Interesting incident in a number of ways. According to contemporary accounts, a fan had been riding Cobb throughout the game, and finally started using racial epithets, claiming Cobb had negro blood.



Cobb, never one to back away from a scrap, half-psychotic (at least) and as racist a man who played the game, went berserk, charging into the stands and attacking the fan.



The man had no hands, and Cobb threw him down and started kicking him with his spikes. Spectators shouted at Cobb to stop, yelling that the man was crippled, and Cobb continued the assault, shouting that he didn't care if the man had no feet.



The result was a multi-game suspension for Cobb, and despite his lack of popularity with his own team-mates, the Tigers stated they would not play until Cobb was reinstated.



Faced with a game against the powerful Philadelphia Athletics, the Tiger owner fielded a team of college students and semi-pros to lose by about four touchdowns. The Tiger players were then told by the league president that they faced suspension if they continued to strike. Cobb begged them to return to work, and stated he would accept the league punishment. One of many intriguing incidents in the career of baseball's most bizarre superstar.



While it is common today to comment on Cobbs racism (as I have done myself, above) it should also be pointed out that he did not invent racism, in baseball or out of it. He was a product of a time an culture in which racism was accepted, even the norm. We should, in looking at Cobb, remember that. Not to excuse him or his behaviour, but to remind ourselves that he was only one candle on a fiery cross of racism.

As to the comment I see below, that the heckler should have known better that to shout at Cobb, what the Hell are you thinking. Since when does any kind of insult give a player the right to go into the stands and commit assault and battery. Cobb, for all that he was a great player, was also in many ways a great embarrassment to the game. This was just one disgusting incident in a career full of them

This was normal for Cobb. Even at that time most everyone was aware of his temper. Hey, he shouldn't have been heckling Cobb.

Beating up a guy, no matter how many low blows the guy uttered, with no hands is of course disgraceful, though believe me, Cobb, a tough customer, would have kicked his ass even if the guy was Dr. Octopus. Rotten human being, but a tremendous player...

Anytime a celeb or athlete attacks someone it always looks bad.

Although mostly forgotten, this is a medal-winner as one of the top three worst moments in the history of baseball. . .look it up. . .

What makes matters is he attacked a cripple who had no hands, and it was probably because he was crippled that Cobb beat him up and not because he was the heckler, which people insist he wasn't.