Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby (1896–1963) was an American baseball second baseman and manager, celebrated for his exceptional hitting and two Triple Crown seasons.
1924 St. Louis Cardinals season: The St. Louis Cardinals’ 1924 season, when Rogers Hornsby won the National League batting title with a .424 average. Hornsby’s .424 average remains the highest single-season mark in the modern National League.
Branch Rickey: An American baseball executive and manager who developed the farm system and led several major-league organizations. As Cardinals president, Rickey dismissed Hornsby as manager after the 1926 championship.
Batting average: A baseball statistic calculated by dividing a batter’s hits by official at-bats. Hornsby’s career .358 average is among the highest in major-league history.
National Baseball Hall of Fame: An American museum and institution in Cooperstown, New York, honoring baseball players and contributors. Hornsby was inducted in 1942, among the earliest players elected.
1925 St. Louis Cardinals season: The St. Louis Cardinals’ 1925 season, when Rogers Hornsby won the National League’s Triple Crown and Most Valuable Player award. His 39 home runs, 143 runs batted in, and .403 average made this his second Triple Crown season.
Frankie Frisch: An American second baseman and manager who led the St. Louis Cardinals’ Gashouse Gang to the 1934 World Series title. Frisch succeeded Hornsby as Cardinals manager and later played alongside him with the New York Giants.
Runs batted in: A baseball statistic credited when a batter’s plate appearance causes a run to score, subject to scoring rules. Hornsby repeatedly drove in runs, including 152 for the Cardinals in 1922.
Major League Baseball records: The statistical achievements and milestones recorded across Major League Baseball history. Hornsby’s .358 career batting average and .424 single-season average anchor comparisons of great hitters.
1926 World Series: The 1926 championship series in which the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees in seven games. Hornsby managed the Cardinals and made the decisive tag in the Series-ending play.
Babe Ruth: An American baseball player whose power hitting transformed the sport and made him one of its most celebrated stars. Ruth’s home-run-centered fame contrasts with Hornsby’s reputation for combining power with a high batting average.