Foxx's career in his 20's was extraordinary. He hit only 15 home runs past age 33, yet still hit 534 home runs in his
career, and had over 2500 hits. To reach those totals, most players
have to play into their forties. Foxx began his career early, joining
the Athletics when he was 17 years old. He sat and watched for a couple of
years before Connie Mack put him in the lineup, and then quickly established
himself as one of the scariest power hitters in baseball history.
Foxx won three MVP Awards and two Triple Crowns.
He twice topped the 50-homer mark, and twelve straight years had more than
30 home runs, leading the league four times. He was a career .325 hitter, won three batting titles,
walked more than he struck out, and once drove in 175 runs in a season. By
the end of the 1940 season, it seemed almost certain that Foxx would hit
700 home runs in his career, or more, but he stopped hitting at age 33. There
is no definitive explanation for why this is; I once read that he had the same
sinus infection that ruined George Sisler's career, but I don't know if this
is true. In any case, Foxx remains one of baseball's greatest hitters.
Ruth was 37; though he still had awesome numbers, he was
beginning to run out of steam (as his doubles total would suggest).
This was the year he hit the "called shot" in the World Series,
when he reportedly pointed to right-centre field, and hit a home
run in that direction on the next pitch. It is one of the great
mythic moments of baseball history, though recently discovered film
of the game shows he was pointing at the opposing dugout, and
probably using a fair bit of profanity as well.
As usual, the quiet Gehrig got lost in the hype. It should be
noted that Gehrig also had a great World Series, hitting .529 with
3 homers, 8 runs and 9 RBI.
Mickey Cochrane is arguably the best catcher in baseball
history, and had his best season. He didn't receive a single vote.
Two years later, he had an ordinary season by his own standards,
and won the MVP Award. This year, I would rank Cochrane behind only
Foxx and Gehrig.
Another catcher, Rick Ferrell of the Browns,
had perhaps his best season with the bat. Ferrell was a fine defensive catcher
who had a long career; he fits in with a group of other catchers from the
period that includes Muddy Ruel, Al Lopez, and Luke Sewell. Ferrell was probably
a better hitter than those guys, and actually made it into the Hall Of Fame.
He played for 18 years, and was a career .281 hitter; he drew lots of walks,
but hit only 28 homers in his career. He really wasn't much of a hitter, and
he would have to be considered one of the weaker members of the Hall. Ferrell
was the older brother of pitcher Wes Ferrell, who had a much more interesting
career.
