One of the most popular Boston Red Sox players of all-time, Johnny Pesky, had one of the best rookie seasons ever in 1942.  That season, he was Boston’s starting Shortstop, and he would lead the American League in Hits (205), batted .331, and was third in MVP voting.  Pesky would miss the next three seasons due to military service in World War II, and he returned exactly where he left off.