The Faces and Voices of Baseball's Deadball Era

[KyutiHuni]

Thank YOu~

[NoGoodBoyo1000]

Greatness transcends time. Eras don't matter.

[tucsonia]

I'm still trying it hard to believe that some of these images are more than a century old.

[Tox1cSunshine]

these guys are so fucking scrawny put their team up against any team from the new era and they would get absolutely pulverized. man kind evolves and these prehistoric fucks would probably shit their pants before get a hit on tmodern day pitchers

[leboharold]

@Tox1cSunshine im sure if you took the steroids out of todays ballplayers they would get their asses kicked by these fellas with no problem the deadball era was a matter of skill and strategy unlike today where its all show

[SuperTomcat622]

@Tox1cSunshine You're a fucking idiot. These guys would beat the shit out of today's players in a baseball game. Unlike current players, they didn't use steroids because they didn't need them.

[parkie101010]

I love how you can hear the ice in the glass when they talk to Cobb...

[DjBobbyLosAngeles]

I wondered if they asked him if he thought blacks should have played or if he could tell us who was against blacks playing if he knew

[MrAjTheBeast]

now i really want a time machine

[jimi2142]

I read the book "THe Glory of Their Times" about four times. I'm a baseball fanatic, and this is one of the most important -- and well-written -- books I've found. This soundtrack is phenomenal. Thanks for posting!

[Sydplayson]

@jimi2142 Amen brother! Back in the days when baseball mattered and was played by men, not over sterioded giants always aiming for the fence with one hand always wrapped around their cellphone talking to their stock broker.

I wish I could have seen the deadball era games with my own eyes.

[vlock1]

These give me chills. Absolutely stunning.

[haptheharborseal]

i wish i could hear Christy Mathewson's voice. he was the first american sports hero.

[bly327]

Are these real?

[leahcimber]

These were great ballplayers and they were tough guys. Life was tough then and they were some of the toughest men around.

[vaibanez17]

Cy Young has the best accent ever. Awesome to hear these guys.

[bonkersblock]

it's eerie isn't it..

[tdforbust]

Is that Ty Cobb's actual voice? 

[duckman531]

@tdforbust  I'm very sure that's Cobb's voice. He was a very intelligent, very troubled man, up to the end.

[TexasGonzo10]

Great Stuff, really enjoy the old photos and interviews

[hanno21664]

hello all curious to know why call it deadball era,\? i am teaching myself baseball here so that is why i asked.

iam sure it is a dumb question but you never know until you ask i say so i asked.

thank you everyone blessings to all

[Frosty4191]

@hanno21664 It is called the "deadball era" because it was a time when the ball didn't travel as far off the bat and pitching dominated. The reason the ball didn't travel as far was because it was not wound as tightly as balls would be starting in 1920, when MLB made the decision to "juice" the ball by winding it tighter to help bring the game back from disaster after the 1919 Black Sox scandal. In addition, balls were used until they were literally mush. Balls were even retrieved...

[Frosty4191]

@Frosty4191 ...from the stands for a long time.

The pitchers dominated because they were the "rock stars" of the era and the best athletes tended to pitch. Even more importantly, they were allowed to spit, scuff, or otherwise deform the ball in whatever way they wanted up until around 1920. And remember, they were throwing those brown, dirty "mush" balls - no new ball after practically every pitch like many of today's games.

[Mr020466]

@Frosty4191

It's funny how they dominated yet guys such as Cobb and Lajoie and others are STILL in the record books to this day, even though they had to face such legends.

[InaWonder]

Excellent clips! Wish I would have seen this a lot sooner.

[swr112261]

Amazing. These men were passionate about the game and it comes out in their voices.

[BARCACROSSESTHEALPS]

Awesome. Great work...keep it goin".

[SportDogg2008]

i love this series

[wiedep]

ever seen the bud greenspan film?

[NietzschesFreund1]

If you listen closely, you can hear the ice cubes in Cobb's glass of whiskey, as he speaks.

