dil8d halo Hit List - "The Ty Cobb of the Federal League"

When it comes to defining the Federal League, only one name says it all - Benny Kauff. Over the two seasons spent in the Federal League, the last true rival to the Major American and National Leagues, Benny Kauff amassed quite lofty hitting statistics. In 1914, playing for the Indianapolis Hoosiers, "Ty Cobb of the Fed" hit for a .370 average, with 8 homers, 95 rbi's, had 211 hits which included 44 doubles and 13 triples. He received 72 bases on balls, but never intentionally. He also scored 120 runs that year. The following season, 1915, to bolster the line-up of the only Federal New York franchise, he was traded to the Brooklyn Tip Tops. His season with the Tip Tops produced almost equally impressive marks for Kauff as he hit .342, 12 hr's, 83 rbi's. 23 of his 165 hits were doubles, 11 were triples, and he walked 85 times. For his efforts in the doomed league, he was named batting champion both seasons.


Benny Kauff did have a career in the majors before and after playing in the Fed. In 1912, his rookie season, he played for the New York Highlanders. 1916 through 1920 saw him practice his trade with the New York Giants. They allegedly purchased his contract from the Tip Tops for $35,000. Funny thing is, he was payed about $6,000 for the 1915 season. In Game Four of the 1917 World Series, Kauff hit two home runs and got three rbi's in the Giants 5-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. They lost the title in six games. In 1918 his season was cut short due to service in World War I.


His last full season was 1919 and in December of that year, his life as a player took a horrible blow. He was implicated in a car theft ring along with his brother. Because of appearances for trials and such, his 1920 season saw him play in only 55 games. He was acquitted of all charges on May 13, 1921.


Sadly though, in 1921, the "Ty Cobb of the Federal League" was banned for life from baseball by Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis. Said Landis of Benny Kauff, "He had an undesirable reputation and character. That acquittal was one of the worst miscarriages of justice that ever came under my observation."


Benny "Ty Cobb of the Federal League" Kauff died November 17, 1961 in Columbus, Ohio, still banned from baseball.