Horsehide Trivia: June 27-July 3, 2011 Boston major leaguers who have tied for an RBI title

MONDAY

Q. Who has all 10 of the Top Ten on-base-percentage seasons in Boston Red Sox history?

Hint: Hardly a wonder since he is #1 all-time in the history of baseball.

Hint: His career lasted 19 seasons and he received MVP votes in 18 of them.

Hint: The only year he didn’t get a vote, military service limited him to six games.

Hint: He finished in the Top Five MVP voting nine times.

SABR Hint: The word “only” is perfectly apt when saying he only won two MVPs.

Twint: He won the batting Triple Crown twice and wasn’t voted MVP either year.

A. Ted Williams (Career OBP .482; MVPs 146, ’49; TCs 1942, ’47)

First Correct Respondent - Paul Vastola, Fanwood, NJ

TUESDAY

Q. Whose .440 average for a season has never been topped in the history of major league baseball?

Hint: He might have had a triple crown that year, but another Hall of Famer beat him by a mere two runs batted in.

SABR Hint: He coached baseball at Harvard after retirement.

Twint: He was the original manager of the franchise that became today’s Baltimore Orioles.

A. Hugh Duffy (1894; 145 to Sam Thompson’s 147; 1901 Milwaukee Brewers)

FCR - J.R. Richardson, Clarksville, MD

WEDNESDAY

Q. Who was the last batter to lead his league in triples and home runs in the same season?

Hint: He won a AAA league Triple Crown only to be beaten by a teammate the following season for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

SABR Hint: He is the only player in major league history to record over 200 hits while hitting 39 or more home runs for three consecutive years.

Twint: He openly admits he is a big fan of the television show “The Young and the Restless”.

Twint: He was watching the show when he was informed of his election to the Hall of Fame.

A. Jim Rice (1978 15 3b, 46 HR; 1974 IL TC, 1975 ROY Fred Lynn; 1977-79)

FCR - Dave MacEntee, Beacon, NY

MIDWEEK BONUS

Q. Who was the first man to score a touchdown in the Rose Bowl and play in a World Series?

Hint: He was inducted to three major Halls of Fame, although none of them in Cooperstown.

SABR Hint: He coached at state universities in two different states, each holding the distinction of being the first public university in its state.

Twint: He ended Mickey Mantle’s string of consecutive American League MVPs when he won the award in 1958.

A. Jackie Jensen (1949 Rose Bowl, 1950 WS; Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984, and the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2000; Coached at Cal and Nevada; 1958 MVP)

FCR - Kenny Fink, Ocala, FL

THURSDAY

Q. Who was the first shortstop in major league history to lead his league in home runs?

Hint: He was the first New Mexico native to appear in an All-Star game.

SABR Hint: He had the most at-bats for the Browns in the 1940s.

Twint: He signed a $175,000 contract to play in the Mexican League, but was brought back by his father and Browns scout Jack Fournier, narrowly escaping a suspension.

A. Vern Stephens (24 HR in 1945; ASG 1943; 3,231 AB 1941-47) [N.B. Reader Mike Clifford noticed that I had inadvertently omitted the words "in the modern era". With those out, the correct answer, although not satisfying the hints, would be Herman Long of the 1900 Beaneaters.]

FCR - Jimmy Goggin, Williamsburg, VA

THURSDAY EXTRA

Q. Who was the last National League player to wear #42?

Hint: Craig Biggio and John Valentin were his teammates on the Pirates.

SABR Hint: He holds the team record for the Angels for most strikeouts by a batter in a season.

Twint: He is the only Red Sox player to hit three home runs in a game in Fenway Park twice.

A. Mo Vaughn (#42 for NY Mets 2003-03; Seton Hall Pirates; 181 K in 2000; 3HR @ Fenway 24-Sep-1996 & 30-May-1997;

FCR - Mike Clifford, Feeding Hills, MA

FRIDAY

Q. Whose 326 total bases in his rookie season lead his league?

Hint: It made him the runaway winner of the Rookie of the Year Award, easily outdistancing a future Hall of Famer.

SABR Hint: It was the first time a player from his franchise had been so honored.

Twint: A switch-hitter from the other major league team in town won the Rookie of the Year award that season as well, just—you know—in the other league.

A. Walt Dropo (TB 1950; ROY Whitey Ford; Sam Jethroe)

FCR - Peter Hartwell, Gaithersburg, MD

SATURDAY

Q. What colorful player was on the Dark Blues, Reds, White Stockings, Red Caps, and Red Stockings in spite of, for a time, being black balled?

Hint: His career spanned three major leagues and the presidential administrations of Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur and Grover Cleveland.

SABR Hint: He held the league’s single-season home run lead for four consecutive seasons.

Twint: He would have had the first ever Triple Crown, but only finished ninth in batting average that year.

A. Charley Jones (HR lead w/9 1879-82; Near TC 1879)

FCR - Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

WEEKEND BONUS

Q. Who was the first player to lead the National League in slugging and OPS in his rookie year?

Hint: His brother, apparently quite the talker, is in the Hall of Fame.

SABR Hint: He had a two-year salary dispute with his team, not unusual for his time.

Twint: His nephew was also a major leaguer.

A. John O’Rourke (Brother Jim O'Rourke; Nephew Queenie O'Rourke)

FCR - Joe Ullian, Santa Barbara

SUNDAY