Rogers Hornsby
A two-time MVP and 1926 World Series champion who set single-season records for batting average (.424 in 1924) and became the only player to hit 40 home runs while batting .400 (1922).
via Wikipedia: Rogers Hornsby · see source
Rogers Hornsby, known as 'the Rajah', played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1915 to 1926 and returned briefly in 1933. During his first tenure, he won his first National League MVP Award and led the team to a 1926 World Series championship. Born in Winters, Texas, he began his major league career at age 19 after being purchased from the Denison Railroaders. He is widely regarded as the greatest second baseman of all time.
- Role
- Second Baseman
- Affiliation
- St. Louis Cardinals (1915–1926, 1933)
- Major Honors
- 2x National League MVP, World Series Champion (1926), 2x Triple Crown Winner
- Status
- Retired Legend / Hall of Famer
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Hornsby's time with the Cardinals was marked by both statistical dominance and personal friction. In 1917, he returned to play just two days after his brother Everett was shot and killed in a saloon, finishing the season without missing further games. His relationship with manager Jack Hendricks deteriorated due to Hornsby's growing egotism; after hitting only .281 in 1918, he announced he would never play under Hendricks again. That offseason, Hendricks was fired and replaced by Branch Rickey. In spring training 1919, Rickey attempted to convert Hornsby from third base to second base, though Hornsby played third for most of that year before permanently moving to second in 1920.
In Their Own Story
On June 4, 1920, Hornsby recorded two triples and two RBIs as the Cardinals defeated the Chicago Cubs 5–1, a game that ended future Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander's 11-game winning streak. By September 30, 1921, the team held a special day in his honor before a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They presented Hornsby with multiple awards, including a baseball autographed by President Warren G. Harding. That season, he hit .397 and led the league in runs scored (131), RBIs (126), doubles (44), triples (18), on-base percentage (.458), and slugging percentage (.639). His 1922 season saw him become the only player to hit 40 home runs and bat .400 in the same year, while his 1924 batting average of .424 remains unmatched since.
Reader's Guide
Hornsby's career with St. Louis included two distinct periods: 1915–1926 and a partial return in 1933. In his first run, he won seven batting titles with the Cardinals, including the first in 1920 when he hit .370 while leading the league in hits (218) and total bases (329). He was released partway through the 1933 season after re-signing, effectively ending his career as a full-time player. From 1925 to 1937, he served intermittently as a player-manager. After retiring from playing in 1937, he managed the Browns in 1952 and the Cincinnati Reds from 1952 to 1953. In 1942, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
- Hornsby is the only player in history to hit 40 home runs and bat .400 in the same season (1922).
- His career batting average of .358 ranks third in MLB history, behind only Ty Cobb (.366) and Oscar Charleston (.363).
- In 1924, Hornsby posted a .424 batting average, a mark no player has matched since.
- He played for the St. Louis Browns from 1933 to 1937 but made only 328 appearances as a player during that span.
- Hornsby attended North Side High School in Fort Worth, where he played football alongside future College Football Hall of Famer Bo McMillin before dropping out in the 10th grade.