May 15, 1912

For the past several games, fans at the Yankees' Hilltop Park have been unmercifully riding Ty Cobb. Finally, the Detroit Tigers hot-tempered outfielder can't take it anymore. In the fourth inning he goes into the outfield stands, where he beats up one of his tormentors.

The fan, Claude Lucker, is missing one hand and part of the other. Among other things, he has allegedly called Cobb a "half n--ger."

"He struck me with his fists on the forehead and over the left eye and knocked me down," Lucker said. "Then he jumped on me and spiked me in the left leg, and kicked me in the side, after which he booted me behind the left ear. I was down and Cobb was kicking me when someone in the crowd shouted, 'Don't kick him. He has no hands.' Cobb answered, 'I don't care if he has no feet!'"

Cobb is ejected from the game. After he is suspended by American League president Ban Johnson, his Tiger teammates will strike for a game before Cobb urges them to end their walkout.