Rogers Hornsby

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Born in Winters, Texas, Hornsby played for several semi-professional and minor league teams. In 1915, he began his major league career with the St. Louis Cardinals and remained with the team for 12 seasons. During this period, Hornsby won his first MVP Award and the Cardinals won the 1926 World Series. He then spent one season with the New York Giants and another with the Boston Braves before being traded to the Chicago Cubs. He played with the Cubs for four years and won his second MVP Award before the team released him in 1932. Hornsby re-signed with the Cardinals in 1933, but was released partway through the season, effectively ending his career as a full-time player. He was picked up by the St. Louis Browns and remained there until his final season in 1937, though he made only 67 appearances for them as a player. From 1925 to 1937, Hornsby was intermittently a player-manager. After retiring as a player, he managed the Browns in 1952 and the Cincinnati Reds from 1952 to 1953.

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 is regarded as one of the best hitters of all time. He had 2,930 hits and 301 home runs in his career; his career batting average of .358 is third only to Ty Cobb, at .366, and Oscar Charleston, at .363, in MLB history. He also won two Triple Crowns and batted .400 or more three times during his career. He is the only player to hit 40 home runs and bat .400 in the same year (1922). His batting average for the 1924 season was .424, a mark that no player has matched since. In 1942, Hornsby was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2014, he was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• Hornsby's brother William was shot and killed in a saloon in 1917; Hornsby attended the funeral on June 1 and returned to the Cardinals on June 3.
• Hornsby made only 67 appearances as a player for the St. Louis Browns from 1933 to 1937.
• Hornsby's career batting average of .358 is third in MLB history behind Ty Cobb (.366) and Oscar Charleston (.363).