[shinesthrudarain]

@NietzschesFreund1 it wasnt whiskey. it was minute maid lemon with ice

[NietzschesFreund1]

@shinesthrudarain No, probably what he called a "Cobb Cocktail" actually. In his book, he drank warm water mixed Southern Comfort and honey.

[havee3333333]

Sam Crawford was a jackass to Ty Cobb

[Cbluesrocker]

My best friend is like the great, great, great grandson of Iron man Joe Mcginnity!

[cfpianoman]

This is such a wonderful clip! Thanks for the audio as well!! It was such a treat to hear Cobb and Cy Young...Wow!!!

[leahcimber]

No body's greatness is in question. It was known by ball players and owners who the great black players were. Not 'all' black players would have made the major leagues. The great ones were wonderful in their own right , just as the white ones were. Just because a player in any particular era didn't play against a certain player of a different era or league , even, does not call into question that player's ability.

[ZenithJones2]

Not to just be argumentative, but I'm sorry greatness is in question. for the first Hundred years of MLB's history a sizeable portion of our nation's population was being excluded from playing, Baseball could not have been at its best. With all due respect to the great J. Robinson by all accounts he was a second tier negro leaguer and his impact was immediate. Imagine had Pop Lloyd and Satchel and Josh Gibson been allowed to play in their primes we don't know history would've been altered ???

[ZenithJones2]

As good as these guys may have been they didn't play against any blacks in games that counted. Its Judge Landis's fault but the sameway negro league players greatness are questioned. The greatness of all who played prior to April 15, 1947 is in serious question ???????????

[KeepRockin55]

I think baseball is a sport that really displays the essence of life. In any given game, there ia triumph, humor and disapointment. No time limit means the game's speed is determined by the players. No two ballparks are really the same, and you have to take care of your body for a 162 game season. Baseball is American!

[sbgdrunx]

Thanx! Great clip! When baseball was baseball ;)

[Gerkinstock]

Hey, it's still baseball. It's as much fun watching Pedro and Lincecum and Pujols and Rivera and Wainwright today as it was watching Cap Anson, Cy Young and Honus Wagner back in the day.

[FratboyOX]

Absolutely amazing.

A rare window to the past hearing these voices.

Thank you for posting.

[mothia1]

nice post but weres shoeless joe

[FLOOBERNINO]

Cobb is the greatest athlete in the history of sports.

[ripperduck]

Explain please because that is a surprising post. Not that I disagree with ya, but I'd like to read the reason you believe that....thanks....

[tommythebaseballboy]

This is astonishing!

[kenf1ott]

thank you for posting this... very interesting

[fidelmgonzalez100]

i wonder if the famous wwII submarine "wahoo" was named after sam crawford from detroit tigers

[DawgPound85]

I'm stunned..

This is so absolutely stunning...To hear the voices of people who were born in the 19th century....

I'm sitting here, listening in awe...

[LazlosPlane]

Geez most movies made before 1950 had tons of people who were born in the 19th century.

[BudmanPackfan]

You are so right, but I'm thinking he was meaning these guys were PLAYING in the 1890's, over 100 years ago..... You know? Also, these interviews were made in the mid 60's, these guys were in their 80's when interviewed. It's all good my fellow baseball fan!

[kidgleason]

Many diehard baseball fans have enjoyed Larry Ritter's book "The Glory of Their Times." If you enjoyed this video, I recommend getting the audio CDs and DVD (VHS) by the same title. It has more video clips and lots more of Ritter's interviews with these and other "deadball era" baseball players.

[cubbiie]

I can't begin to express how fascinating it is listening to Cobb's voice. Absolutely astonishing. The greatest ever!

[smokinranger8]

I can't stop listening to this I love it

Cobb's voice alone is enough

more!please!

[tundradog]

I read The Glory of Their Times about a dozen times as a kid,It's still my favorite book..Thanks for the great clips..

[xterra43]

That isn't Cobb's voice is it?

[kapute2]

pretty nice to hear the voices from the past

[rsuriyop]

i really dig the way cobb used to talk.

