Museum in Royston honors baseball great Ty Cobb - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Ty Cobb is universally known as one of the greatest baseball players in history, and he still boasts the highest career batting average of all-time. Born in Royston, Georgia, he is the pride of the town.

The Ty Cobb Museum is a gem in the town of Royston. It's got one of the baseball icon's uniforms, his cleats, a used mitt, and a priceless batting award from 1907 -- made with a real baseball diamond.

"It was the first award that the American League ever gave to anybody...so it's a first of a first," said Director and Museum Curator, Julie Ridgway.

The tribute to Ty Cobb might never have come to fruition if not for actor Tommy Lee Jones.

"Warner Bros. came to Royston to shoot some of the footage, and several scenes were shot here," said Ridgway.

The movie was Cobb, a 1994 release starring Jones as the baseball great born in Royston. The town of less than 3,000 was thrilled until they saw it.

"It turned out to be a real, a real disappointment," said Ridgeway.

Royston residents say their hometown hero came out like a real jerk.

"Well, they just made him out to be a really mean man. No offense to Tommy Lee Jones, because I love him," said Ridgway.
    
So the Ty Cobb Healthcare System board of directors decided to change the game and built a museum, telling their story of Ty Cobb. It focuses on the high points of his career. An example is his lifetime batting average, which is the highest of all time. As for the low points, they remain in Hollywood.

The staffers at the museum have created Cobbleheads in honor of Ty Cobb, and have the items for sale. The museum is hoping the Cobbleheads will be a hit with collectors.

Information:
Ty Cobb Museum
461 Cook Street
Royston, Ga. 30662-3903