I have a 2004 team in the Jimmy Carter progressive, a single-season prog that started in 1980.  My Ichiro Suzuki just broke the single-season hits record.  

Name the player who previously held the single-season hits record.

Tony Gwynn?

Well, knowing you...and the fact that it would be pointless to ask the question if the answer was someone obvious...I'm going to offer the following:

1.) Lance Johnson
2.) Darin Erstad
3.) Tony Fernandez

Probably 0-3 I know, but I could at least come up with plausible seasons/scenarios for each of the above 3.

I'll throw '85 Willie McGee out there.

Ichiro himself.

TONY FERNANDEZ is correct.  In the 1986 season of this prog he had 277 hits.

(In real life he had 213 hits.)

I'm surprised it wasn't Derek Jeter.

NEW QUESTIONS

(Note: All three leagues mentioned below are single-season progs with fairly standard rules.)

1. In the NWP prog (1961 to 1983), which pitcher holds the single-season Wins record of 33?

2. In the 100 Year War prog (1901 to 1925), which batter holds the single-season records for Hits (333), Batting Average (.476) and RBI (242), all accomplished in the same season?

3. In the Jimmy Carter prog (1980 to 2005), which batter holds the all-time longest hitting streak record?

A. bill hands
B.george sisler
C. pete rose

am i even close?

Sorry, all wrong.  

A. Bill Hands never won more than 18 in the NWP, so not close. Hint: The record holder is way less, uh, illustrious than Bill Hands.

B. George Sisler is VERY close -- in fact, he held the hits record until the current record holder broke it (so that might give you a clue as to the years you should be looking at).

C. Pete Rose is not close.  Hint: The record holder, unlike Pete, was welcomed at Cooperstown.

I promise everyone that unless you have heard it before (it's been posted about once or twice in the forums) you will absolutely NEVER guess the single season wins record holder in the NWP.

 i'll try one more time but i'm really just guessing jim bouton (because of his book when you say illustrious) rogers hornsby and paul molitor

I'll go with George Stone

No correct answers thus far.  Final hints:

1. In the NWP prog (1961 to 1983), which pitcher holds the single-season Wins record of 33?  YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PITCHER -- IN REAL LIFE HE WON 30 CAREER GAMES SPREAD OVER 4 BELOW-AVERAGE SEASONS. 

2. In the 100 Year War prog (1901 to 1925), which batter holds the single-season records for Hits (333), Batting Average (.476) and RBI (242), all accomplished in the same season?  THIS BATTER'S IN THE HALL OF FAME FOR HIS GREAT HITTING.

3. In the Jimmy Carter prog (1980 to 2005), which batter holds the all-time longest hitting streak record?  THIS BATTER'S IN THE HALL OF FAME FOR HIS GREAT DEFENSE.

For #2, I'll offer Harry Heilmann