
What is a triple?
A triple is a play where the hitter successfully hits the ball into fair play and reaches third base without the defense committing an error or attempting to put out another player (generally a runner from first base attempting to cross home plate).
Triples are abbreviated 3B, and may called by different names by announcers: three-bagger or three-base hit.
How many triples are there in a typical season?
The number of triples varies by season. In the most recent decade (2011-2019, omitting 2020 due to pandemic shortened season), teams combined for an average of 759 triples per season. That number is a bit misleading, though, since there were only 437 triples total in 2018 and 2019.
Table Showing Total Triples by Decade
Decade | Average Per Season |
---|---|
1901-1910 | 1078 |
1911-1920 | 1175 |
1921-1930 | 1199 |
1931-1940 | 973 |
1941-1950 | 786 |
1951-1960 | 693 |
1961-1970 | 803 |
1971-1980 | 938 |
1981-1990 | 893 |
1991-2000 | 873 |
2001-2010 | 916 |
2011-2019 | 759 |
You can see the declining trend across 20th and 21st century, particularly in the 2018 and 2019 season:
Are triples rare?
Triples are the rarest hit type (single, double, triple, home run). For example, Major League Baseball hitters were almost eight times more likely to hit a home run than a triple during the 2018-2020 seasons.
Hit Type | Number of Occurrences | Percent (of Total Hit Types) |
---|---|---|
Single | 61,340 | 22.25% |
Double | 19,618 | 4.48% |
Triple | 1,873 | 0.43% |
Home Run | 14,665 | 3.35% |
This is why a triple is sometimes called the most exciting play in baseball.
Why were there more triples in the late 19th and early 20th century?
Over at Hardball Times, Miles Wray provided some excellent reasons for why there may have been more triples in the early days of baseball:
- Outfield Dimensions: outfields could be over 450 feet deep, whereas the deepest dimension of any baseball stadium in 2021 is 420 feet
- Scouting Reports: teams better know where to position outfielders, and teams know which outfielders have good (and bad) arms
- Groundskeeping: baseball outfields look pristine in modern times, and that was not so much the case in the early days of baseball
Who are the leaders for triples (single-season, team, career)
Career Triples Leaders
Sam Crawford has the most triples ever in baseball. Check out the top 10 triples leaders:
Player | # of Triples | # of Plate Appearances |
---|---|---|
Sam Crawford | 309 | 10594 |
Ty Cobb | 295 | 13072 |
Honus Wagner | 252 | 11739 |
Jake Beckley | 243 | 10470 |
Roger Connor | 233 | 8837 |
Tris Speaker | 222 | 11988 |
Fred Clarke | 220 | 9819 |
Dan Brouthers | 205 | 7658 |
Joe Kelley | 194 | 8120 |
Paul Waner | 191 | 10762 |
Career Triples Leaders (1980-2020)
In more recent years, Willie Wilson has the most career triples, though he has just 43% (132 vs. 309) the number of triples as career leader Sam Crawford.
Player | # of Triples | # of Plate Appearances |
---|---|---|
Willie Wilson | 132 | 7411 |
Brett Butler | 131 | 9545 |
Jose Reyes | 131 | 8240 |
Steve Finley | 124 | 10460 |
Carl Crawford | 123 | 7178 |
Lance Johnson | 117 | 5800 |
Kenny Lofton | 116 | 9235 |
Jimmy Rollins | 115 | 10240 |
Tim Raines | 113 | 10359 |
Johnny Damon | 109 | 10917 |
Single-Season Triples Leaders (All-Time)
Owen Wilson owns the record for most triples in a season with 36. The next closer are Dave Orr and Heine Reitz. All players with at least 26 triples in a single season are listed below:
Player | # of Triples | Year |
---|---|---|
Owen Wilson | 36 | 1912 |
Dave Orr | 31 | 1886 |
Heinie Reitz | 31 | 1894 |
Perry Werden | 29 | 1893 |
Harry Davis | 28 | 1897 |
Sam Thompson | 28 | 1894 |
George Davis | 27 | 1893 |
Jimmy Williams | 27 | 1899 |
Sam Crawford | 26 | 1914 |
Kiki Cuyler | 26 | 1925 |
Shoeless Joe Jackson | 26 | 1912 |
John Reilley | 26 | 1890 |
George Treadway | 26 | 1894 |
Single-Season Triples Leaders (1980-2020)
In more recent years (1980-2020), only five players have had at least 20 triples in a season. Curtis Granderson leads the way with 23.
