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 New Hampshire Baseball Quiz QUESTION 9: What New Hampshire native was voted the New York Yankees all-time great third baseman?  ANSWER: Robert "Red" Rolfe
A lifelong New Hampshire resident, Robert "Red" Rolfe was born in Penacook. Rolfe attended Penacook High School and Phillips Exeter Academy, where Simeon Murch was baseball coach. He went on to become the star player of the Dartmouth College team, coached by former New York Giant great Jeff Tesreau. The New York Yankees signed Red upon his graduation in 1931 and sent him to Albany, where he batted .333. Two more .320 plus seasons earned him promotion to the parent team in 1934. In his inaugural season, Red batted .287 and earned the starting role at the hot corner for 1935, a position he held through 1941. While Rolfe was always a consistent player, 1939 was undoubtedly his finest season when he batted a career-high .329 and led the American League in hits (213), doubles (46), and runs scored (139), while playing 152 games. His 14 home runs and 84 rbi that season were also personal records. Rolfe also distinguished himself with his play in six World Series, striking out only 9 times in 116 times at bat. After his playing days, Red coached basketball and baseball at Yale (1942-46) and then coached Toronto in the National Basketball Association (1946). He served as a Yankee coach under manager Bill Dickey and in 1949 was hired as manager for the Detroit Tigers. In 1950, Red led the team to a second-place finish, earning him honors as American League Manager of the Year. The Tigers slumped in 1951 and Rolfe was fired midway through the 1952 campaign. He returned to Dartmouth in 1954 as Director of Athletics, a position he held until 1967. Red Rolfe died in 1968.  |
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