Benny Kauff from the Chronology

Jan 17, 1922 - Benny Kauff's suit for an injunction to restrain the decision to keep him out of baseball is rejected by the appellate court. Kauff was acquitted of auto theft in 1921‚ but Commissioner Landis still barred him from baseball‚ stating‚ "That acquittal was one of the worst miscarriages of justice that ever came under my observation."

May 13, 1921 - A jury deliberates less than a hour and acquits Benny Kauff of the auto theft and related charges against him. Despite the acquittal‚ Landis maintains his disbarment of the FL batting champ. Kauff goes to court for reinstatement‚ but on January 17‚ 1922‚ it will be denied.

Apr 17, 1921 - After reviewing the record‚ Judge Landis bars Benny Kauff for life on the basis of undesirable character and reputation. The 30-year-old hitter never plays in the ML again.

Oct 6, 1920 - Hal Chase and Heinie Zimmerman are indicted on bribery charges as an aftermath of the investigation into the 1919 World Series. John McGraw testified that he dropped the two after the 1919 season for throwing games and trying to entice Fred Toney‚ Rube Benton and Benny Kauff to join them. Zimmerman denies the charges‚ Chase ignores them‚ but the duo will be banned for life from baseball by Judge Landis.

Jul 2, 1920 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants pound out six homers to earn a split with the Braves. Boston takes the opener‚ 9-7 in 11 innings‚ but the Giants cop the 2nd game‚ 13-4. In the first game‚ Boston scores two in the 9th to take the lead‚ but New York used homers by Larry Doyle and George Burns to tie‚ but reliever Phil Douglas gives it back in the 11th. Douglas starts game 2 and is more effective‚ taking the victory to end the day at 1-1. Larry Doyle is 4-for-4 in game 2‚ including another homer. Benny Kauff also homers in game 2‚ but it does him no good: after the game‚ the Giants trade Kauff‚ along with Wilbur Hubbell and cash‚ to Toronto for OF Vernon Spencer. Kauff‚ a .300 hitter‚ never lived up to his reputation. Kauff will later be accused of receiving stolen goods in New York and newly appointed commissioner Landis will bar him for life. The Giants also waive utility infielder Edward Sicking to the Reds.

Feb 5, 1919 - Charges brought in 1918 by Reds owner Garry Herrmann and manager Mathewson against Hal Chase for betting against his team and throwing games in collusion with gamblers are dismissed by NL president John Heydler. Heydler decides Chase's sometimes indifferent play was due to "carelessness." Two weeks later John McGraw trades 1B Walter Holke and C Bill Rariden to the Reds for Chase‚ but the Giants will also have their problems with him. In September‚ McGraw will send Chase and Heinie Zimmerman home without explanation; during the investigation of the Black Sox scandal in 1920‚ McGraw will testify that the dismissal was because both players had thrown games and tried to enlist Fred Toney and Benny Kauff in their scheme.

Aug 22, 1918 - The Giants nip the host Cubs‚ 4-2‚ on a 10th inning double by Lew McCarty. McCarty‚ pinch hitting for Benny Kauff‚ drives Fred Toney and George Burns‚ who had reached on singles. Toney picks up the victory over Hippo Vaughn.

Jul 13, 1918 - The Reds sweep two from the Dodgers‚ winning 3-1 and 4-2. Heinie Groh‚ the NL's leading hitter (.355 through July 11 to runner-up Benny Kauff's .324) is 4-for-8 in the 2 games.

Jun 18, 1918 - Benny Kauff plates a pair of runs in his last home game before going into the army as the Giants win‚ 7-1‚ over Matty's Reds. Pol Perritt (9-1) is the winner.

May 23, 1918 - The Giants win 6-4 in St. Louis‚ no thanks to outfielder Benny Kauff who strikes out 5 times. The 5 K's ties the ML record.

Oct 11, 1917 - New York's Ferdie Schupp fares better against Red Faber in game 4; Benny Kauff hits 2 HRs‚ which are more than enough for a 5-0 win to even the Series.

Jul 19, 1916 - At Chicago‚ the Giants edge the Cubs‚ 8-6‚ as New York CF Benny Kauff tags out two runners at 2B for a double play. With one out the Cubs load the bases. Giant catcher Bill Rariden throws to 2B and catches the runner‚ Les Mann‚ off. In the rundown‚ the runner on 3rd breaks for home and scores when the Giants fumble. But the ball is recovered and the throw to Kauff covering 2nd gets the runner sliding back. Kauff then looks up and tags the runner trying to advance from 1B to end the inning.

Jun 14, 1916 - Cubs spitballer Jimmy Lavender has his moist one working against the Giants‚ beating New York‚ 4-0. The only hit is an infield single by Benny Kauff. Mathewson takes to the loss‚ though all four runs are unearned.

May 26, 1916 - Despite outfielder Benny Kauff's base running blunders‚ the New York Giants cruise to their 14th straight road win‚ 12-1 over Boston. Kauff‚ the Federal League's "Ty Cobb"‚ sets a NL record when he is picked off first base three times‚ the only 20th century player to do this. Lefty Tyler does all three pickings. Sailor Stroud is the winner‚ picking up his last ML victory.

Apr 12, 1916 - Phils righty "Pete" Alexander tops the Giants‚ 5-4. Benny Kauff‚ the star acquisition from the Federal League‚ goes hitless for New York.

Apr 29, 1915 - Federal League star Benny Kauff jumps from the Brookfeds to the New York Giants. When Boston refuses to play if Kauff is in the Giants' lineup‚ ump Ernie Quigley forfeits the game to New York. The two teams agree to play an exhibition game. The other ump‚ Mal Eason‚ telephones NL president John Tener‚ who declares Kauff ineligible until reinstated and orders Eason to forfeit the game to Boston. Meanwhile‚ the Braves win the exhibition game‚ 13-8. The next day Tener rules this to be an official game‚ and both forfeits are canceled. Kauff goes back to Brooklyn where he leads the FL at .342‚ and McGraw has to wait until next year to sign him.

Jan 5, 1915 - The FL sues organized baseball‚ claiming it to be an illegal trust and asking that it be dissolved and all contracts voided. The case is filed in U.S. court in Chicago‚ before Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. He will stall his decision‚ and peace is declared at the end of the year. The league shifts players to beef up teams in key cities. Benny Kauff‚ the FL's answer to Ty Cobb‚ is moved from Indianapolis to Brooklyn.

Oct 6, 1914 - In the Federal League‚ the Chicago Whales lose to Kansas City while the Indianapolis Hoosiers beat St. Louis‚ giving Indianapolis a 1 1?2 game pennant margin. Five .300 hitters‚ led by Benny Kauff's .370‚ pace the winners. For the Whales‚ Claude Hendrix is the FL's top pitcher at 29-11.

Apr 13, 1914 - After building 8 new ballparks in 3 months‚ the Federal League opens with the Baltimore Terrapins beating Buffalo 3-2 before 27‚140. Winning P Jack Quinn will win 26 and lose 14. Indianapolis will win the pennant‚ led by rookie Benny Kauff's league-leading .370 batting average. Ex-Pirate Claude Hendrix will be 29-11.

Aug 29, 1883 - Guy Hecker of Louisville (AA) gives up 4 hits to the A's John Stricker‚ but picks him off 3 times. Getting caught off base three times will happen once more‚ in 1916 when Benny Kauff matches it.