Player | # of Triples | Year |
---|---|---|
Curtis Granderson | 23 | 2007 |
Lance Johnson | 21 | 1996 |
Willie Wilson | 21 | 1985 |
Cristian Guzman | 20 | 2000 |
Jimmy Rollins | 20 | 2007 |
Carl Crawford | 19 | 2004 |
Jose Reyes | 19 | 2008 |
Juan Samuel | 19 | 1984 |
Ryne Sandberg | 19 | 1984 |
Willie McGree | 18 | 1985 |
Career Leaders for Each Team
Team | Player | # of Triples |
---|---|---|
ArizonaAll Players | Stephen DrewDavid PeraltaTony WomackSteve FinleyGerardo Parra | 5241373431 |
BravesAll Players | Rabbit MaranvilleHenry AaronBill BrutonEddie MathewsRay Powell | 10396797067 |
OriolesAll Players | George SislerBaby Doll JacobsonJack TobinDel PrattKen Williams | 10396797067 |
Red SoxAll Players | Harry HooperTris SpeakerBuck FreemanBobby DoerrLarry Gardner | 130106908987 |
CubsAll Players | Frank SchultePhil CavarrettaJoe TinkerErnie BanksBilly Williams | 11799939087 |
White SoxAll Players | Nellie FoxShano CollinsLuke ApplingEddie CollinsJohnny Mostil | 10410410210282 |
RedsAll Players | Edd RoushPete RoseVada PinsonCurt WalkerMike Mitchell | 152115969488 |
IndiansAll Players | Earl AverillTris SpeakerElmer FlickShoeless Joe JacksonJeff Heath | 1211081068983 |
RockiesAll Players | Dexter FowlerNeifi PerezCharlie BlackmonLarry WalkerCarlos Gonzalez | 5349484439 |
TigersAll Players | Ty CobbSam CrawfordCharlie GehringerHarry HeilmannBobby Veach | 284249146145136 |
AstrosAll Players | Jose CruzJoe MorganRoger MetzgerTerry PuhlCraig Biggio | 8063625655 |
RoyalsAll Players | George BrettWillie WilsonAmos OtisHal McRaeFrank White | 137133656358 |
AngelsAll Players | Jim FregosiChone FigginsMike TroutErick AybarGarret Anderson | 7053494335 |
DodgersAll Players | Zack WheatWillie DavisHi MyersJake DaubertDuke Snider | 171110978782 |
MarlinsAll Players | Luis CastilloJuan PierreAdeiny HechavarriaHanley RamirezDee Strange-Gordon | 4234312623 |
BrewersAll Players | Robin YountPaul MolitorRyan BraunCharlie MooreJim Gantner | 12686494238 |
TwinsAll Players | Sam RiceJoe JudgeGoose GoslinBuddy MyerMickey Vernon | 183157125113108 |
MetsAll Players | Jose ReyesMookie WilsonBud HarrelsonCleon JonesSteve Henderson | 11362453331 |
YankeesAll Players | Lou GehrigEarle CombsJoe DiMaggioWally PippTony Lazzeri | 163154131121115 |
AthleticsAll Players | Danny MurphyAl SimmonsHome Run BakerEddie CollinsHarry Davis | 10298888582 |
PhilliesAll Players | Sherry MageeJimmy RollinsRichie AshburnJohnny CallisonLarry Bowa | 127111978481 |
PiratesAll Players | Honus WagnerPaul WanerRoberto ClementePie TraynorMax Carey | 210187166164148 |
PadresAll Players | Tony GwynnGene RichardsWill VenableDave WinfieldGarry Templeton | 8563393936 |
GiantsAll Players | Willie MaysLarry DoyleBill TerryRoss YoungsTravis Jackson | 1391171129386 |
MarinersAll Players | Ichiro SuzukiHarold ReynoldsKen Griffey Jr.Phil BradleySpike Owen | 7948302623 |
CardinalsAll Players | Stan MusialRogers HornsbyEnos SlaughterLou BrockJim Bottomley | 177143135121119 |
RaysAll Players | Carl CrawfordKevin KiermaierBen ZobristRandy WinnDesmond Jennings | 10545322822 |
RangersAll Players | Michael YoungElvis AndrusRuben SierraChuck HintonIvan Rodriguez | 5548443028 |
Blue JaysAll Players | Tony FernandezLloyd MosebyAlfredo GriffinWillie UpshawAlex Rios | 7260504236 |
NationalsAll Players | Tim RainesAndre DawsonVladimir GuerreroTim WallachWarren Cromartie | 8267343130 |