Benjamin Michael Kauff

Major League Baseball Player. Born Benjamin Michael Kauff, he was an outfielder making his debut for the New York Highlanders on April 20, 1912. For eight seasons, he played with the New York Highlanders (1912), Indianapolis Hoosiers (1914), Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1915) and New York Giants (1916-20). He led the Federal League in hits, runs scored and stolen bases (1914) and was batting champion (1914-15). In early 1921, despite his acquittal for charges of auto theft, Baseball Commissioner Kennesaw Landis banned Kauff from baseball for life. He concluded his career with a record of 521 runs scored, 961 hits, 49 home runs, 454 runs batted in and a .311 batting average. However, he continued as a baseball scout with various teams for 22 years.