This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/29/2023
This lot features a Ty Cobb and Kenesaw Mountain Landis original 1921 glass negative. This one-of-a-kind item displays a very unique image of Ty Cobb with baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in this original, from the camera, glass plate negative. In this ironic and unique pose, a smiling Ty Cobb is depicted standing next to a dejected Landis. Rumors that the last game of the 1919 baseball regular season was fixed put the spotlight on Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker. They had allegedly orchestrated the fix along with Dutch Leonard and Smoky Joe Wood. Judge Landis, no doubt, with the 1919 World Series fix already on his mind, lacked the evidence on the rumored involvement of two of baseball's biggest stars at the center of the controversy. Landis did, of course proceed with his investigation of the 1919 World Series scandal which concluded with the banning from the game of baseball of the 8 players including Shoeless Joe Jackson for their involvement in fixing the World Series. Lacking evidence against Cobb and Speaker, the commissioner, Landis, tabled any action. Ironically, this photo of a smiling Ty Cobb and an anguished Landis, really portrays the men's feelings at the time. Cobb accumulated 4,159 career hits over 24 seasons. Measures 4 x 3.25 inches. Truly unique piece of baseball history.