Rogers Hornsby biography
Rogers Hornsby, byname the Rajah, (born April 27, 1896, Winters, Texas, U.S.—died January 5, 1963, Chicago, Illinois), American skilled baseball participant, usually thought-about the sport’s best right-handed hitter. His main league profession batting common of .358 is second solely to Ty Cobb’s .366.
Hornsby made his main league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1915 at age 19. After taking part in quite a few positions early in his profession, in 1920 he moved to second base, which grew to become his main place for the rest of his profession. Hornsby led the National League (NL) in batting for six consecutive seasons, 1920–25, hitting over .400 in three of these seasons (1922, 1924–25). His 1924 common of .424 was the second highest attained within the main leagues within the twentieth century (trailing solely Nap Lajoie’s .426 common in 1901). In addition to his excellent potential to hit for common, Hornsby had nice energy: throughout his six-year reign because the NL’s batting champion, he additionally led the league in slugging share every season and in house runs twice (1922, 1925). He captured the League Award (a precursor to the Most Valuable Player award) in 1925. In 1926, because the Cardinals’ taking part in supervisor, he led the crew to its first World Series victory, a seven-game conquer the New York Yankees.
The outspoken Hornsby demanded a brand new contract after the Cardinals’ championship, however he was as an alternative traded to the New York Giants. The following season he was traded once more, to the Boston Braves, for whom he once more led the league in batting common in 1928. Hornsby was traded for a 3rd time in three years earlier than the 1929 season, to the Chicago Cubs. He received one other League Award in his first season with the Cubs, and he batted over .300 in every of his first three seasons in Chicago. His play fell off dramatically in his fouth 12 months with the membership, nonetheless, and he was launched 19 video games into the 1932 season. He performed sparingly with the Cardinals (1933) and the St. Louis Browns (1933–37) earlier than retiring in 1937.
Hornsby served as a player-manager throughout choose seasons with the Braves (1928) and Cubs (1930–32), in addition to throughout his complete tenure with the Browns. In addition, he was a full-time supervisor for a part of the 1952 season with the Browns and half with the Cincinnati Reds, whom he additionally managed in 1953. He additionally served as a scout and coach for quite a few main league groups after his taking part in days ended. Hornsby was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942.