Heart of a Tiger : Growing up with My Grandfather, Ty Cobb

Herschel Cobb's moving account of his relationship with his legendary grandfather reveals a side of Ty Cobb that few people ever saw, that of loving nurturer. A baseball icon and arguably the best player who ever lived, Ty Cobb's infamously cold, competitive nature allowed him to excel on the ball field but undermined his relationship with his children. Devastated by the untimely death of two of his sons, Cobb relished the opportunity to reconnect the broken family ties when young Herschel and his siblings visited him during the summers. In the pages of this book, Herschel, whose cruel, abusive father and adulterous, alcoholic mother filled his childhood with turmoil, recounts how his grandfather provided the stability, love and guidance that Herschel desperately needed. Beautifully written and insightful, this memoir describes the healing bond between Cobb and his grandchildren, and constructs a wholly different legacy for the notoriously tough Cobb as gentle and affectionate Granddaddy. Review ''A gentle, affecting memoir.'' Kirkus Reviews (February 2013) ''Elegantly written and genuinely moving, this heartwarming account is sure to resonate with readers.'' www.PublishersWeekly.com ''For those who've read Charles C. Alexander's meticulously researched Ty Cobb (2006) and Cobb's autobiography, written with Al Stump in the early sixties, this memoir provides one more view of a fascinating, severely flawed sports icon.'' www.BooklistOnline.com About the Author Herschel Cobb is the grandson of Ty Cobb. He lives in Menlo Park, California. The previously untold legacy of Ty Cobb Ty Cobb is a baseball immortal, considered by many the greatest player who ever lived. In an age when the game was young and tough, he cultivated a reputation as the fiercest competitor of them all. Yet after he retired, he realized that the very qualities that helped him reach the pinnacle of his profession also undermined his relationship with his own children. He was deeply depressed when two of his sons died at a very young age. Cobb never had the chance to bridge the emotional distance between them. Herschel Cobb grew up in a chaotic, destructive household. His father was cruel and abusive, and his mother was an adulterous alcoholic. After his father died, when Herschel was eight, he began to spend a portion of each summer with his grandfather. Along with his sister and brother, Herschel visited Ty Cobb at his home in Atherton, California, or at his cabin at Lake Tahoe. These days were filled with adventures, memorable incidents, and discoveries as Granddaddy warmed to having his three redheads with him. Heart of a Tiger is Herschel Cobbs moving account of how a retired sports star seized a second chance at having a close family, with his grandchildren the lucky recipients of his change of heart. He provided wisdom, laughter, and a consistent affection that left an indelible mark. He proved the enormous power of a grandparent to provide stability, love, and guidance. As he developed this new, wholly different legacy, in turn he would finally come to peace with himself. The grandson of the legendary baseball player reveals another side of “a fascinating, severely flawed sports icon” (Booklist). Ty Cobb’s grandson Herschel saw a side of him that very few others did. While baseball fans were familiar with Cobb’s infamously cold, competitive nature—and his relationship with his own children was deeply difficult—Cobb, in his later years, embraced the opportunity to form a loving bond with his grandchildren during their summertime visits. In this moving memoir, Herschel Cobb reveals how his grandfather, after the devastating loss of two sons, shared his gentler side with Herschel and his siblings. Herschel’s own parents, a cruel, abusive father and an adulterous, alcoholic mother, filled his childhood with turmoil. But “Granddaddy” offered the stability, love, and guidance that Herschel desperately needed. “Elegantly written and genuinely moving,” this story of their relationship presents a unique perspective on this larger-than-life man (Publishers Weekly). “An unforgettable story . . . that will alter how you feel about baseball’s most demonized star.” —Tom Stanton, author of Ty and the Babe Ty Cobb Is Considered To Be The Greatest Baseball Player Of All Time. He Had A Reputation As The Fiercest Competitor Of Them All, But He Realised That The Qualities That Made Him Successful Also Undermined His Relationship With His Children. Herschel Cobb's Father Was Abusive, And His Mother An Adulterous Alcoholic. After His Father Died, Herschel He Began To Spend A Portion Of Each Summer With His Grandfather Ty. Heart Of A Tiger Is Herschel's Moving Account Of How Ty Cobb Seized A Second Chance At Having A Close Family And Finally To Peace With Himself. Front Cover; Copyright; Dedication; Table Of Contents; Preface; Chapter One -- The Snake River, Idaho, 1949; Chapter Two -- 223 Pierce St., Twin Falls, Idaho; Chapter Three -- The Passing Of Two Sons; Chapter Four -- Mist And Clarity At Lake Tahoe; Chapter Five -- The North Shore Club; Chapter Six -- My First Visit To His Office; Chapter Seven -- A Chance Meeting In The Night; Chapter Eight -- Spencer Lane To Cave Rock, Through Lodi; Chapter Nine -- So, You Met Mr. Al Stump!; Chapter Ten -- July 17, 1961, And Beyond; Back Cover. Herschel Cobb. Herschel Cobb{u2019}s moving account of his relationship with his legendary grandfather reveals a side of Ty Cobb that few people ever saw, that of loving nurturer. A baseball icon and arguably the best player who ever lived, Ty Cobb{u2019}s infamously cold, competitive nature allowed him to excel on the ball field but undermined his relationship with his children. Devastated by the untimely death of two of his sons, Cobb relished the opportunity to reconnect the broken family ties when young Herschel and his siblings visited him during the summers. In the pages of this book, Herschel, whose cruel, abusive father and adulterous, alcoholic mother filled his childhood with turmoil, recounts how his grandfather provided the stability, love and guidance that Herschel desperately needed. Beautifully written and insightful, this memoir describes the healing bond between Cobb and his grandchildren, and constructs a wholly different legacy for the notoriously tough Cobb as gentle and affectionate ?Granddaddy.? Annotation Herschel Cobbs moving account of his relationship with his legendary grandfather reveals a side of Ty Cobb that few people ever saw, that of loving nurturer. A baseball icon and arguably the best player who ever lived, Ty Cobbs infamously cold, competitive nature allowed him to excel on the ball field but undermined his relationship with his children. Devastated by the untimely death of two of his sons, Cobb relished the opportunity to reconnect the broken family ties when young Herschel and his siblings visited him during the summers. In the pages of this book, Herschel, whose cruel, abusive father and adulterous, alcoholic mother filled his childhood with turmoil, recounts how his grandfather provided the stability, love and guidance that Herschel desperately needed. Beautifully written and insightful, this memoir describes the healing bond between Cobb and his grandchildren, and constructs a wholly different legacy for the notoriously tough Cobb as gentle and affectionate Granddaddy The grandson of Ty Cobb describes his troubled childhood and how his grandfather provided the stability, love, and guidance that he desperately needed.