 Lajoie led the AL in batting average five times in his career and four times recorded the most number of hits . During several of those years with the Naps he and Ty Cobb dominated AL hitting categories and traded batting titles with each other , most notably coming in 1910 , when the league 's batting champion was not decided until well after the last game of the season and after an investigation by American League President Ban Johnson . Lajoie in 1914 joined Cap Anson and Honus Wagner as the only major league players to record 3 @,@ 000 career hits . He led the NL or AL in putouts five times in his career and assists three times . He has been called " the best second baseman in the history of baseball " and " the most outstanding player to wear a Cleveland uniform . " Cy Young said , " Lajoie was one of the most rugged players I ever faced . He 'd take your leg off with a line drive , turn the third baseman around like a swinging door and powder the hand of the left fielder . " He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937 . 
