I am not from St. Louis I’m actually a transplant. I arrived here in 1999 for an academic job. I was always a Dodgers fan, but when I moved away from California, my connection to the Dodgers slowly eroded over the many years. While I was in graduate school, I kinda hopped around from teams. I was a bit of a Rangers fan because Nolan Ryan was pitching for them.
It was when I came to St. Louis that I found myself aligned to a team again. And so, for the past 23 years Cardinal Nation has pulled me in, and I have become fascinated with not only the city, but the teams and players that have played here. I have discovered over the years, St. Louis’s deep and rich contribution to baseball history.
I discovered this colorizing app a few months back and have steadily amassed a series of early St . Louis Baseball History. For example, Rogers Hornsby:
Roger Hornsby was an icon of the St. Louis Cardinals, leaving an indelible mark on both the team’s legacy and the sport of baseball as a whole. Born in Winters, Texas, in 1896, Hornsby displayed his remarkable talent for baseball from a young age.
His journey to baseball immortality was as rugged and uncompromising as the West Texas terrain he hailed from. From his early days as a wiry youngster honing his skills on makeshift sandlots, to the grand stages of Major League Baseball, Hornsby’s path was marked by an unyielding dedication to his craft.
At 15, Hornsby joined the North Side Athletics in the Fort Worth City League alongside adult players. After a brief stint with the Dallas Steers and the Hugo Scouts, he landed with the Denison Railroaders in the Texas-Oklahoma League.
In 1915, the Railroaders facilitated the transfer of Hornsby’s contract to the St. Louis Cardinals for a sum of $600. Seven years later Hornsby had become renowned for his hitting prowess being considered the best hitter of the National League. He is arguably the greatest right handed hitter to ever play the game. At one point he ascended to the status of the highest-paid player in the National League, commanding an annual salary of $18,500.
Hornsby was said to have had exceptional hand-eye coordination. His ability to track pitches with laser-like precision allowed him to make split-second adjustments at the plate, ensuring that he consistently made solid contact with the ball.
Moreover, Hornsby possessed a keen understanding of the strike zone, enabling him to distinguish between pitches with pinpoint accuracy. This keen eye for detail allowed him to lay off pitches outside the strike zone while capitalizing on hittable offerings, often driving them with authority into the gaps or over the outfield fences.
Hornsby was known to sit deep in the box and step toward the plate, rather than parallel to the box when swinging. It results in a steady, straight and level swing through the strike zone. He said it helped him control the ball to all fields but I don’t see how he could turn the ball to left going that angle.
Hornsby’s breakout season was 1920, although he had already shown flashes of brilliance in his previous years. During that season Hornsby amassed a staggering .370 batting average, leading the league in hits, doubles, triples, and slugging percentage.
While Hornsby is primarily remembered for his exceptional offensive skills, he also demonstrated solid defensive skills over his career. His primary position was second base where he proved a competent infielder who contributed defensively to his teams.
Many thought of Hornsby as the Ty Cobb of the National League. In 1922 he won the Triple Crown, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dominant hitters in baseball history.
Branch Rickey served as Hornsby’s manager from 1919 to 1925. After Rickey’s tenure, Hornsby assumed the role of player-manager for the Cardinals in 1925, taking on both managerial duties and continuing to play for the team.
While his tenure as Cardinals manager was not without its challenges and controversies, including clashes with team ownership and players, Hornsby’s impact on the franchise was undeniable. He guided the Cardinals to their first-ever World Series title in 1926, further cementing his place in baseball lore.
Hornsby’s performance in the 1926 World Series showcased his exceptional hitting ability and leadership qualities. He batted .316 during the series, collecting six hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in four runs. His offensive contributions helped spark the Cardinals’ offense and provided crucial run support in key moments of the series.
Following the Cardinals’ World Series victory in 1926, Hornsby’s relationship with team ownership soured, leading to his departure from the organization. He was traded to the New York Giants in 1927, where he continued to play at a high level but clashed with team management.
Finally, on Roger Hornsby “…the man who John McGraw called “a better hitter than Babe Ruth” lived by his own rules, which included not drinking, smoking or attending movie theaters (so as not to strain his eyes).” source: MLB Hall of Fame
You can see more at @stlcolorbaseball@mastodon.social
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