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With Providence in 1878, Hines's career-high .358 average, four HR, and 50 RBI in 62 games were enough to earn him baseball's first triple crown. He hit over .300 eleven times. Rarely ranked among the leaders in fielding, he was famous for his running outfield catches. One such catch in 1878 began a triple play. Boston runners on first and third took off on a short fly over the shortstop's head which seemed a sure hit. Hines charged in from centerfield to make a spectacular shoestring catch, ran to third base to double off one runner, then threw to second base to catch the other and complete the triple play. Some of the game's participants later argued that both runners had rounded third before Hines tagged the base, thereby giving him an unassisted triple play. But newspaper accounts agree that Hines's contribution was two putouts and an assist. (FIC)