8. “The Georgia Peach” Ty Cobb
During his 24-year MLB career, Ty Cobb compiled some of the most impressive statistics that baseball has ever seen.
Cobb won the batting title in 12 of 13 seasons from 1907 to 1919, earning American League MVP honors in 1911 and finishing his career with the best batting average in MLB history (.366).
He played with an aggressive style that involved complete disregard for his opponents’ well being, something that earned him a bad reputation throughout the league and among fans. Even Cobb, who vehemently denied many of the negative notions regarding his polarizing personality, eventually came to understand how he would be remembered in history.
He wrote the following shortly before his death, per ESPN:
"“In legend I am a sadistic, slashing, swashbuckling despot who waged war in the guise of sport.”"
Yet for a player that generated so much controversy throughout his career, Cobb’s nickname was surprisingly mellow. Coined by iconic sportswriter Grantland Rice, he came to be known as “The Georgia Peach” and ode to his Georgia roots.
Cobb was born and raised in Narrows, Ga., a rural community located just over an hour northeast of Atlanta.
Rice was the sports editor at the Atlanta Journal while Cobb was attempting to break into the big leagues. During this time, Cobb would send letters to Rice under false names, highlighting his baseball talents in hopes of getting noticed.
Rice eventually published a column about a young Ty Cobb, and the two would develop a friendship over the course of their careers.
Next: 7. Three Fingers Brown