayed for all to enjoy at a ballpark instead of being destroyed for a ballcard is beyond me. You know as well as me that as long as someone will spend that type of money on the destruction of a true baseball relic that it will continue! We are all to blame!

mikesilvia
08-19-2007, 12:27 AM
I agree and disagree. 99% of collectors can not afford a Ty Cobb bat or a Babe Ruth Jersey. The way I look at it is a guy like Bill Gates can buy the Ty Cobb bat and only Gates and his friends can enjoy it or you can put it in hundreds of cards so thousands can enjoy.

indyreds
08-26-2007, 11:27 PM
OK? Would you want the Declaration of Indepence cut into a 100 pieces for all to enjoy? How many cards could be made out of the Statue of Liberty? Man history is history and while my examples are extreme, the act of vandalism they commit on an item like a Cobb bat is horrible. Making a collectible out of an cut signature improves the item and I can understand. This destroys the original item! Congrats to the guy who bought the card, but man it seems these purchases are more harmful than helpful.

mikesilvia
08-27-2007, 12:51 AM
Not sure I would ever compare the Declaration of Independence or Statue or Liberty with a baseball bat, but I understand your point.

Bondsaway
08-27-2007, 01:11 AM
Well as he did say History is History!!! To whatever extreme. But I don't mind a bat that was cracked or broken to be cut up! To me its kinda crap anyways but put it on a card and its more presentable as a collectible. Just depends on what is being cut up for these cards. Real sweet. As for these companies making a contest out of them forget that!!! Anyone remember the company that gave away that t205 Honus Wagner card? The guy that won it had to sell it immediately cause he didn't have the money to pay the taxes on it!!!! Hows that for fair!!!!