[mpeindms]

@rsuriyop - he was one of my first heroes when I was a child. He was a god to me. Then I grew up and found out that he was a nasty human being, a racist pig, a disgusting "win at any cost to your opponent" (expletive deleted). Oh, well, people I placed on pedestals mostly always fell off. And THAT was the lesson that I learned early in my life.

[4421frank]

Cobb's voice is ....... haunting to say the least. To know the career and the reputation of the man and hear his outlook on the game is chilling.

[mowm88]

Very impressed w/ Cobb and Young's voice-clips. RARE. Nice job.

[GOVTinflames]

u know wat would be fucking freaky?? if one of these guys mentioned one of the players from today. like if cy young mentioned the name roger clemens. and ty cobb mentioned the name pete rose. it'd be like their seeing the future or sumthing!

[42663]

and the photos? fantastic

[42663]

where did you get the ty cobb audio?

[deepcosmiclove]

A good ball player in 1908 would be a good ball player in 2008.

[rockerduff1231]

nope

[Colin2k41]

@deepcosmiclove wrong... a good player in 1911 would be the best in 2011

[deepcosmiclove]

I'm not so sure about that but I understand the sentiment. I watched a lot of baseball when I was a kid back in the 50s & 60s and today's players have a lot more range to say the least. The pitching is about the same I think, except that the old timers were probably mentally tougher. Back then though the old guys would tell me that the players of yesteryear were far superior: Frank Baker swung a 50 oz. bat and had to face the likes of Walter Johnson who was faster than Grove & Feller.

[redtailari]

you all need to know that steve by by balboni is the greatest player ever.  period.

[kmcc2576]

I can't even believe I just saw Ricky Henderson's name mentioned in the same sentence as Ty Cobb. I guess Manny Ramirez is better than Willie Mays too, and hell, Melky Cabrera is better than both Mantle and DiMaggio.

[rockerduff1231]

henderson is a better base stealer than cobb and hit more home runs...

[josefelix17]

But cobb have a loooooooooooooooot of more hits, and steal 54 times home base. It was different times. you can't compare them

[kimvaterra]

What you mean you can't compare them. In the first inning of baseball movie, the narrator says, "its a haunted game, its a game where all who plays are meaured against who came before them". With that said, don't get too defensive if Henderson surpassed Cobb and now you can't compare the two because the not so long ago present trumped the past.

[kjsellers]

Yeah but I have seen Rickey Henderson play in his prime which you didn't because you were four fucking years old you little piece of shit. Did I seem them play? No, but I know how to read and I know what hundreds of baseball experts and historians say, and I will take their word over a punk kid who probably won't play a game beyond High School. I don't need to insult you because you have no point. I insult you because it is so easy to do because you clearly have no idea.

[bottledsoul]

you have never seen them play either.

that is unless you are one hundred and twelve years old.

You are the idiot, I have made my point about three thousand times and you just ignore it. I guess you are some old guy who has a walter johnson bobblehead permanently lodged in his ass to remind him of the deadball era. You keep insulting me just like that is going to reinforce your point and nullify mine. liveball crushes deadball all day and all night, and to hell with babe ruth while im at it.

[mowm88]

You are an idiot. You prob. think Hank Aaron would suck too nowadays, right??

[kjsellers]

Volquez? Dude just stop you sound foolish. Just stop. And again you REFUSE to answer my questions. How would you know when you HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM PLAY!!!! You are talking out of your ass.

[bottledsoul]

A hundred years ago any fool could have had dreams of making the big leagues.. and with some effort could`ve made it.

Today that is not realistic.

It has became a worldwide game.

MLB is the toughest (right?) and most touted league of any in the world.

But again, no one will ever know because the game then and the game today are not the same.

Everything was different except for the most obvious rules.

It is the roots of baseball, but it isn`t todays game.

Id like to see cobb face volquez.

[bottledsoul]

You...you don`t understand.

I guess that baseball requires less athletic ability than most sports (as much, more skill). What Im saying is that the game is harder today than it was a hundred years ago because there are more players, more teams, and leagues all over the world.Players have a tougher time getting to the big leagues.

Its no longer light with white.

Ty cobb never played against a black person or anybody that wasn`t american by birth.

