Pitching to Ty Cobb

On Saturday, the Neshanock will be the latest in a long list of baseball teams to visit Washington Borough in Warren County.  Since organized baseball has been played there since 1866, there's been no shortage of good visiting players.  However, there is no debate over who was the best player ever to play in Washington.  The honor belongs to Ty Cobb, one of the greatest players of all time.  On October 28, 1911, the Georgia Peach brought his "All-Stars" to Washington to play the local team.  Those in attendance got to see Cobb in his prime.  Only 25, the Detroit star was coming off  a season where he led the American League with a .419 batting average.  And if that wasn't enough, Cobb also led the league in six other offensive categories including runs, hits, doubles, triples and runs-batted-in.  Some of this was apparently due to a livelier ball, but the numbers are still very impressive.  To no one's surprise Cobb received the Chalmers Award as the American League's Most Valuable Player. 

Ty Cobb about 1913

Exactly why Cobb brought his barnstormers to Washington isn't clear, but according to the local Washington Star, there was a lot of competition for the honor of closing out the local baseball season.  Other possibilities were the last place Brooklyn Dodgers (then called the Superbas) and the New York Giants who had just recently lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Athletics.  Clearly not a Giant fan, the writer claimed Cobb's team was preferred over New York because "Washington doesn't care to take on any losers."  Preferred or not, the local team was playing mostly for honor or glory since Cobb's team was to receive 75% of the gross ticket sales, but no less than $250.  "All-Stars" were a kind title for the visitors, who other than Germany Schafer, were a combination of border-line major leaguers mixed in with some semi-pro players.

George Bausewine - Newark Star - Eagle, June 29, 1915

Cobb's 1911 record was enough to put fear in the heart of anyone who faced him on the mound.  However, George Bausewine, the Washington pitcher, who had some minor league experience, was apparently not intimidated.  He was given added incentive by a local merchant who promised him "the best hat in the Bryant store," if he struck out Cobb. No small task since the Detroit star had only fanned 42 times in almost 600 at bats.  According to sportswriter Bruce Johnson in Covered Wooden Grandstands, Cobb encountered Bausewine in the Hotel Windsor prior to the game.  With his characteristic in-your-face style, the Georgia Peach allegedly told Bausewine he had played against better pitchers.  Not in the least unnerved, the local pitcher supposedly retorted "I've struck out much better men than you."  

Windsor Hotel - where the Cobb-Bausewine confrontation allegedly took place

It's not clear if the game was played at what is now Borough Park, although the probabilities seem strong.  Batting third, Cobb swung and missed twice before taking a called third strike, giving Bausewine not only a new hat, but more importantly, the memory of a lifetime.  Nothing was said about it in the Star, but one has to admire the courage of the umpire who called Cobb out on strikes.  Nor did the American League MVP do much better in his remaining at bats, managing only a walk.  The "All-Stars" led 2-1 going to the bottom of the ninth, but an error by Cobb at first opened the door for a Washington rally and the home team won 3-2.  Cobb may have taken some solace from the gate receipts since the "All-Stars" share of about $338 exceeded the minimum.  It would be fascinating to know how much money Cobb took and how much he shared with his "All-Stars."  

Washington was reportedly an important railroad junction early in the 20th century which may explain the willingness of Cobb to bring his team there - the photo is from about 1906

According to the Star, the assistant manager of the Giants attended the game.  After seeing the size of the crowd, he asked if the National League champions could come and play the Washington team the following Saturday "even though the frost is on the pumpkin." The local team mulled over the offer until they learned that the next day, the Giants, or at least some of them, were defeated by these self same "All-Stars."  This allowed the Washington team one final triumph as the team captain wired the Giants turning down the offer because "it's the [world champion] Athletics for us or nothing."  It was the icing on the cake for the Washington team which couldn't have ended it's 1911 season on a better note.