Earle Combs

College

Eastern Kentucky University

Pro team(s)

New York Yankees

Hall of Fame

⭐ National Baseball Hall of Fame

Earle Bryan Combs was born on May 14, 1899, in Pebee, Kentucky (Morgan County), in the hills of eastern Kentucky, and grew up attending Eastern Kentucky Normal School (now Eastern Kentucky University) in Richmond before making his way to professional baseball. Nicknamed "The Kentucky Colonel," he played all 12 of his major league seasons for the New York Yankees (1924-1935), serving as the leadoff hitter and center fielder for the legendary "Murderers' Row" teams of the late 1920s. He was a key member of the 1927 Yankees — widely considered the greatest team in baseball history — alongside Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Combs batted over .300 in eight of his 12 seasons and led the American League in triples three times. He was a fast, graceful outfielder with exceptional range and a reliable contact bat who set the table perfectly for the sluggers who followed him in the lineup. A serious beaning and collision with an outfield wall in 1934 effectively ended his career. He served as a Yankees coach for many years after retiring. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970 by the Veterans Committee. Born in Pebee, Kentucky.