Outfielder Debs Garms was rarely more than a part-time player in his dozen years with four Major League teams, but he did something while he was there that can never be taken from him. He won a batting title.

Garms’s father was a devoted labor activist who named his son after turn-of-the-century labor leader Eugene V. Debs. Garms is also the cousin of former Major League pitcher Williams Jennings Bryan “Slim” Harriss. Politics played a big part in family christenings in those days, it seems.

A graduate of Howard Payne College, Garms first played pro baseball for the Class D West Texas League's Abilene Aces in 1928. Garms batted .317 and .293 for the Browns during the 1933 and 1934 seasons, but he spent most of 1935 and 1936 with the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League.

Garms returned to the majors with the Boston Bees in 1937. In 1938 Debs hit .315 for the Bees and he distinguished himself as the man who broke up Johnny Vander Meer’s hitless string at 212/3 innings. After hitting .298 in 1939, Garms was sold to the Pirates where he soared into history. His .355 average won him the 1940 N.L. batting title.

Debs left baseball after hitting .336 in 74 games for the 1945 Cardinals, but history will never erase one fact. Once upon a time, he won a Major League batting championship.