I had known for a while that in 1955 Mickey Mantle led the American League (AL) in both triples (3B) and home runs (HR). He tied teammate Andy Carey with 11 3B and belted 37 HR.
I later noticed that cross town rival Willie Mays had done the same thing in 1955 with the New York Giants: 13 3B, 51 HR. Mays tied Dale Long in 3B.
I thought what a coincidence: two players doing something unusual and they did it it in the same year ... playing the same defensive position ... in the same city. Then I tried to find how many other players had done it.
Since 1903 I found two:
Jim Bottomley: led NL in 1928 with 20 3B, 31 HR.
Jim Rice: led AL in 1978 with 15 3B, 46 HR; MVP.
Only two other batters in the modern era and Mickey and Willie had those other coincidences to add to the special nature of their accomplishments.
My friend Cliff found "Tip O'Neill, 1887 AA" who also led the old American Association in Hits and doubles (2B).
This made me wonder about players who led in multiple totals in the same year: Hits, 2B, 3B, HR. One interesting associated fact I noticed: in 1963 Carl Yastrzemski (you know, the guy who in 1967 led in RBI, HR and batting average (BA) in the same season before Miguel Cabrera) led the AL in both Hits and Base on Balls (BB), which I would think is unusual but have not checked. In 1967 Yaz also led in Hits. He led in 2B three times but never 3B. Cabrera so far has never led in Hits, 3B; 2B once, HR twice.
I have not done a database search but I have found some interesting anecdotal things so far.
Hank Aaron never led in 3B; 1956: Hits, 2B the only time The Hammer doubled up.
Mays amazingly never led in 2B! Willie's highest total was 43 in 1959:
1. Pinson (CIN) 47
2. Aaron (MLN) 46
3. Mays (SFG) 43
Mantle never led in 2B either. Mickey's highest total was 37 in 1952:
1. Fain (PHA) 43
2. Mantle (NYY) 37
Lou Gehrig led: Hits 1, 2B 2, 3B1, HR 3. The only year he did more than one was 1931: 211 Hits, 46 HR.
Ty Cobb led: Hits 8, 2B 3, 3B 4, HR 1.
1908: Hits, 2B, 3B
1909: Hits, HR
1911: Hits, 2B, 3B
1917: Hits, 2B, 3B
Rogers Hornsby led; Hits 4, 2B 4, 3B 2, HR 2.
1920: Hits, 2B
1921: Hits, 2B, 3B
1922: Hits, 2B, HR
1924: Hits, 2B
Johnny Mize led 2B 1, 3B 1, HR 4, never doubling but the Big Cat had chronological proximity:
Triples 1938.
Homers 1939,1940.
Doubles another year.
The end ... for now.
My friend Cliff found "Tip O'Neill, 1887 AA" who also led the old American Association in Hits and doubles (2B).
This made me wonder about players who led in multiple totals in the same year: Hits, 2B, 3B, HR. One interesting associated fact I noticed: in 1963 Carl Yastrzemski (you know, the guy who in 1967 led in RBI, HR and batting average (BA) in the same season before Miguel Cabrera) led the AL in both Hits and Base on Balls (BB), which I would think is unusual but have not checked. In 1967 Yaz also led in Hits. He led in 2B three times but never 3B. Cabrera so far has never led in Hits, 3B; 2B once, HR twice.
I have not done a database search but I have found some interesting anecdotal things so far.
Hank Aaron never led in 3B; 1956: Hits, 2B the only time The Hammer doubled up.
Mays amazingly never led in 2B! Willie's highest total was 43 in 1959:
1. Pinson (CIN) 47
2. Aaron (MLN) 46
3. Mays (SFG) 43
Mantle never led in 2B either. Mickey's highest total was 37 in 1952:
1. Fain (PHA) 43
2. Mantle (NYY) 37
Lou Gehrig led: Hits 1, 2B 2, 3B1, HR 3. The only year he did more than one was 1931: 211 Hits, 46 HR.
Ty Cobb led: Hits 8, 2B 3, 3B 4, HR 1.
1908: Hits, 2B, 3B
1909: Hits, HR
1911: Hits, 2B, 3B
1917: Hits, 2B, 3B
Rogers Hornsby led; Hits 4, 2B 4, 3B 2, HR 2.
1920: Hits, 2B
1921: Hits, 2B, 3B
1922: Hits, 2B, HR
1924: Hits, 2B
Johnny Mize led 2B 1, 3B 1, HR 4, never doubling but the Big Cat had chronological proximity:
Triples 1938.
Homers 1939,1940.
Doubles another year.
The end ... for now.
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