Mr. Bonds:
I am writing to you for two reasons, both historic.
One, I was the first player elected to the Hall of Fame in 1936, with 222 votes out of a possible 226; ahead of Babe Ruth, 215; Honus Wagner, 215; Christy Mathewson, 205; and Walter Johnson, 189.
Two, you should have been elected the first time around, in 2013, but you received only 34.7% of the vote. And in 2023, the Veterans Committee gave you zero votes.
This might seem absurd, but it is not. You were a great ballplayer, the greatest home run hitter in history. In your 22 seasons, you batted .298 with 762 home runs and 514 stolen bases in 655 attempts. His defense was poor, but few remember it.
That seems to place him among the favorites in Cooperstown. The problem for you is that you’ve been such a bad person—arrogant, boastful, a saboteur of investigations, unfriendly, and mocking to journalists—that the best course of action is to keep him far from the Hall of Fame.
In short: you claim to despise him, stating that such honors don’t interest you.
In any case, you’re in good company, with Pete Rose, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Steve Garvey, and the eight Black Sox: Joe (Shoeless) Jackson, Ed Cicotte, Arnold (Chick) Gandil, Oscar (Happy) Felsch, Charles (Swede) Risberg, George (Buck) Weaver, Claude Preston (Lefty) Williams, and Fred McMullin.
Of course, Mr. Bonds, I wasn’t a beloved figure in baseball. They said I was a bad guy because I tried to cut the infielders with my spikes on my slides. But no, I assure you, what I was trying to do was as simple as getting to the plate safely.
I was a good hitter, not as good as you, but in my 24 seasons, from 1905 to 1922, I had a .366 batting average, with 117 home runs (not bad for my time), 1,944 RBIs, 897 stolen bases in 1,112 games, 23 years with an average over .300, including three over .400, and 12 times I won the batting title.
Asking you to change your antipathies would be pointless. You’re already 61, and you’ll be 62 in July. But I do suggest you apply patience to life, because it always ends soon, and there won’t be another.
Despite everything, I wish you much happiness…
Hugs,
Ty.
Thanks to life for giving me so much, including a reader like you.
@juanvene5
(En Español)
Cartas desde el Más Allá
De Ty Cobb para Barry Bonds
Sr. Bonds:
Le escribo por dos motivos, ambos históricos.
Uno, fui el primer elegido para ser elevado al Hall de la Fama en 1936, con 222 votos, de 226 posibles; sobre Babe Ruth, 215; Honus Wagner, 215; Christy Mathewson, 205; y Walter Johnson, 189.
Dos, usted debió ser elegido en su primera oportunidad, la de 2013, pero recibió solo el 34.7% de los votos. Y en 2023, el Comité de Veteranos le dio cero votos.
Esto podría parecer absurdo, pero no lo es. Usted fue un gran pelotero, el mejor jonronero de la historia, en sus 22 temporadas bateó para .298, 762 jonrones, 514 bases robadas en 655 intentos. A la defensiva fue deficiente, pero pocos lo recuerdan
Eso parece ubicarlo entre los preferidos de Cooperstown, lo malo para usted es que ha sido tan mala persona, arrogante, presumido, saboteador de investigaciones, antipático, burlón para con los periodistas, que lo más aconsejable es mantenerlo lejos del Hall de la Fama.
Total: usted asegura despreciarlo, afirmando que no le interesan tales honores.
En todo caso usted está en buena compañía, con Pete Rose, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Steve Garvey, y los ocho Medias Negras, Joe (Shoeless) Jackson, Ed Cicotte, Arnold (Chick) Gandil, Oscar (Happy) Felsch, Charles (Swede) Risberg, George (Buck) Weaver, Claude Preston (Lefty) Williams, Fred McMullin.
Por supuesto, señor Bonds, yo no fui un personaje amado en el beisbol. Decían que era mala gente porque trataba de cortar a los infielders con los spikes en mis slides. Pero no, se lo aseguro, lo que intentaba era tan sencillo, como llegar safe.
Fui buen bate, no tan bueno como usted, pero en mis 24 temporadas, 1905-1922, dejé promedio de .366, con 117 jonrones (nada malos para mi época) 1944 impulsadas, 897 robos en 1,112 salidas, 23 años tuve promedio sobre .300, incluidos tres sobre .400 y 12 veces fui campeón en promedio al bate.
Pedirte que cambies tus antipatías sería inútil. Ya has cumplido 61 años y 62 en julio. Pero sí le sugiero que aplique paciencia a la vida, porque siempre termina pronto y no habrá más.
A pesar de todo, le deseo mucha felicidad…
Lo abraza,
Ty.
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto, incluso un lector como tú.
@juanvene5
