Tuesday Trivia: Remarkable Rookie, Sensational Sophomore

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Originally Posted by clydepepper

Tony (actually Pedro) Oliva

That's right Robbie.

Some other fun facts about Tony (Pedro) Oliva:

1) There are only 6 players to ever lead their League in hits 5 or more times. They are Ty Cobb (8); Tony Gwynn, Pete Rose, Ichiro (7 each); Stan Musial (6); and Oliva (5).

2) He hit the first-ever homer by a Designated Hitter on opening day of 1973 off Oakland’s Catfish Hunter.

3) His legal first name, and what everyone knew him as, was actually his brother’s Americanized first name (Antonio), because he used his brother’s passport to leave his home Country (he did not have any legal documents of his own) and come to the United States. He would legally change his name in the United States to Pedro, his birth name, but would still always be known by his brother’s name

4) He was the first Cuban to win Rookie of the Year, when he not only led the League in Batting Average, but also hits, doubles, extra base hits, runs scored and runs created.

5) His career was cut short by an inherited physical deformity in his knees. He eventually endured seven painful surgeries in the same number of seasons and underwent an arduous physical rehabilitation regimen on a half-dozen separate occasions. Surgeries were for torn ligaments, bone spurs, and to remove cartilage, amongst other things.

6) After his playing days ended, Tony (born Pedro) Oliva extended his lengthy and loyal service to the Minnesota franchise that had provided his only big-league home; there were various and repeated stints as a first-base coach (1977-1978 and 1985), hitting coach (1977-1978 and again in 1986-1991), and roving minor-league hitting instructor (1979-1984). It was while serving a second term in the role of batting instructor with the big-league club that Tony played a major role in the development of his protégé and future Hall of Fame outfielder Kirby Puckett.