Red Rolfe
Born: 10/17/1908 in Penacook, NH, USA
Died: 7/8/1969 in Gilford, NH, USA
MLB Debut: 1931-06-29 | Final Game: 1942-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Robert Abial Rolfe
Biography
Red Rolfe, born in 1908, was a prominent American baseball player whose career spanned from 1931 to 1942. Known for his exceptional batting skills and versatility on the field, Rolfe played primarily as a third baseman and was a crucial member of the New York Yankees during one of the franchise's most successful eras. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,175 games, accumulating 1,394 hits, 69 home runs, and 497 RBIs, while maintaining an impressive batting average of .289. His ability to contribute both offensively and defensively helped solidify his reputation in the game, and he was recognized for his talents with four All-Star selections.
Rolfe's playing style was characterized by a keen eye at the plate and solid defensive capabilities, which made him a valuable asset to the Yankees' lineup. He also demonstrated speed on the bases, swiping 44 stolen bases throughout his career. Competing during the late 1930s and early 1940s, Rolfe's contributions came during a transitional period in baseball, as the sport began to emerge from the Great Depression and into the complexities of World War II. His legacy remains significant not only for his individual accomplishments but also for his role in a Yankees dynasty that dominated the era.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1175 | 4827 | 942 | 1394 | 257 | 67 | 69 | 497 | 44 | 526 | 335 | 0.289 | 0.360 | 0.413 | 0.773 | 5800.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | NYY | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1934 | NYY | AL | 89 | 279 | 54 | 80 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 26 | 16 | 0.287 | -265.7 |
| 1935 | NYY | AL | 149 | 639 | 108 | 192 | 33 | 9 | 5 | 67 | 7 | 57 | 39 | 0.300 | 517.0 |
| 1936 | NYY | AL | 135 | 568 | 116 | 181 | 39 | 15 | 10 | 70 | 3 | 68 | 38 | 0.319 | 2030.1 |
| 1937 | NYY | AL | 154 | 648 | 143 | 179 | 34 | 10 | 4 | 62 | 4 | 90 | 53 | 0.276 | 209.9 |
| 1938 | NYY | AL | 151 | 631 | 132 | 196 | 36 | 8 | 10 | 80 | 13 | 74 | 44 | 0.311 | 1673.1 |
| 1939 | NYY | AL | 152 | 648 | 139 | 213 | 46 | 10 | 14 | 80 | 7 | 81 | 41 | 0.329 | 3012.1 |
| 1940 | NYY | AL | 139 | 588 | 102 | 147 | 26 | 6 | 10 | 53 | 4 | 50 | 48 | 0.250 | -858.2 |
| 1941 | NYY | AL | 136 | 561 | 106 | 148 | 22 | 5 | 8 | 42 | 3 | 57 | 38 | 0.264 | -204.1 |
| 1942 | NYY | AL | 69 | 265 | 42 | 58 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 1 | 23 | 18 | 0.219 | -313.4 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 116 | 17 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 0.284 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | WS | NYA | 4 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.353 |
| 1941 | WS | NYA | 5 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.300 |
| 1939 | WS | NYA | 4 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.125 |
| 1938 | WS | NYA | 4 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.167 |
| 1937 | WS | NYA | 5 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.300 |
| 1936 | WS | NYA | 6 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.400 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 1084 | 0 | 1220 | 2128 | 155 | 184 |
| SS | 64 | 0 | 116 | 147 | 15 | 32 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | NYA | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1934 | NYA | 3B | 26 | 0 | 37 | 56 | 8 | 5 |
| 1934 | NYA | SS | 46 | 0 | 84 | 103 | 11 | 26 |
| 1935 | NYA | 3B | 136 | 0 | 166 | 239 | 15 | 16 |
| 1935 | NYA | SS | 17 | 0 | 31 | 44 | 4 | 6 |
| 1936 | NYA | 3B | 133 | 0 | 162 | 265 | 19 | 20 |
| 1937 | NYA | 3B | 154 | 0 | 195 | 309 | 20 | 27 |
| 1938 | NYA | 3B | 151 | 0 | 151 | 294 | 19 | 26 |
| 1939 | NYA | 3B | 152 | 0 | 151 | 282 | 19 | 22 |
| 1940 | NYA | 3B | 138 | 0 | 161 | 288 | 24 | 24 |
| 1941 | NYA | 3B | 134 | 0 | 140 | 263 | 23 | 28 |
| 1942 | NYA | 3B | 60 | 0 | 57 | 132 | 8 | 16 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 1084 |
| Shortstop | 63 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1939 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1939 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1938 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1938 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1938 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1937 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth College | Hanover | NH | 1929, 1930, 1931 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 27th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |