Benny Kauff
Born: 1/5/1890 in Pomeroy, OH, USA
Died: 11/17/1961 in Columbus, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1912-04-20 | Final Game: 1920-07-02
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 157 lbs
Full name: Bennie Michael Kauff
Biography
Benny Kauff was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century, making a significant impact from his debut in 1912 until his final game in 1920. Born in 1890, Kauff played a total of 859 games, where he established himself as a formidable hitter with a career batting average of .311. Over his career, he accumulated 961 hits, including 49 home runs, and drove in 454 runs. Known for his speed on the bases, Kauff also showcased his agility with 234 stolen bases, making him one of the faster players of his time.
Kauff's playing era was marked by the evolution of the game, transitioning from the deadball era to a more offensive-oriented style. His ability to combine hitting prowess with base-running skills highlighted his versatility and made him a valuable asset to his teams. Although his career was cut short, Kauff's contributions to the game and his impressive statistics continue to be remembered by baseball historians and fans alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 859 | 3094 | 521 | 961 | 169 | 57 | 49 | 454 | 234 | 367 | 313 | 0.311 | 0.389 | 0.450 | 0.838 | 16920.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | NYY | AL | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.273 | 0.0 |
| 1914 | IND | FL | 154 | 571 | 120 | 211 | 44 | 13 | 8 | 95 | 75 | 72 | 55 | 0.370 | 5495.8 |
| 1915 | BRF | FL | 136 | 483 | 92 | 165 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 83 | 55 | 85 | 50 | 0.342 | 4643.1 |
| 1916 | NY1 | NL | 154 | 552 | 71 | 146 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 74 | 40 | 68 | 65 | 0.264 | 1897.9 |
| 1917 | NY1 | NL | 153 | 559 | 89 | 172 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 68 | 30 | 59 | 54 | 0.308 | 2335.1 |
| 1918 | NY1 | NL | 67 | 270 | 41 | 85 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 39 | 9 | 16 | 30 | 0.315 | 934.2 |
| 1919 | NY1 | NL | 135 | 491 | 73 | 136 | 27 | 7 | 10 | 67 | 21 | 39 | 45 | 0.277 | 1104.7 |
| 1920 | NY1 | NL | 55 | 157 | 31 | 43 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 3 | 25 | 14 | 0.274 | 509.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0.160 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | WS | NY1 | 6 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0.160 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 853 | 0 | 1881 | 136 | 85 | 29 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | NYA | OF | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914 | IND | OF | 154 | 0 | 310 | 31 | 17 | 5 |
| 1915 | BRF | OF | 136 | 0 | 317 | 32 | 15 | 7 |
| 1916 | NY1 | OF | 154 | 0 | 329 | 22 | 14 | 6 |
| 1917 | NY1 | OF | 153 | 0 | 357 | 12 | 9 | 4 |
| 1918 | NY1 | OF | 67 | 0 | 147 | 11 | 8 | 4 |
| 1919 | NY1 | OF | 134 | 0 | 306 | 18 | 17 | 3 |
| 1920 | NY1 | OF | 51 | 0 | 111 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 34 |
| Center Field | 753 |
| Right Field | 68 |