Tough sports trivia question (need help)

The G Man

[The G Man]

A poster at another site I frequent posted the following:

"Which pro athlete won a championship in both his rookie AND final year, but none in between?

The only hints that the sadistic bastard gave us before leaving were:

- it is NOT a hockey player.
- the player played at least seven years."

[The G Man]

I don't know the answer, but its driving me nuts.

[martin_fierro]

My brother-in-law is a sports trivia god. I'll ask him.

[Psalm 73]

Bill Walton? - as a Rookie with Portland Trail Blazers, and his last year as a Boston Celtic.
(Well, we know it's not the Red Sox or Cubs)!!!

[martin_fierro]

Bear in mind that this might be a trick question -- the "athlete" may be a horse or racing dog.

Maybe a golfer? Pro poker player?

[The G Man]

Its not Walton. He started around 1974 or 75 with Portland.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Obviously there aren't many people, at least in major sports, who have won an MVP in their rookie season. Wes Unseld of the Bullets (now Wizards) is the only guy who comes to mind, but I don't know if he won any later on. Perhaps it's worth checking out.

[Psalm 73]

yeah, one of the clues was he played at least 7 years, so you know it must at least 7 years between championships.
Walton won with Portland as a rookie in 74 or 75, then didn't win again until his final year with the Celtics, I think 1986.
Bird, Parish, and McHale, with Walton coming off the bench for about 15 minutes a game - what an awesome front line.
since the late 80's, though, pro-basketball has morphed into something quite strange and unwatchable.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Never mind, I was thinking the question was about winning the MVP, not a championship.

[Flashlight]

...Obviously there aren't many people, at least in major sports, who have won an MVP in their rookie season...

That's what I was thinking, but read the question again. The athlete won a "championship", not an "award." I'm thinking that "championship" refers to a team world champion (not Western division championship, for example), and not a "statistics" champion, like a "batting championship."

Also, the guy could have had a short carreer of three years and still fulfill the requirements.

[Flashlight]

okay, he played 7 years, my mistake...

[schu]

A gut answer I had is Quinn Buckner, but I have no research to back it up. I believe he ended his career with the Celtics when they won a ring.

I do know he was the few to win a state (Illinois/Thornridge), NCAA (Indiana) and NBA championship in basketball. Maybe the only.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Bob Feller won a championship in his last year, but doubt he won his rookie year with the Indians.

[kwyjibo]

Portland didn't win the title in 74-75. Rick Barry's Warriors won that one. The Blazers won in 1976-1977.

[Hatteras]

Babe Ruth? Red Sox in 1915 and the Yankees circa 1934-1935ish?

[Corvair]

Quinn Buckner was my first guess as well.

[IYAS9YAS]

The trick may also be in that his Rookie season WAS his final season...

[Mr. Mulliner]

Ruth won plenty of championships in between, though. I'd guess it was at least a half dozen.

[kwyjibo]

EXCEPT for the fact that he played at least seven years.

[IYAS9YAS]

Whoops...missed the last two lines about no hockey and 7 years playing...Back to the corner.

[Psalm 73]

Portland didn't win the title in 74-75. Rick Barry's Warriors won that one.

OK, the sleek rookie forward on that team with Rick Barry, Keith Wilkes - did he also win with the Lakers (as Jamaal Wilkes) in his last year (198?)