247 - "A Stranger Among His Own Kind:" Rogers Hornsby (Texans in the Hall)

Hooks & Runs

Rogers Hornsby won seven batting titles, hit .358 in his 23-year Major League career and remains the all-time batting average leader both among right handed hitters and in the National League. He managed the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals to franchise's first World Series title only to be traded two months later in a salary dispute. Hornsby's career and personal life were marked by conflict, antagonism, lawsuits, acrimony and bitterness. But the man could hit. This week we return to our series, Texans in the Hall to discuss the life and time of the enigmatic Rogers Hornsby.

Also this week, our favorite albums from the first quarter 2025.
Craig - Lonely People With Power, by Deafheaven (Roadrunner)
Rex - Year of the Four Emperors by Ex Deo (Reigning Phoenix Music)

Episodes referenced this week: No. 172, "They Were Two People Desperate to Stay in the Game w/ Bob LeMoine." (https://tinyurl.com/hooks172)

Errata: Two of the top 13 career batting average leaders were right handed hitters. Hornsby hit .424 in 1924, not .427. Alienation of affections is a gender-neutral offense.

Sources:
Alexander, Charles C., "Rogers Hornsby: A Biography" (Henry Holt & Co. 1995).
Fimrite, Ron, "The Raging Rajah Rogers Hornsby, One of This Century's Best Ballplayers, Was Also One of its Biggest Boors," Sports Illustrated (October 2, 1995) (accessed online April 2025).
Rogers III, C. Paul , "Rogers Hornsby," www.sabr.org, accessed March, April 2025.
"Rogers Hornsby" at www.baseball-reference.com, accessed March, April 2025.
Dozens of contemporary newspapers articles from around the country.

Hooks & Runs will return with its next episode on June 5.

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Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)
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