Cobb, Greenberg, York, and Fielder are the only four Tigers to lead in two of the three triple crown categories.
With the big-league season winding down, talk of an unprecedented second straight Triple Crown for Miggy Cabrera is dissipating as well. It’s not only that the Tigers’ Mr. Big is running out of time to overhaul Baltimore’s Chris Davis in home runs, it’s that he’s also suffering from nagging injuries that have severely cut into his production. Now even his once-healthy leads in batting average and runs batted in are being threatened. It’s not impossible that the man who for most of the summer threatened to lead the league in all three major batting categories will wind up leading in none.
If nothing else, Miggy’s travails underscore just how difficult it is for a player to lead the loop in any of the three major batting categories at any point during his career, much less all three in the same season. Consider this: In his 22 seasons with the Tigers, Al Kaline captured one batting title (in 1955) but never led the American League in either home runs or RBIs. Not once. A fellow Hall of Famer, second baseman Charlie Gehringer, had a similar record. Gehringer, a .320 career hitter, grabbed the batting title in 1937 but never topped the American League in either homers or ribbies during his 19 years with Detroit.
So, we’ve established how difficult it is for even a Hall of Fame banger to grab one-third of a Triple Crown. But how about grabbing two-thirds? As you might suspect, it’s much harder. Since 1901, a total of 112 seasons, a Tigers batter has finished the season as a “double crown” champion – that is, leading in two of the three major categories – on only nine different occasions. Those seasons are listed here. Note that the Tigers’ two Triple Crown winners (Cabrera in 2012 and Ty Cobb in 1909) are not included. Curiously, Cabrera’s and Cobb’s Triple Crown seasons are the only times an individual Tiger has claimed both the batting title and home run championship in the same year.
Home Runs and RBI: 1991 Cecil Fielder 44 HR, 133 RBI 1990 Cecil Fielder 51 HR, 132 RBI 1946 Hank Greenberg 44 HR, 127 RBI 1943 Rudy York 34 HR, 118 RBI 1940 Hank Greenberg 41 HR, 150 RBI 1935 Hank Greenberg 36 HR, 170 RBI Batting Average and RBI: 1911 Ty Cobb .420 BA, 127 RBI 1908 Ty Cobb .324 BA, 108 RBI 1907 Ty Cobb .350 BA, 119 RBI
Kizer78
Cecil got robbed for the MVP in 1990
Rick
What is truly a shame is how poorly Miggy was managed this year. Had Leyland had the common sense to sit him when he was hurting maybe Miggy would be healthy now and bashing the ball and still have a shot. The only reason he didn’t win the triple crown this year is his MORON manager!
J.D.
You have “issues”, Rick!!!
Steve
So does Miggy’s MORON manager. How he keeps getting named best manager is beyond me. He needs to go….
Rick
J.D. as a Tiger fan since 1966 I believe I have a little knowledge of not only the Tiger’s but baseball as well. Tell you what. Do me a fvaor and look up Jim “the genius” Leyland’s career record. He IS a 500 manager for his ENTIRE career! Grossly over rated! The Indians blew the ONLY W.S. he won and THAT was with a BOUGHT team! He NEVER did anything with a very talented Pirate team in the early 90’s he was badly out managed in 06 and 12 and he is an arrogant pompous ass! Did you see the time Shannon Hogan called him out over a move he made? All he could do was mumble, stumble and bumble. Leyland is the on e with issues and when fans like you accept that therein lies the reason most Detroit teams are horrible. SO root on brother I’m 56 years old and the Lions have sucked my WHOLE life! And will continue to do so as long as old man Ford owns them I refuse to root for a team whose owner doesn’t even try for his fans! If Mr. I owned the team I’m quite sure they would have won at least two super bowls by now. Hey Steve, I agree with you 100% and to all I enjoy all the opinions and articles.