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"The Ty Cobb of the Federal League" led the FL in batting and stolen bases in both its seasons. When it disbanded, Kauff was the plum picked by John McGraw for the Giants. In 1917 the lefthander batted .308 and hit two HR in the World Series. Kauff began running with a suspect crowd, and in 1920 was ruled ineligible for major league play by Commissioner Landis, not for throwing games, but for being implicated in a stolen car ring. Kauff was cleared of criminal charges in court, but his entreaties for readmission to baseball failed. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 13, 1914: After building eight new ballparks in three 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. » October 6, 1914: In the Federal League, the Chicago Whales lose to Kansas City while the Indianapolis Hoosiers beat St. Louis, giving Indianapolis a one 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. » January 5, 1915: The Federal League 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. » April 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 John McGraw has to wait until next year to sign him. » April 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. » May 26, 1916: Despite outfielder Benny Kauff's base running blunders. The New York Giants cruise to 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 picks Benny off three times. Sailor Stroud is the winner, picking up his last ML victory. » June 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. Christy Mathewson takes to the loss, though all four runs are unearned. » July 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. » October 11, 1917: New York's Ferdie Schupp fares better against Red Faber in Game Four; Benny Kauff hits two home runs, which are more than enough for a 5–0 win to even the Series. » February 5, 1919: Charges brought in 1918 by Reds owner Garry Herrmann and manager Christy Mathewson against Hal Chase for betting against his team and throwing games in collusion with gamblers are dismissed by National League 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. » September 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. » May 13, 1921: Giants OF Benny Kauff, FL batting champ in 1914 and 1915, is acquitted of auto theft charges, but Judge Landis bars him from baseball on the basis of undesirable character and reputation. Kauff goes to court for reinstatement, but fails. » January 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."