Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, two of the greatest men to ever play the game of Baseball. Two larger–than–life personalities and Hall of Fame pioneers who didn't like each other very much. But there's more to the story.

Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, two of the "First Five" inducted into the Hall of Fame. Their games were both great but their personalities couldn't be more different.

Author Tom Stanton said, "Today people think of Ty Cobb as the Satan of baseball. This demon figure, the meanest guy to ever play the game and Ruth is thought of as this loveable circus bear, Santa Claus of the sport. Slightly naughty, but the soul of the game."

Tom Stanton whose new book Ty and the Babe chronicles the relationship between the two says there's no rivalry today between players that compares to this one.

Stanton said, "For several years Cobb and Ruth refused to speak to each other, other than to trade taunts and nasty comments. They refused to sign the same ball. It was a wicked rivalry with violence and one upsmanships and jealousy and lots of intrigue."

Things began to change in 1924.

Stanton said, "Their mutual agent tricked them into sharing a taxi ride to the world series and that began the thaw of the rivalry."

Through numerous interviews with family and friends of both including Cobb's personal batboy, Stanton learned of the turn from hatred to friendship. The two even took part in a golf tournament in 1941.

Stanton said, "Here are these 2 old titans back on the field of competition going at it once again in Boston, New York and Detroit. It drew national attention and showed the public they were friends."