On December 20, 1926 — The World Champion Cardinals trade Rogers Hornsby to the Giants for Frankie Frisch and Jimmy Ring. Hornsby was embattled with the owner Sam Breadon over his contract. The trade gets complicated when the “Rajah” refuses to sell his 1,167 shares of the team stock back to the Cardinals at the asking price. Frisch, will play an integral role in the success of the Gashouse Gang in the 1930’s after being sent to St. Louis due to a falling out with New York’s manager John McGraw.
Hornsby, as one writer characterized Hornsby as “a liturgy of hatred,” and was not the most popular player will hit .361 and finish third in the MVP voting, he won’t last long with McGraw and again he will be on the move to Boston in 1928 and hit .387, but wore out his welcome quickly and finally end up in Chicago. Hornsby, lead his new team to the pennant and capturing league MVP honors for the second time by hitting 39 homers, knocking in 149 runs, batting .380, compiling 229 hits, and topping the circuit with 156 runs scored 409 total bases, and a .679 slugging percentage.
From 1926 – 1929 he may have been the best nomad in history, he will play for St. Louis, New York, Boston and Chicago. He will hit .361 and slug 97 home runs and win an MVP in 1929.
