From the Collection: James (Rip) Collins, 1b, St. Louis Cardinals

Ripper Collins could hit the ball hard. And had a long successful career in baseball, both in the minor and major leagues.

In 1930 Collins hit .376 with 40 HR for the Rochester Red Wings, an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. It was a powerful performance that won him not only the leagues MVP award, but also a call-up to the big league club for the 1931 season. He was 27 years old at the time.

Collins would spend nine very successful seasons in the majors. He would be selected to three All-Star teams and retire with a line of .296/.360/.492 with 135 HR–good for an OPS+ 126. He was also on two World Series-winning squads (1931 and 1934).

While his last season in the big leagues was 1941 he would continue to be an effective slugger in the minors, highlighted by him winning the 1944 Eastern League Minor League Player of the Year as a player/coach with the Albany Senators.

Between the majors and minors he would retired with .327 AVG and 251 HR under his belt–no bad at all.