Ty Cobb's 10 tips on how to a hit a baseball

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A young and upcoming rookie once wrote a letter to the legendary Ty Cobb on May 18, 1938. The letter requested hitting advice and Cobb was surprisingly willing to provide it.

Sam Chapman put Cobb's advice to good use and was able to play Major League baseball for thirteen years with various teams. In 1947, the letter was made public and became an instant set of fundamental rules which are still used in some form to this day.

Ty Cobb’s Batting Instruction is from a letter that he wrote to rookie outfielder Sam Chapman on May 18, 1938. It first appeared in print in 1947.

1. When it comes to hitting a ball do not hold your bat at the end. leave, say an inch or two. In addition, at least an inch or more space between your hands that gives you balance and control of BAT, which also keeps hands from interfering with each other during the swing.

2. Take position especially against right hand pitchers near the back of the plate and against a man with a real curve, you can stay on the back line of the batter's box. Now try to hit to right-center. I don't mean you should place the ball in any one spot, but start now practicing to hit your right-handers to the opposite field. An inside ball from a right-hand pitcher you will naturally pull, say, to left-center.

3. Do not slug the bullet at full speed, learn how to meet the ball firmly and you will be surprised by the results.

4. Now how do you hit to center-right or center? You stand away from the plate the distance you can see with your mind's eye that you can hit the ball that curves on inside corner, to center. This distance from the plate allows you to hit the ball out to right. In other words, you can protect the plate as well as the inside and outside corners.

5. Remember, the plate is a pitcher's target and he has to come to it. I use 'back of plate' expression to mean towards the catcher, away from plate to denote distance from plate towards outside of box. Now use a bit’ closed stance and keep a little more weight on the front foot and back. It gives you balance and won't pull you away from corners. You’re always going to give the maximum drive.

6. Do not pull a curve ball from a right-hander. The ball is revolving away from you. Hit off the revolution and to right field.

7. Keep your left elbow cocked on level with your hands or even higher. Never let your elbow get underneath your hands, and always keep your hands away from your body – keep pushing them out, even with your body or back.

8. Keep your back leg straight. Of course, if you put your weight on the front legs, the back leg will be straight.

9. If high inside fastballs really bothers you: Crouch from your waist and let them pass. Do not bite, in other words. Squat, make the pitcher throw lower, which set it apart from the position that bothers him. But I think with the instructions I give, you will hit the pitches wherever they land.

10. Against a hard throwing left-hander: Do not pull the ball. Use the same position I gave you, and when he throws you his curve, knock him down with it or you will naturally pull when the ball breaks on you. But against a lefty who throws slower: Get in the box as close to the plate and pull the ball against this style of pitching.

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