Friday morning trivia

[jcgmoi]

Last night Bobby Witt Jr. became the 14th player in MLB history to reach 150 doubles within his first four career seasons.

He joins big names like Williams and Simmons and the not so big such as Holliday and Markakis, as well as the forgotten Moose Solters and Pinky Whitney.

Which player has the most doubles in his first four career seasons?

[greyhawk]

is this a completely random answer or someone we all know? this could come from anywhere --- i will take a shot with a rockies player in altitude --- todd helton.

[jcgmoi]

Helton is a good guess but wrong.

I wouldn't do you guys random. #1 is a very recognizable name, now retired.

[Quincy Varnish]

Pujols?

[rockondlouie]

Albert?

[The Nard]

Matty Carp?

[jcgmoi]

Pujols is correct.

For his first four years he hit 189 doubles to go along with 160 homers and slashed 333/413/624.

Here's the full list:

Code: Select all

Rk	Player	2B
1	Albert Pujols	189
2	Paul Waner	170
3	Al Simmons	163
4	Nick Markakis	161
5	Johnny Frederick	158
6	Moose Solters	157
7	Pinky Whitney	155
8	Ted Williams	154
9	Chuck Klein	152
10	Robinson Canó	151
11	Dale Alexander	150
12	Matt Holliday	150
13	Roy Johnson	150
14	Bobby Witt Jr.	150

[jcgmoi]

In his best year, with the 1937 Cleveland Indians, Moose Solters hit 323 with 42 doubles, 11 triples and 20 home runs.

Pinky Whitney holds the modern record for highest batting average (.342) by a batting title qualifier with an OPS+ below 100. He accomplished this in one of the best years for hitters of all time (1930) and in one of the the best parks for hitters of all time (Baker Bowl).

[greyhawk]

helton had 100 ab's in '97 --- he finished 2nd in the rookie of the yr voting in 98 which seems to me that should be his first full season? if you consider 98 his rookie year then he also had 189 doubles in his first 4 yrs....

Season Age
▲ Team Lg WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP HBP SH SF IBB P[ositively] O[bnoxious] S[impleton] Awards
1997 23 COL NL -0.2 35 101 93 13 26 2 1 5 11 0 1 8 11 .280 .337 .484 .821 96 .364 96 45 1 0 0 0 0 7H/39
1998 24 COL NL 3.2 152 595 530 78 167 37 1 25 97 3 3 53 54 .315 .380 .530 .911 119 .401 124 281 15 6 1 5 5 *3H ROY-2
1999 25 COL NL 2.9 159 657 578 114 185 39 5 35 113 7 6 68 77 .320 .395 .587 .981 122 .425 129 339 14 6 0 4 6 *3/H
2000 26 COL NL 8.9 160 697 580 138 216 59 2 42 147 5 3 103 61 .372 .463 .698 1.162 163 .489 175 405 12 4 0 10 22 *3/H AS,MVP-5,SS
2001 27 COL NL 7.8 159 697 587 132 197 54 2 49 146 7 5 98 104 .336 .432 .685 1.116 160 .467 172 402 14 5 1 5 15 *3/H AS,MVP-9,GG,SS
2002

[jcgmoi]

I can't really argue about Helton. I used bbref's phrasing for the trivia question, which made no mention of 'full'.

Do you know the famous football player Helton backed up before the Rockies drafted him?

[rockondlouie]

I figured it had to be Albert given his near historic start to his career and how many doubles he hit.

I almost went w/Stan the Man who totaled 181 doubles in his fist four full seasons (1945 he was in WWII) and led the NL three times out of the four.

[rockondlouie]

I can't really argue about Helton. I used bbref's phrasing for the trivia question, which made no mention of 'full'.

Do you know the famous football player Helton backed up before the Rockies drafted him?

Peyton Manning at Tennessee and Helton was also a QB

[nighthawk]

That's 189 doubles in Pujols first 2788 plate appearances. Who hit 197 doubles in his first 2633 PAs -- 155 fewer PAs than Pujols.

[sp25]

That's 189 doubles in Pujols first 2788 plate appearances. Who hit 197 doubles in his first 2633 PAs -- 155 fewer PAs than Pujols.

I believe the great Tris Speaker is the all time leader in doubles, I'll guess Tris.

[jcgmoi]

I came up with Joe Medwick who hit 202 doubles his first 2729 PAs, beating Pujols both in number and opportunity, but it doesn't answer nighthawk's question.

Who beat the Duck?

[nighthawk]

I came up with Joe Medwick who hit 202 doubles his first 2729 PAs, beating Pujols both in number and opportunity, but it doesn't answer nighthawk's question.

Who beat the Duck?

Hank Greenberg