Ralph Orlando "Socks" Seybold (November 23, 1870 – December 21, 1921) was an American professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball over parts of nine seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Athletics.^[1] Known as a power hitter, Seybold set the American League record for home runs in 1902, which would not be broken until 1919. He stood at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and weighed 200 lbs.^[2]

Seybold was born in Washingtonville, Ohio.^[1] He started his professional baseball career in 1892, and over the next few years he played in the Pennsylvania State League and Atlantic League.^[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.^[4] Seybold led the Atlantic League in homers again in 1898 and was leading in 1899 when he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds.^[2]

Seybold made his major league debut on August 20.^[1] He did not hit well in Cincinnati, and returned to the minors in 1900. He led the American League in home runs, with 9.^[5] Seybold then got his second shot in the majors in 1901, with the Philadelphia Athletics, and this time, he stuck. That season, he hit .334 and had a 27-game hitting streak in July and August.^[2]

In 1902, Seybold batted .316 and set career-highs in home runs, with 16, and runs batted in, with 97.^[1] The home run total led the league and stood as the AL record until Babe Ruth broke it in 1919.^[6][7] The Athletics also won the pennant. In 1903, Seybold's batting average dipped below .300; however, his OPS+ stayed at exactly 138, and he ripped a league-leading 45 doubles.^[1] Seybold continued his solid hitting from 1904 to 1907. In 1905, he played in his only World Series, which the Athletics lost to the New York Giants; Seybold went 2 for 16 at the plate.^[1]

In 1908, Seybold tore some ligaments in his leg sliding into home in a pre-season game at New Orleans.^[8][9] He left the team in June 1908 saying, "I feel that I cannot do myself justice. I have decided to quit for the season."^[9] He later returned to the team, but struggled the rest of the year, batting just .215. He played his last major league game on October 7, 1908.^[1] In December 1908, Philadelphia manager Connie Mack announced that he was releasing Seybold.^[10]

In 997 games over nine seasons, Seybold posted a .294 batting average (1085-for-3685) with 478 runs, 218 doubles, 54 triples, 51 home runs, 556 RBI, 66 stolen bases, 293 bases on balls, .353 on-base percentage and .424 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .964 fielding percentage.^[1]

Seybold then played and coached in several minor league and industrial teams for a few years.^[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.^[12] From 1910 to 1911, he coached industrial teams in Jeanette. On April 4, 1912, he signed with the Richmond Rebels of the United States Baseball League.^[13] His baseball career ended with the demise of the league in June.

At the end of July 1919, Babe Ruth equaled Seybold's American League record of 16 home runs in a season;^[14] Ruth went on to hit 29 homers in 1919.^[15]

Seybold was married but had no children. His wife, Wilhelmina "Minnie" Heitz, died in 1917.^[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.^[2] He left an estate valued at $20,000.^[17] Seybold was buried next to his wife at Brush Creek Cemetery in Irwin.

• List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders