Ralph Orlando "Socks" Seybold (November 23, 1870 – December 21, 1921) was an American professional baseball outfielder.
[1] Known as a power hitter, Seybold set the American League record for home runs in 1902, which would not be broken until 1919.
[3] In 1896, he had a breakout season, hitting .352 at Lancaster, and in 1897, he led the team to the pennant[2] by slugging a league-leading 14 home runs.
[1] The home run total led the league and stood as the AL record until Babe Ruth broke it in 1919.
[2] In January 1909, he signed a contract to play for the Toledo Mud Hens,[11] but injuries continued to slow Seybold during the 1909 season.
[2] In his later years, Seybold was employed as a steward of a social club (Fraternal Order of Eagles) in Jeannette, Pennsylvania.
[16] In 1921, Seybold was driving a car when it overturned at a sharp curve on the Lincoln Highway east of Jeanette;[16] he was killed instantly.