ROGERS HORNSBY·1924

The Rajah was never more absolute than in 1924, when he hit .424 for the Cardinals—a mark that still guards the modern batting-average mountain. Two hundred twenty-seven hits, forty-three doubles, twenty-five homers, and a naked arrogance that dared pitchers to find a hole. They never did. Every swing a sermon: see it, murder it. Do not bury the number. That winter the legend grew heavier.

THE .424

Modern-era batting-average monument — do not bury the number. Two hundred twenty-seven hits for St. Louis.

KEYSTONE RAJAH

Forty-three doubles and a naked arrogance at second — pitchers never found the hole.

PURE HIT

Twenty-five homers on a .696 slug — every swing a sermon: see it, murder it.

Rogers Hornsby, 1922. Fotograms (NYC) / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (US).