[kjsellers]

ahhhh You are 18 years old. That explains everything. You are just confused. So you make the ruling of Henderson being the best overall player ever and you were 5 years old when he was in his prime. You have lots of credibility. This conversation is over. I thought I was talking to an adult who knew baseball but was just confused.I've seen more baseball in one year than you have in your life. Next you are going to tell me Prince Fielder is the greatest athlete of all time.

[kjsellers]

ummm do you need a radar gun to stand in the box and tell if Nolan Ryan or your butt buddy Greg Maddux is throwing? No, you can certainly tell which one throws 100+ and which one throws 78. That is how they knew who threw the hardest dumb ass.

[kjsellers]

Again I ask you the following questions: How can you say someone is less talented when you have never seen them play? If the pitchers were cheaters as you claim wouldn't that make it harder for Cobb to hit .400? Also the barrel of the bats at that time were WAY thinner, the mounds were elevated higher, and as you said the pitchers cheated. And on your other point that again makes no sense. How did they know how hard he through?

[bottledsoul]

I dont see how you can possibly say that those old guys have anything on the new.

Rickey Henderson stole 500 more bases than cobb ( with an 80% career average).

Oh and I did see ted williams and bonds play, thats because they were on TV.

And how the fuck does anybody know how hard they were throwing?

It could of been 98, but it could`ve been 75.

The truth stands, through time athletes have improved in all sports, including baseball.

The competition level from top to bottom is far higher.

[kjsellers]

Again you refuse to answer the questions because you have no answer and yes Rickey Henderson is the best base stealer in history...probably the best lead off hitter. You are the only person on this planet that would say Rickey Henderson is a better player than Ty Cobb. You are an idiot. And that is fantastic you have seen Bonds play...you saw Williams play? You were alive watching TV in the 50's?  Or you saw a few clips of him on ESPN classic? Come on man your argument is silly.

[kjsellers]

Cobb went out and Homered in the first off of a pitcher named Bush considered the hardest thrower at the time. He then homered in the 2nd. He followed that up with a HR in the 8th inning. He also had 2 singles and a double that day making him 6-6 with 3 homers. Setting the record with 16 total bases in one game. Then as you see below what happened the next day. All this at 39 with the flu after telling the reporters he was going to do it. Yup Ricky Henderson is better than Ty Cobb..dumb ass

[kjsellers]

First part of that story didnt post...may 5, 1925 Cobb has the flu.He is 39 years old and winding down his career.The reporters are in love with Ruth and the new wave of HR hitters.That day reporters came to him before the game. Ty:I am surprised you boys want to talk to me, you are so in love with the HR. Reporter: We just want to see how you are feeling. Ty:You boys pay attention today.For the first time in my career I am going to try to his HRs....

[kjsellers]

May 6- Singled his first time up and then followed that with 2 consecutive homers running his total to five homers in 2 days and nine consecutive hits at the plate. 25 total bases in 2 consecutive games also stood for over 70 years and may still today...I am not sure on that. This was all at the age of 38-39 years old.Cobb was the best hitter ever-he could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted...so show some respect.

[kjsellers]

And how in the world can Barry Bonds...a guy with a .298 career average be a better hitter than a Ty Cobb who batted .70 points higher for his career and only once had a season under.300...his rookie season when he only played in 41 games. Let me teach you a lesson and type you a small story from Al Stumps Ty Cobb biography...

[kjsellers]

And as for perfect diets...you eat many meals with pro players? How in the hell would you know what kind of diets they have. Prince Fielder and David Ortiz I don't doubt are eating many salads. And again you can't answer the question. How would you possibly know if Bonds or Ted Williams were better hitters than Ty Cobb? YOU NEVER SAW WILLIAMS OR COBB PLAY! and again you never answered: if Cobb was playing against cheating pitchers & hitting.400...why cant any single player do it vs. fair?

