2024-07-15 Players who have hit the most triples this century (2001-2024)

MONDAY  — 15-Jul

Q.  Who was the second player to be voted Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season?

Hint: #1  He was also an All-Star and won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards that same season.

Hint: #2  He compiled three fifteen-game hitting streaks in one season, the first since Cecil Cooper did it in 1980.

A.  ICHIRO SUZUKI  [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  2001 AL MVP; 2001 ROY.  The 1^st player to receive both honors in the same year was Boston’s Fred Lynn in 1975.  There are no others besides these 2 to be so honored.

-  #1  AS,(1^st of 10 straight);  GG (1^st of 10 straight): SS (1^st off 2) in 2001

-  #2  In 2001 his 15+ hitting streaks were:  04-20—Apr (15G); 22-Apr—18-May (23G) & 03-24—Aug (21G).

FCR -  D. J. Pisano, Cape Town, South Africa

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Rice, Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Alex Rodriguez,

 

 

TUESDAY  — 16-Jul

Q.  Which one-time White Sox infielder is the only switch-hitting Philadelphia Phillie ever to win a National League Most Valuable Player Award?

Hint: #1  He owns the longest consecutive-game hitting streak of his one hundred and forty-year-old franchise.

Hint: #2  He is his franchise’s career leader in hits and doubles.

A.  JIMMY ROLLINS  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Rollins is BBTR and was NL MVP in 2007.  Rollins finished with 1 season w/CHW in 2016.

-  #1  Rollins’ streak was 38 G:  36 to end 2005 & 2 more to begin 2006.

-  #2  In his 15 seasons w/ PHI, he racked up 2,306 H & 479 2B, but is 2^nd only to Mike Schmidt in G, TB & XBH & trails only Billy Hamilton in career SB.

FCR -  John Burbridge, Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania

Incorrect guesses:  Dick Allen, Chase Utley, Richie Ashburn, Von Hayes, Pete Rose

 

 

WEDNESDAY  — 17-Jul

Q.  Which one-time Milwaukee Brewer is history’s only player with a season of at least a.) Twenty-three home runs; b.) Twenty-three doubles; c.) Twenty-three triples; and d.) Twenty-three stolen bases?

Hint: #1  He led the Yankees in home runs the last season Alex Rodriguez made the All-Star team.

Hint: #2  He received the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award four times as well as the Roberto Clemente Award.

A.  CURTIS GRANDERSON   [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  More often referenced is the fact that Granderson is in the foursome of players with 20‑20‑20‑20 in those categories, his equals being Frank Schulte in 1911, Willie Mays in 1957 & Jimmy Rollins the same year as Granderson, 2007.  However, only Granderson reached 23 in all 4 categories:  23 HR, 38 2B, 23 3B & 26 SB. Granderson played for MIL in his penultimate season, 2018.

-  #1  He homered 41 X for NYY in 2011.

-  #2  Awards detailed here:  Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award.  Roberto Clemente Award.

FCR -  Richard Klee, North Hollywood, California

Incorrect guesses: 

 

 

MIDWEEK BONUS  — 18-Jul

Q.  Who spent his entire fourteen-year career with the Yankees and in that time won exactly one Gold Glove, made only one All-Star team and won one World Series ring?

Hint: #1  He made his college team as a walk-on and became a starter for three years.

Hint: #2  In his major league debut game, he went 0-for-3, but managed to steal a base before he was replaced.

A.  BRETT GARDNER   [SABR Bio]

-  Ans.  Gardner played for NYY 2009-2021, a GG in 2106, an AS in 2015 & a WS in 2009.

-  #1  Walked on & made the team at the College of Charleston in 2001.

-  #2  1^st MLB G = 30-Jun-2008.

FCR -  Charlie Harris, Chappaqua, New York

Incorrect guesses:  Roy White, Jim Leyritz, Frank Robinson

 

 

THURSDAY  — 18-Jul

Q.  Who is the only player who had five hits, stole four bases and scored five runs in a single game for an expansion team?

Hint: #1  Later that season, he stole three bases in each of consecutive games.

Hint: #2  He once hit a line drive off the pitcher’s head so hard it knocked the pitcher off his feet.

Hint: #3  One year changed “teams” without changing cities, leagues or even home venues.

A.  CARL CRAWFORD   [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  On 24-May-2006, Crawford tormented the Blue Jays in Toronto with 5 H, 5 R & 4 SB.

-  #1  Had 3 SB on 16-Aug- & again on 17-Aug-2006 both vs. TOR in Tampa.

-  #2  On 05-Jul-2026 Crawford lined the ball back to the BOS pitcher Matt Clement in the 3^rd inning.  Details here.

-  #3  The Tampa Bay Devil Rays with whom he debuted in 2002, dropped “Devil” & since 2008 have been the Tampa Bay Rays.

FCR -  Gregory Koch, Falls Church, Virginia

Incorrect guesses:  Tommy Harper, Vladimir Guerrero, Evan Longoria

 

 

FRIDAY — 19-Jul

Q.  Which Dominican shortstop, who briefly played for the Colorado Rockies , had more stolen bases in any one season than any other player since 1992?

Hint: #1  He was injured and his slot on the All-Star team was once taken by that year’s World Series MVP to-be.

Hint: #2  His nickname was intentionally ironic.

Hint: #2  He’s not from Queens, but would believe… Kings?

A.  JOSE REYES   [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Reyes stole 78 bases in 2007 which matched the 78 of Marquis  Grissom in 1992.

-  #1  Reyes was voted to start for the NL AS team in 2006.  His place was taken by David Eckstein, WS MVP that fall.

-  #2  Reyes, blessed with tremendous speed, was called Molasses, “La Melaza”.

-  #3  Reyes literally means “Kings” in Spanish.

