Did Ty Cobb do cocaine?

[ThePeach]

Ty Cobb made a fortune off of Coca-Cola stock. It was originally Georiga-based, and of course Cobb was from Georgia too. Cobb heard of the original formula and apparently loved it, so he invested in it early. He also advertised it. But the problem is that Coca-Cola's original formula had cocaine in it.

Has anyone thought about this before? How much cocaine was actually in it? In those early years, do you actually think that Cobb got a buzz from the cocaine? Did it affect his playing?

[Bill Burgess]

Ty Cobb made a fortune off of Coca-Cola stock. It was originally Georiga-based, and of course Cobb was from Georgia too. Cobb heard of the original formula and apparently loved it, so he invested in it early. He also advertised it. But the problem is that Coca-Cola's original formula had cocaine in it.

Has anyone thought about this before? How much cocaine was actually in it? In those early years, do you actually think that Cobb got a buzz from the cocaine? Did it affect his playing?

I have no knowledge but I think the drink was first concocted by a chemist in Atlanta, in the 1890's. I would have thought that they had taken the cocaine out before they went to mass distribution, but I have no idea as to how it developed.

Here is what I found online.
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Cocaine-Cola

Claim: Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine.

Status: True.

Origins: Coca-Cola
was named back in 1885 for its two "medicinal" ingredients: extract of coca leaves and kola nuts. Just how much cocaine was originally in the formulation is hard to determine, but the drink undeniably contained some cocaine in its early days. Frederick Allen describes the public attitude towards cocaine that existed as Coca-Cola's developers worked on perfecting their formula in 1891:

The first stirrings of a national debate had begun over the negative aspects of cocaine, and manufacturers were growing defensive over charges that use of their products might lead to "cocainism" or the "cocaine habit". The full-throated fury against cocaine was still a few years off, and Candler and Robinson were anxious to continue promoting the supposed benefits of the coca leaf, but there was no reason to risk putting more than a tiny bit of coca extract in their syrup. They cut the amount to a mere trace.
Allen also explains that cocaine continued to be an ingredient in the syrup in order to protect the trade name "Coca-Cola":

But neither could Candler take the simple step of eliminating the fluid extract of coca leaves from the formula. Candler believed that his product's name had to be descriptive, and that he must have at least some by-product of the coca leaf in the syrup (along with some kola) to protect his right to the name Coca-Cola. Protecting the name was critical. Candler had no patent on the syrup itself. Anyone could make an imitation. But no one could put the label "Coca-Cola" on an imitation so long as Candler owned the name. The name was the thing of real value, and the registered trademark was its only safeguard. Coca leaves had to stay in the syrup.
How much cocaine was in that "mere trace" is impossible to say, but we do know that by 1902 it was as little as 1/400 of a grain of cocaine per ounce of syrup. Coca-Cola didn't become completely cocaine-free until 1929, but there was scarcely any of the drug left in the drink by then:
By Heath's calculation, the amount of ecgonine [an alkaloid in the coca leaf that could be synthesized to create cocaine] was infinitesimal: no more than one part in 50 million. In an entire year's supply of 25-odd million gallons of Coca-Cola syrup, Heath figured, there might be six-hundredths of an ounce of cocaine.
So, yes, at one time there was cocaine in Coca-Cola. But before you're tempted to run off claiming Coca-Cola turned generations of drinkers into dope addicts, consider the following: back in 1885 it was far from uncommon to use cocaine in patent medicines (which is what Coca-Cola was originally marketed as) and other medical potions. When it first became general knowledge that cocaine could be harmful, the backroom chemists who comprised Coca-Cola at the time (long before it became the huge company we now know) did everything they could with the technology they had available at the time to remove every trace of cocaine from the beverage. What was left behind (until the technology improved enough for it all to be removed) wasn't enough to give a fly a buzz.

Barbara "hooked on a feeling" Mikkelson

Last updated: 2 May 1999

The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/cocaine.asp
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Urban Legends Reference Pages © 1995-2006
by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson
This material may not be reproduced without permission
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Sources:
Allen, Frederick. Secret Formula.
New York: HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 0-88730-672-1 (pp. 35-36, 41-42, 45, 192).

