Distribution of 1B, 2B, 3B, HR as percent of Hits and Total Bases 1903-2017.

Lately some attention has been given to the reduction in total triples in recent years. This post puts that into a broader context. See graphs below.

Mantle and Mays continue to amaze. Monday, November 12, 2012

... in 1955 Mickey Mantle led the American League (AL) in both triples (3B) and home runs (HR)... 11 3B and ... 37 HR

Willie Mays had done the same thing in 1955 with the New York Giants: 13 3B, 51 HR...

... two players doing something unusual and they did it it in the same year ... playing the same defensive position ... in the same city...

Jim Bottomley ... led the National League in 1928 with 20 3B, 31 HR.  Only ... other batter in the modern era ...
_____________________________

Where Have All the Triples Gone? (Don’t Look for Them in Toronto) By TYLER KEPNER MARCH 2, 2018 nytimes.com

Last season, the Blue Jays did it less often than any other team in major league history. They hit five triples in 2017 — yes, five, a record low by a team in a season, including strike years...

Rogers Centre, with its symmetrical dimensions and artificial surface, was only partly to blame for the lack of triples. The Blue Jays hit three at home, but their opponents managed 12 there. Two ballparks — Camden Yards and Angel Stadium — featured fewer triples than Rogers Centre last season ...

Curtis Granderson, 36, ... With the Detroit Tigers in 2007 ... hit 23 triples, the most by any player since 1950...

At his next stop, with the Yankees from 2010 through 2013, Granderson confronted much tighter right-field dimensions. He hit just 23 triples in those four seasons combined ...

... major leaguers last season arrived at the plate already in scoring position. With a record 6,105 home runs ...

Accordingly, perhaps, batters see less value in digging for the extra 90 feet between second and third.
_____________________________

Data from baseball-reference.com manipulated to produce the graphs.

As percent of hits:

As percent of Total Bases:

	1B%H	2B%H	3B%H	HR%H	Year	1B%TB	2B%TB	3B%TB	HR%TB
Ave	72.07%	16.91%	3.43%	7.58%	Ave	49.57%	23.06%	7.21%	20.17%
	1B%H	2B%H	3B%H	HR%H	Year	1B%TB	2B%TB	3B%TB	HR%TB
Min	63.76%	12.54%	1.83%	1.24%	Min	38.17%	19.74%	3.38%	3.93%
Max	81.35%	20.50%	6.15%	14.46%	Max	64.57%	26.60%	13.81%	34.63%
	1B%H	2B%H	3B%H	HR%H	Year	1B%TB	2B%TB	3B%TB	HR%TB
Min	2017	1907	2013	1907	Min	2017	1955	2017	1907
Max	1907	2008	1912	2017	Max	1907	1931	1912	2017

-->

Year	1B%H	2B%H	3B%H	HR%H	Year	1B%TB	2B%TB	3B%TB	HR%TB
2017	63.76%	19.89%	1.88%	14.46%	2017	38.17%	23.82%	3.38%	34.63%
2016	65.14%	19.52%	2.07%	13.27%	2016	39.85%	23.89%	3.79%	32.47%
2015	66.54%	19.57%	2.23%	11.66%	2015	41.84%	24.62%	4.21%	29.33%
2014	68.33%	19.56%	2.04%	10.06%	2014	44.42%	25.43%	3.98%	26.17%
2013	67.56%	19.53%	1.83%	11.07%	2013	43.19%	24.97%	3.52%	28.32%
2012	66.43%	19.64%	2.20%	11.73%	2012	41.72%	24.67%	4.15%	29.47%
2011	67.23%	19.87%	2.12%	10.77%	2011	42.98%	25.41%	4.07%	27.54%
2010	67.18%	19.94%	2.04%	10.84%	2010	42.92%	25.48%	3.90%	27.70%
2009	66.16%	20.07%	2.18%	11.58%	2009	41.56%	25.22%	4.11%	29.11%
2008	66.39%	20.50%	2.01%	11.09%	2008	42.07%	25.98%	3.83%	28.12%