Benny Kauff
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Michael Kauff (January 5, 1890 – November 17, 1961) was a professional baseball player, who played centerfield
and batted and threw left-handed
. Kauff was known as the “Ty Cobb
of the Feds
.” He is the only player to be permanently banned from baseball (without being reinstated) for reasons other than gambling. Though he appears on many lists of Jewish baseball players, such as Harry Stein's 1976 Esquire
magazine article "All Time All-Star Argument Starter," Kauff was not Jewish.
on April 20, 1912. He played only five games with the Highlanders before being sent down to the minors.
After spending the 1913 season in the minors, Kauff appeared with the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the short-lived third major league, the Federal League
. Behind the offense of Kauff, Indianapolis won the first Federal League Crown in 1914. Kauff was traded to the Brooklyn Tip-Tops
for the 1915 season. The Tip-Tops were unable to capitalize on Kauff’s offense, and finished seventh in the Federal League’s second, and last, season.
Kauff earned the moniker “Ty Cobb
of the Feds” with his dominance of offensive categories during both years of the Federal League’s existence. In 1914, he led the league in batting average (.370; still the rookie record for league-leading batting average), on base percentage (.447), runs (120), hits (211), total bases (305), doubles (44), and stolen bases (75; which remained the rookie record until Vince Coleman
broke it and stole 110 bases in 1985), while finishing 2nd in slugging percentage (.534) and 3rd in RBIs (95) and walks (72).
He followed with an almost equally impressive season in 1915. That year he led the Federal League in batting average (.342), obp (.446), slugging percentage (.509), and steals (55). Meanwhile he finished 2nd in walks (85), 3rd in home runs (12), and 4th in RBIs (83), runs (92), and hits (165).
of the National League
purchased his contract from Brooklyn for $35,000 ($ today). Kauff played with the Giants from 1916 until 1920. However, he never found the stroke he had had in the Federal League.
On May 26, 1916, Kauff earned the dubious distinction of being the only player in the 20th century to be picked off first base three times in one game.
In 1916 he was 2nd in the NL in stolen bases (40) and triples (16), 4th in RBIs (74), home runs (9), and walks (68), and 9th in slugging percentage (.408).
His best season in the National League was 1917, when he came 3rd in runs (89) and stolen bases (30), 4th in batting average (.308), 5th in OBP (.479), 6th in hits (172), and 7th in RBIs (68) and walks (59). That year the Giants made it to the World Series
. The Giants lost four games to two to the Chicago White Sox, in Chicago’s last World Series victory until 2005. Kauff had a strong performance in Game 4, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs in the Giants’ 5-0 victory.
Kauff was at the same time a high-living dandy, and at times a trash-talking hothead. Kauff was famous among his teammates for chewing tobacco, smoking a cigar, and drinking a beer all at the same time, without stopping.
His 1918 campaign was shortened by service in World War I
.
In 1919 he led the NL in extra base hits (44), and was 2nd in home runs (10), 4th in RBIs (67) and doubles (27), 5th in runs (73), and 7th in slugging percentage (.422).
In December 1919, Kauff was implicated in a car theft ring along with his brother. After only playing 55 games in 1920, the Giants traded Kauff to Toronto of the International League
, and his major league days were over.
, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis
banned Kauff from baseball for life. He said that Kauff had an “undesirable reputation and character.” Kauff appealed his banishment in court on account of his acquittal, but to no avail. On January 17, 1922, an appellate court denied his appeal. Judge Landis was never convinced of his innocence. Landis said, “That acquittal was one of the worst miscarriages of justice that ever came under my observation."
Banned, he was a baseball scout for 22 years, and then became a clothing salesman for John R. Lyman Company. Kauff died November 17, 1961, in Columbus, Ohio
, still banned from baseball.
Centerfield
Centerfield is an album by musician John Fogerty, released in 1985. It was his most popular post-Creedence album, containing the hit singles "The Old Man Down the Road", "Rock and Roll Girls" and the title track "Centerfield". Fogerty played all the instruments on this album himself, thanks to...
and batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
. Kauff was known as the “Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
of the Feds
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
.” He is the only player to be permanently banned from baseball (without being reinstated) for reasons other than gambling. Though he appears on many lists of Jewish baseball players, such as Harry Stein's 1976 Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine article "All Time All-Star Argument Starter," Kauff was not Jewish.
