1907

Important pocket watch was presented to Ty Cobb in recognition of his batting feats during the Tigers 1907 American League Championship season. He had made his debut with Detroit just two years prior, and played shortened seasons in 1905 and 1906 before coming on as a regular in their outfield for the 1907 season. It would mark the first year in which he led the American League in hits, RBI, and stolen bases, and it was merely a glimpse of what was to come. By the time of his retirement in 1928, some 21 season later, he would hold scores of Major League records, several of which stand to this day, including his .362 lifetime batting average. Along the way he earned a Triple Crown in 1909, the American League MVP Award in 1911, and ultimately claimed the AL batting title twelve total times. He is widely regarded as one of the best all-around players to ever don a baseball uniform and his name evokes a reverence that is reserved for a select few of our sporting idols.
Substantive presentational pieces from this seminal era in baseball's history are few and far between. Teams had barely just begun bestowing rings or other pieces to commemorate Championship seasons, and many of the awards which we are familiar with today had not yet been conceived. It was most often left to the fans and other supporters to both produce and convey such honors. In recognition of his batting feats and contributions to the Tigers pennant winning season of 1907, funds were raised through the Atlanta Journal newspaper to present Ty Cobb with just such a tribute. As relayed in period newspaper accounts, "admiring fans in Georgia" raised funds and secured the pocket watch offered here from Schaul & May jewelers. That same article (from the 13 November 1907 edition of The Journal) pictured a large hand drawn rendering of the proposed design which matches the present lot, with some subtle differences easily accounted for in the production process.
Text on the front reads, "Presented to Tyrus Raymond Cobb through the Atlanta Journal By The Georgia Fans for his Brilliant Career on the Diamond, 1907." The back is decorated with a tiger mascot, pair of crossed bats, and his average 352 is noted at the top (note - the concept drawing notes average as 349 and the current official MLB stat is 350, variances which are not at all uncommon in the era when record keeping was spotty and often updated). The back cover opens to reveal a "Pierra Droit & Co." mark and the casing is stamped "14K" in two places.
Very fine overall condition with some modest general handling wear and could likely be brought back to working order. An included letter of provenance dated 1993 and signed by Cobb's great-great-nephew relays the history of the watch having been passed down through his descendants. It was offered at auction among several pieces from Cobb's collection around that time and has remained hidden from the collecting public since. Among the most significant early presentational jewelry pieces we have seen offered with impeccable period provenance: EX