Ty Cobb

Sunday, Aug. 15: "Rickey Henderson missed Saturday's game against Boston, and may miss the rest of the series, because of a skin burn received from an ice pack." Can you imagine Ty Cobb, Pete Rose, Enos Slaughter or Willie Mays missing a game because of a skin burn from an ice pack? STU ROBINSON Los Angeles

In his March 9 column, Scott Ostler perpetuates the myth by stating "Babe Ruth . . . not only the greatest baseball player of all time . . . " Ostler, who was not even around when Ruth was playing, dogmatically accepts the lie that the fat, dissipated slob from Baltimore was the "greatest of all time." Knowledgeable baseball people know who the greatest was: Ty Cobb. No argument. Wise up, Scott. LANNY R. MIDDINGS San Ramon

Not allowing Pete Rose to wear a baseball uniform or appear in a ballpark while acting in a movie is absolutely ridiculous. Especially when you realize he was to portray Ty Cobb, by his own admission one of the most prolific cheaters who ever played the game. I feel a sport that gives first and second offenders as drug addicts another chance ought to get the hell off Pete's back. DON KUMFERMAN Ridgecrest

Despite Jim Murray's recent article on Ty Cobb, where he supports the alliance of Hollywood and journalism in the character assassination of arguably baseball's greatest player, I would like to offer one story in defense of this man. In August of 1956, when I was a 9-year-old boy in the San Francisco Bay Area, my friends found Ty Cobb's phone number listed in the Atherton phone book. We dialed the number and found the voice on the line kind and receptive. Mr. Cobb invited us to his house, greeted us at the door and gave us a tour of his Southern-style mansion.

The article on Ty Cobb is a devastating picture of the disease of alcoholism strung out to its full conclusion. The alcoholic life has been described as "self-will run riot" and if there was ever any doubt about Ty Cobb's real problem it should have been put to rest by that article. The paranoia, the grandiosity, the violent and unpredictable behavior, even the incredible, almost superhuman will to succeed that made him the great ballplayer that he was, all this is contained in the profile of the alcoholic.

In last Saturday's viewpoint, I wholeheartedly agree with Bob Schroeder's asking if there is a Pete Rose item in Morning Briefing every day. Haven't we reached a saturation point in regard to the numerous coverage on every move and quote from this egotistical, self-centered braggart? Now he has the guts to belittle the accomplishments of one of the true legends of baseball, the great Ty Cobb. Rose has an obsession about records and never fails to somehow remind us of them.

In today's standings (Feb. 4), our own L.A. Clippers had a won-lost record of 18-31 and a .367 percentage. The Clippers can be quite proud knowing that they have finally reached Ty Cobb's lifetime batting average. Congratulations and a tip of the hat to Clipper players, coaches and management. FRED BAPTISTE Orange County Editor's note: These letters represent many of the best received by The Times in 1986

Did you ever wonder how players such as Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, etc. accomplished what they did without the benefit of a batting coach with a video millisecond-by-millisecond breakdown of their swing, physical trainers with whirlpools, MRIs, onsite X-rays, pain pills, cortisone shots plus batting helmets, elbow protectors, gloves with built-in knuckle protection and shin guards for the either leg, or both? And . . . no Scott Boras? Fred E. Stemrich Claremont

The longest consecutive-game hitting streaks in the major leagues since 1901: * Joe DiMaggio, 1941...56 * Pete Rose 1978...44 * George Sisler, 1922...41 * Ty Cobb, 1911...40 * Paul Molitor, 1987...39 * x-Jimmy Rollins, 2005-06...38 * Tommy Holmes, 1945...37 * Luis Castillo, 2002...35 * Ty Cobb, 1917...35 * Benito Santiago, 1987...34 * Dom DiMaggio, 1949...34 * George McQuinn, 1938...34 * George Sisler, 1925...34 * Heinie Manush, 1933...33 * Rogers Hornsby, 1922...33 * Hal Chase, 1907...