[kjsellers]

Cy Young won 511 games because he pitched every third game unlike today's babies. Henderson best overall player? The words not even close come to mind. How about Willie Mays, Ken Griffy Jr., Mickey Mantle, and on and on and on...how can he be the best overall player when his career batting average was .279 and he never hit over 30 homers in a seasons and only hit more than 20 HRs 4 times? Oh and he only won 1 Gold glove. You, my friend, are an idiot.

[bottledsoul]

Ok I was quick on the draw with Henderson.

He was the best overall player in mlb history.

Bonds/Ted Williams were the best hitters, scandal or not. Maddux and koufax are and were the best pitchers.

[bottledsoul]

Its a question of whether cy and ty were THAT much better, or if they just had less competition.

Im persuaded to follow the latter.

[bottledsoul]

Im saying that the rules were out of the window. They could do whatever the hell they wanted.Players today are ATHLETES.They have perfect diets and all sorts of people at their disposal to advise them on how to workout.

Its like comparing a model T to a new corvette. Its kind of like saying that josh gibson could`ve hit 900 homeruns in the majors... yea right. I love how everybody is so down on steroids like it is magic, but nobody ever questions cy young and how he won 511 games...except me.

[bottledsoul]

when i say they were cheaters I mean that they could fix up the ball anyway they wanted.

they could wipe whatever they wanted on it,

there is a reason that this is not legal today.

[kjsellers]

So on this point you are saying the pitchers were cheating and yet Ty Cobb still was able to have seasons batting .400. Which point are you arguing exactly. If Cobb was hitting against cheaters wouldn't that make it more difficult for him? From this point on you are no longer allowed to have an opinion because you make no sense and you are wrong.

[bottledsoul]

Also think about the scouting...today they have thousands of high schools and colleges, not to mention latin players....then Japananese, korean, and mexican leagues to name a few. Think of how many players they have to filter through in order just to get a chance at MLB.

Ty Cobb would probably be about as good as pete orr if he played today.

These guys were the best against...well...crap.

Guys today are the best beating the best.

Rickey Henderson is the greatest player of all time.

[kjsellers]

And you have seen Ty Cobb or any of the other players from this era play exactly how many times? If you want to talk facts: the balls are juiced now, the pitching mound is lower, the walls are shorter, and the pitchers take a minute between each pitch. First of all your mention of Rickey Henderston immediatly takes all possible credibility from you and secondly how old are you? Have you even seen Pete Rose play? You are comparing one player you have never seen against a bunch of roid-heads.

[bottledsoul]

Well...they didn`t have any race except white, which is probably a minority today.

Im not saying blacks are faster or w/e, but im sure there were a ton of guys that never got a chance to play.

The balls were different, the bats, the gloves, the strikezone wasn`t even close to today. Plus the fields were gigantic, the polo grounds was 500 ft. to center.

The reason they don`t hit .400 anymore is because of better competition.

They should rename it the greg maddux award.

[kjsellers]

Greg Maddux award...rrrrrright.

[soSUBURBIA]

They were ALL cheaters? Kind of a childish and blanketed statement. Tell me Walter Johnson was a cheater.

[bottledsoul]

Walter Johnson was a cheater.

[bottledsoul]

I doubt any of these guys would make AA if they played today, the pitchers were all cheaters, but that was allowed.

You can`t compare any of them to the worst big leaguers today.

[kjsellers]

Let's see...you mean the players you have never once seen play? You are a moron. There is not a baseball expert on the planet that wouldn't say Ty Cobb isn't one of-if not the greatest player ever. So if these guys couldn't make AA, then by your estimation every big leaguer that plays now would be able to bat .400 or win 300 games in the early 1900's? Yeah, you should just not talk anymore.

[redrick2030]

This is about the deadball era, they were not part of that. Why the posting ?

[renandstim]

on the pitching Triple Crown with 33 wins, a 1.62 ERA, and 158 strikeouts.

The modern-day, fan often irritated by the time pitchers take between pitches, would have loved Young, who worked quickly. He didn't even warm up between innings, feeling he'd waste his best stuff. Young could pitch all day, any day. He averaged 341 innings per season for the Red Sox.

[renandstim]

He was so good that they named an award after him. Cy Young, the all-time wins leader with 511, became synonymous with greatness on the mound.

