The FEDERAL LEAGUE

Benny Kauff

In 1915, Kauff was sold to the Brooklyn Tip Tops. He started the season with Brooklyn but had tried to re-negotiate his contract. After the Federal League season started, Kauff signed a contract and jumped to play for the National League New York Giants, despite a National Commission rule against signing FL players already under contract.

On April 30th, Kauff trotted out to centerfield at the Polo Grounds to play against the Boston Braves. Braves president James R. Gaffney ordered manager George Stallings to take his team off the field. Umpire Mal Eason telephoned National League President John Tener and agreed that Kauff was still under a 3-year contract he signed with the Federal League, thus he was ineligible to play for the Giants. But by the time the Eason returned to the field, the other umpire, Ernie Quigley announced a forfeit to New York.

The next day, Tener reaffirmed the National Commission ruling on FL contract jumpers and that the game was not a forfeit. A game that was played after the forfeit in which both managers Stallings and McGraw agreed to be an exhibition would count. New York lost 13-6.

To get Kauff back, the owner of the Brooklyn Tip Tops raised Kauff's salary from $4,000 to $6,000. Kauff finished the season with Brooklyn and again led the Federal League in hitting and stolen bases.

After the league disbanded, Kauff was sold to the Giants for $25,000.

Kauff was banned for life from baseball by Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in 1920. Kauff was indicted in New York for being involved in his brother's auto theft ring. Landis suspended him until the disposiotion of the case. Kauff won an aquittal in May 1921 at his trial in Bronx County Court. John McGraw and John Tener served as character witnesses. Landis barred Kauff for life saying that the case, "smells to high heaven, and was one of the worst miscarrages ojf justice ever to come to my attention". Kauff tried to be re-instated but was refused by Landis.