Miller, Michael. "Things Go Better with Coca Extract."
Rocky Mountain News. 22 November 1994 (p. A28).

Morgan, Hal and Kerry Tucker. Rumor!
New York: Penguin Books, 1984. ISBN 0-14-007036-2 (pp. 65-66).

Pendergrast, Mark. For God, Country, and Coca-Cola.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1993. ISBN 0-684-19347-7
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Bill

[Victory Faust]

Jeez, can you imagine Ty Cobb hopped up on cocaine???? That's a scary thought!!!

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Jeez, can you imagine Ty Cobb hopped up on cocaine???? That's a scary thought!!!

Sorta like handing Freddy Krueger a sword for his other hand.

[ElHalo]

In those early years, do you actually think that Cobb got a buzz from the cocaine?

If he didn't, he very well should have.

[ElHalo]

In an entire year's supply of 25-odd million gallons of Coca-Cola syrup, Heath figured, there might be six-hundredths of an ounce of cocaine.

So, going on the assumption that a standard light recreational dose of cocaine is roughly a fifth of a gram (or roughly five one-hundreths of an ounce), the answers to your questions are:

Was there cocaine in Coca-Cola? Yes.

How much would you have to drink to get high? All of it.

I think the much better question is whether Ty Cobb ever hung out with the 1986 Mets.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I often hear Cobb was an "early" investor in the Coca-Cola Company but this simply is not true. Coca-Cola was incorporated in 1892, when Cobb was less than six years old. By the time Cobb was old enough to buy stock, Coca-Cola was a well established company. Cobb still made money, though.

[Bill Burgess]

I often hear Cobb was an "early" investor in the Coca-Cola Company but this simply is not true. Coca-Cola was incorporated in 1892, when Cobb was less than six years old. By the time Cobb was old enough to buy stock, Coca-Cola was a well established company. Cobb still made money, though.

He first got invested in Coca Cola around 1918 or so, I think, by Bob Woodruff, son or the guy who bought the patent.

http://baseball-fever.com/showpost.p...30&postcount=1

[Jake83]

Cocaine is not a performace enhancing drug so it makes no difference if Ty Cobb had powder coming out of his nose on the field.

[julusnc]

So, going on the assumption that a standard light recreational dose of cocaine is roughly a fifth of a gram (or roughly five one-hundreths of an ounce), the answers to your questions are:

Was there cocaine in Coca-Cola? Yes.

How much would you have to drink to get high? All of it.

I think the much better question is whether Ty Cobb ever hung out with the 1986 Mets.

Made me laugh! Darryl! Darryl!

[julusnc]

Ty Cobb made a fortune off of Coca-Cola stock. It was originally Georiga-based, and of course Cobb was from Georgia too. Cobb heard of the original formula and apparently loved it, so he invested in it early. He also advertised it. But the problem is that Coca-Cola's original formula had cocaine in it.

Has anyone thought about this before? How much cocaine was actually in it? In those early years, do you actually think that Cobb got a buzz from the cocaine? Did it affect his playing?

Okay so what this means by your thinking is everyone that is a member of BBFers ancestors were cocaine users.Woot! Your grandmamaw and my grandpaw setting by the fire getting high on a dope bottle drink.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Coca-Cola. Blow free since 1929.

[KCGHOST]

Ihave also heard reports that Cobb drank unpasteurized milk while he was growing up.

[johnny]

Ihave also heard reports that Cobb drank unpasteurized milk while he was growing up.

In a dirty glass no less...his version of 'the clear' h
Although in regards to Flax seed oil, all Ty knew what to do with that stuff was to rub it on his bat.

[Glenn]

So, going on the assumption that a standard light recreational dose of cocaine is roughly a fifth of a gram (or roughly five one-hundreths of an ounce), the answers to your questions are:

Was there cocaine in Coca-Cola? Yes.

How much would you have to drink to get high? All of it.

I think the much better question is whether Ty Cobb ever hung out with the 1986 Mets.

86 Mets?? Didn't the 2 coke-heads then go on to play with the Yankees along with another coke-head, Stev Howe? Your team isn't all that clean