The 6'2", 200-pound right-hander, Boston baseball's first superstar, was truly the first pitcher, combining guile, trickery, and incredible control. His famous quote was "Pitchers, like poets, are born, not made." Spending eight of his 22 seasons with the Boston Americans and Red Sox, Young was the whole show in Beantown in the early 1900s. In 1901, he w

[Sydplayson]

Thanks for posting. Great to hear Ty's voice. Greatest player of all time for sure.

[Patroz03]

Does anyone know where I could find video or anything on Urban "Red" Faber? He was a hall of famer from the white sox, won three games in the 1917 world series.

[therevolvingmonk]

I have watched this video countless times. You can buy 'The Glory of Their Times' on Amazon I believe. I too was extremely happy just to hear the voices of these guys. I mean, we have all heard Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and all those others talk but to hear Cy Young, Sam Crawford, Willie Keeler and Ty Cobb actually tell their stories is cherished history for fans of the Deadball Era.

Great video! Check out the full version.

[1927MurderersRow]

Absolutely historical, this has got to be one of the most best baseball videos I have ever saw on Youtube! I can't beleive I got to hear Cy Youngs voice, Cy Young!!!! He is the best pitcher in baseball history!!!...In my opinion that is...

[Mechanized0]

Cy Young's statistical lifetime achievements are unlikely to be equaled. In 22 years of pitching he compiled the following:

7354 Innings

749 Complete Games

511 Wins

All of the above remain Major League records.

[huysmanslabas]

Cy Young - old and fat....yet, amazing!

Babe Ruth - old and fat...you know...

Proof that ability is natural.

Cobb - The best

[Mechanized0]

Cy Young did not become overweight until near the end of his career. Babe Ruth was 6; 2", 198lbs when he first arrived in Boston in 1915. By 1921 his was approximately 215lbs. It was a gradual process.

Unfortunately, Ruth's popular image as a glutton and drinker has exaggerated his weight problems, until of course near the latter half od his career. By that point, he began t oweigh 230lbs by 1932 (age 37).

[huysmanslabas]

Yes, your right.

I was referring to their longevity,

Young, despite age and weight (hence his amazing numbers)

and Ruth, despite obesity and a general neglect of his health.

[ripperduck]

Back in the 30's, 230# was a huge man. We are so out of control with our size, what with all the steroids, hormones and weight lifting...

[ufund]

Fantastic, PLEASE keep 'em comming.

[laoban1954]

Thank you so much for this!

[haleyfan]

Wow, I get to hear Sam Crawford's voice!!

[Jigsawcrammer]

Who cares if he was a nice guy or not, all that matters is what he accomplished in his baseball career which has taken many baseball players to break, but no one has yet broken his lifetime batting average of 367 which i believe will stand forever, baseball players today don't have the determination today like they use to.

[JimR541]

Cobbs sounds so soft spoken that you would think he was a nice guy. We know this to be untrue.

[rumalo]

fantastic, i never heard cy young voice before, pure baseball history

[riverlandkids]

Wonderful,Wonderful,Wonderful,­what a treat!! That's the first time I've ever heard Tyrus' voice,Thanks!

[riverlandkids]

Wonderful,Wonderful,Wonderfull­!! First time I've ever heard Tyrus' voice!!

[nightcountry]

Does anyone know where the Cobb recording came from?

[eNeEGee70]

Ty Cobb and Cy Young snippets come from the "Great American Baseball Box" CD box set.

[diregiovani]

hi, we use your video to write a news on our site, thanks

[thestarsareprojector]

what a priceless piece of history!

[bullpin17]

that was incredible...

[Basssinger86]

Wow, this is cool. I love baseball and baseball history

[BBBYpsi]

This is a great little video

[mowm88]

Wahoo Sam was a great player.

[sammysosa45]

Dont u mean Honus Wagner

[sammysosa45]

Cy young card i wish i had T206

[lpydb]

"In the Glory of their Times" is a terrific book and a must read for anyone who is a fan of baseball fan.

[riverlandkids]

Amazing!! Listen Folks,....and learn. William Lee