[GeoPoto]

In retrospect, George McBride had a very surprising nick name. He was known as "Pinch" because of his reputation for being able to hit in the clutch.

How he got that reputation is puzzling because, after playing 16 MLB seasons, McBride ends up having the lowest career batting average of any player with 5,000+ at-bats. Go figure. His defense must have been spectacular (he led the AL in fielding for four straight seasons), but his hitting was rarely excellent, clutch or otherwise.

And yet, in 1911, the year his gold-bordered baseball card was issued, "Pinch" produced his best single-season batting average -- .235. Now that's hitting in the clutch.