FCR -  Dave Williams, Glastonbury Connecticut

Incorrect guesses:  Miguel Tejada, Willy Taveras

 

 

SATURDAY — 20-Jul

Q.  Which one-time Dodger and one-time Angel was a two-time World Series champion, two-time All‑Star and four-time Gold Glove winner in his twelve-year career in the majors?

Hint: #1  During that time, he racked up more career runs, triples, stolen bases, bases‑on‑balls, a higher batting average and higher WAR than any other qualifying position player born in his state.

Hint: #2  Former MLB player Texeira is a cousin of his.

A.  SHANE VICTORINO   [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  Victorino won a WS w/PHI in 2008 & w/BOS in 2013; Was an All-Star in 2009 (starter) & 2011; And won Gold Glove awards in 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2013.  He played for LAD in 2012 & for LAA in 2015.

-  #1  Checking Players born in Hawaii in Baseball-Reference, you’ll find his & his fellow Hawaiian natives MLB stats.

-  #2  Kanekoa Jacob Texeira, also born in Hawaii, is distant cousin.  His record.

FCR -  Bill Carle, Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Incorrect guesses:  Jim Edmonds, Darrell Evans

 

 

SUNDAY — 21-Jul

Q.  Which Florida native is the only Washington Nationals player to lead the National League in hits in a full season?

Hint: #1  One year earlier, he led both leagues in triples.

Hint: #2  He is the newest member of the Bally Sports North broadcast crew.

A.  DENARD SPAN  [Wiki Bio]

-  Ans.  Span’s 184 H in 2014 for WSN led the NL, in a tie with PHI’s Ben Revere.  WSN’s Trea Turner later led the league (& MLB) in the shortened 2020 season w/78.  Span was born in Tampa.

-  #1  Span had 11 3B for WSN in 2013, the most in either league.  His 10 3B in 2009 helped MIN capture the AL Central, tied w/BOS’s Jacoby Ellsbury for the AL lead.

-  #2  Span’s new position was announced in February 2024.

FCR -  John Michael Pierobon, Fort Lauderdale

Incorrect guesses:  Trea Turner, Christian Guzman, Howie Kendrick

 

 

WEEKEND BONUS — 21-Jul

Q.  Who hit baseball history’s first ever lead-off home run in a World Series Game Seven?

Hint: #1  He led all MLB players in triples during the 2010s.

Hint: #2  Visiting his in-laws is difficult since his wife is from a country with strained relationships with the U.S.

A.  DEXTER FOWLER  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  In the 2016 WS, Fowler was the 7^th game’s 1^st batter and surprised most onlookers with a drive into the LF bleachers.

-  #1  From 2010 through 2019, Fowler’s 72 triples were the most in that period.

-  #2  Fowler’s wife, Darya was born in Iran and came to the U.S. at age 3.  Travel for them back and forth from Iran has significant issues.

FCR -  Gabe Kinstlinger, Reisterstown, Maryland

Incorrect guesses:  Adam Eaton, Bret Gardner Jose Altuve

 

 

WEEK’S FINALE — 21-Jul

Q.  Who made an over-the-wall catch of a Barry Bonds drive, and in doing so prevented Bonds (temporarily) from tying Babe Ruth on the career home run list?

Hint: #1  He collected the one-thousandth stolen base in the Colorado Rockies’ franchise.

Hint: #2  His name is truly bilingual and multi-cultural.

A.  JUAN PIERRE  [B-R Bio]

-  Ans.  On 09-May-2006, Bonds led off the 4^th inning with a long drive to CF that looked like it might clear the ivy in Wrigley.  Pierre went above and beyond the call of duty, literally to catch the ball to help hold Bonds to a single hit that day.  His account.

-  #1  Pierre stole 3^rd base off the Marlins’ A.J. Burnett/Charles Johnson on 18-May-2001.  He was always a threat to attempt to steal.

-  #2  Juan (‘John’ in Spanish) & Pierre (‘Peter’ in French).  His father was French Creole, but was a serious fan of Juan Marichal.

FCR -  Judah Kaplan, Teaneck, New Jer3sey

Incorrect guesses:  Dante Bichette

 

 

WEEK’S THEME – Players who have hit the most triples this century (2001-2024) [List]   No active player made the list.

 

Player         3B          WAR            Team(s)                  

Crawford...... 123........... 39.1............ BOS, LAD, TBD, TBR

Fowler............. 82........... 19.4............ CHC, COL, HOU, LAA, STL

Gardner.......... 73........... 44.3............ NYY

Granderson..... 95........... 47.2............ DET, LAD, MIA, MIL, NYM, NYY, TOR

Pierre.............. 94........... 17.0............ CHC, CHW, COL, FLA, LAD, MIA, PHI

Reyes............ 131........... 37.5............ COL, MIA, NYM, TOR

Rollins.......... 114........... 47.7............ CHW, LAD, PHI

Span................ 72........... 27.9............ MIN, SEA, SFG, TBR, WSN

Suzuki............. 96........... 60.0............ MIA, NYY, SEA

Victorino......... 70........... 31.5............ BOS, LAA, LAD, PHI, SDP

 

First Correct Respondent identifying theme –

 

 

Incorrect theme guesses:

 

Tues    -  Most at-bats in a season

 

Wed     -  Most career AB's in the 2000s

-   Most plate appearances in the 2000s

 

Thurs   -  Players who led the league in stolen bases and also won a gold glove

-   Most triples in the 2000s

 

Fri        -Most triples in the past 20 years

 

Sun      -  Players who led the league in triples more than once in the 21^st century

-   Active leaders in triples in the 21^st century

-   Players who led the league in triples and SBs in the 21^st century

-   Most triples in the last 20 years

 

 

 

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