Early career (1912-15)
Kauff played his first game in the majors with the New York HighlandersNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
on April 20, 1912. He played only five games with the Highlanders before being sent down to the minors.
After spending the 1913 season in the minors, Kauff appeared with the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the short-lived third major league, the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
. Behind the offense of Kauff, Indianapolis won the first Federal League Crown in 1914. Kauff was traded to the Brooklyn Tip-Tops
Brooklyn Tip-Tops
The Brooklyn Tip-Tops were a team in the short-lived Federal League of professional baseball from 1914 to 1915. The team was named by owner Robert Ward, who owned the Tip Top Bakery. They were sometimes informally called the Brooklyn Feds or BrookFeds due to being the Brooklyn team of the Federal...
for the 1915 season. The Tip-Tops were unable to capitalize on Kauff’s offense, and finished seventh in the Federal League’s second, and last, season.
Kauff earned the moniker “Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
of the Feds” with his dominance of offensive categories during both years of the Federal League’s existence. In 1914, he led the league in batting average (.370; still the rookie record for league-leading batting average), on base percentage (.447), runs (120), hits (211), total bases (305), doubles (44), and stolen bases (75; which remained the rookie record until Vince Coleman
Vince Coleman
Vincent Maurice Coleman is an American former Major League Baseball player, best known for his years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a left fielder, Coleman played from to and set a number of stolen base records. He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.-Biography:Coleman attended...
broke it and stole 110 bases in 1985), while finishing 2nd in slugging percentage (.534) and 3rd in RBIs (95) and walks (72).
He followed with an almost equally impressive season in 1915. That year he led the Federal League in batting average (.342), obp (.446), slugging percentage (.509), and steals (55). Meanwhile he finished 2nd in walks (85), 3rd in home runs (12), and 4th in RBIs (83), runs (92), and hits (165).
New York Giants (1916-20)
When the Federal League folded after just two seasons, the New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
purchased his contract from Brooklyn for $35,000 ($ today). Kauff played with the Giants from 1916 until 1920. However, he never found the stroke he had had in the Federal League.
On May 26, 1916, Kauff earned the dubious distinction of being the only player in the 20th century to be picked off first base three times in one game.
In 1916 he was 2nd in the NL in stolen bases (40) and triples (16), 4th in RBIs (74), home runs (9), and walks (68), and 9th in slugging percentage (.408).
His best season in the National League was 1917, when he came 3rd in runs (89) and stolen bases (30), 4th in batting average (.308), 5th in OBP (.479), 6th in hits (172), and 7th in RBIs (68) and walks (59). That year the Giants made it to the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. The Giants lost four games to two to the Chicago White Sox, in Chicago’s last World Series victory until 2005. Kauff had a strong performance in Game 4, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs in the Giants’ 5-0 victory.
Kauff was at the same time a high-living dandy, and at times a trash-talking hothead. Kauff was famous among his teammates for chewing tobacco, smoking a cigar, and drinking a beer all at the same time, without stopping.
His 1918 campaign was shortened by service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In 1919 he led the NL in extra base hits (44), and was 2nd in home runs (10), 4th in RBIs (67) and doubles (27), 5th in runs (73), and 7th in slugging percentage (.422).
In December 1919, Kauff was implicated in a car theft ring along with his brother. After only playing 55 games in 1920, the Giants traded Kauff to Toronto of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, and his major league days were over.
Acquittal and banishment
On May 13, 1921, Kauff was acquitted of auto theft. However, then Baseball CommissionerBaseball Commissioner
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
banned Kauff from baseball for life. He said that Kauff had an “undesirable reputation and character.” Kauff appealed his banishment in court on account of his acquittal, but to no avail. On January 17, 1922, an appellate court denied his appeal. Judge Landis was never convinced of his innocence. Landis said, “That acquittal was one of the worst miscarriages of justice that ever came under my observation."
Banned, he was a baseball scout for 22 years, and then became a clothing salesman for John R. Lyman Company. Kauff died November 17, 1961, in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, still banned from baseball.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases