Jeff Cirillo is a true throwback player, the only player in the expansion era with an unusual batting feat, accomplished since 1935 only by these hitters. What is this now rare seasonal feat?

Hint: from 1920 to 1934, this feat was accomplished a total of 30 times by 20 different players.

Congratulations to Artie Z! He correctly identified the players in the quiz as those since 1935 to have one or more seasons driving in teammates and being driven in by them 100 or more times each. That is, R – HR and RBI – HR are both 100 or more. Jeff Cirillo, with 11 HR, 111 Runs and 115 RBI in 2000, is the first and only player since 1949 to accomplish this feat. The 43 times this has been done since 1920 are here. The 6 times this was done from 1901 to 1919 are here.

And, congratulations to Richard Chester! He solved the follow-up quiz, identifying Sammy Sosa’s 2001 season as the first and only season since 1949 with Runs plus RBI totaling to 300 or more. Here’s that list.

The largest gap since 1901 between HR and both R and RBI was 121 by Kiki Cuyler in 1930 with 13 HR, 155 Runs and 134 RBI. Babe Ruth had the largest number of  HR in such a season with 59 HR, 177 Runs and 171 RBI in 1921. Lou Gehrig did this 8 times followed by Ruth and Splinter at 3 times each. Al Simmons, Bill Terry, Charlie Gehringer, Home Run Baker and Rajah did it twice each, with Hornsby the only player to do this for two different teams.

Sherry Magee (1910), Pie Traynor (1925) and Luke Appling (1936) all did this while hitting just 6 HR. Lave Cross, with 90 Runs and 108 RBI in 1902, is the only player with 100+ RBI without hitting a home run. Since 1901, players have scored 100+ runs 24 times without hitting a home run, most recently by Ozzie Smith with 104 Runs and 75 RBI in 1987. Eddie Collins scored 137 runs in 1912 to go with his 64 RBI. No other homer-less player has scored more than 118 times.