“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.
