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On November 2, 1926 – The Detroit Tigers release Ty Cobb. The release ends his 22-year association with the team. The Georgia Peach, was Detroit’s player-manager for the past six seasons, he compiled a 479-444 (.509) winning record. Despite the winning record the club never finished closer than 16 games from first place. Mainly because the New York Yankees were dominating the American League.

A few weeks later, the reason for his release and announced retirement the next day was made public. Former Detroit pitcher Hubert “Dutch” Leonard claimed that he, Cobb, Tris Speaker, and Cleveland outfielder Joe Wood had fixed a game between Detroit and Cleveland on September 25, 1919.

On January 27, 1927, Commissioner Landis ruled that Cobb and Speaker were not guilty. He stated “These players have not been, nor are they now, found guilty of fixing a ball game. By no decent system of justice could such finding be made.”

Once Ty Cobb was cleared by Major League Baseball, a bidding war broke out between several teams. The two top suitors were the St. Louis Browns and the Philadelphia Athletics.

The Athletics won out and signed both Cobb and Speaker.

Offered is an original TYPE 1 Wide World Photos (stamped on back) of Cobb posed with Dan Howley, the manager of the Browns and Connie Mack with the original paper caption attached, dated 2/7/1927.  Photo measures 7x9.

Historically, the Browns never had a shot!