 The Lajoie @-@ Cobb rivalry reached a peak in 1910 , when Hugh Chalmers of the Chalmers Auto Company ( a direct predecessor to modern @-@ day Chrysler ) promised a Chalmers 30 Roadster to the season 's batting champion . The public became fascinated with the daily statistics of Lajoie and Cobb in what became known as the Chalmers Race . Sports bettors , who by this time followed the sport attentively , also followed the daily reports with interest . Cobb took the final two games , a doubleheader , off against the Chicago White Sox , confident that his average was safe and would allow him to win the AL batting title — unless Lajoie had a near @-@ perfect final day . Going into the final game of the season , Cobb 's average led Lajoie 's , .383 to .376 . 
