FOR ROSE AND HIS REDS, IT'S COBB OR BUST

Henry Hecht

May 06, 1985

On April 14, in New York, collector Barry Halper gave Pete Rose an 80-pound bronze bust of Ty Cobb for his birthday. The Reds took Cobb to Atlanta, where they started a seven-game winning streak. Now equipment manager Bernie Stowe makes sure Cobb goes wherever the Reds go. Before their games, the players dress Ty in different ways, sometimes with flip-down sunglasses. Rose, 81 hits away from Cobb's record, 4,191, says he isn't superstitious, but whenever he walks by the bust, he gives Ty a little tap.