Seven Achieve Triple Milestones in 2008

Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick are among MLB’s top pitching and hitting performers in 2008.

Seven players achieved the triple milestones of a .300 batting average, 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in the 2008 season, the fewest since 1997.   Three played in the American League, two played in the National League and the other two split time between both leagues.

Player                     Team(s)        BAVG           HR      RBI

---------                ----------     ------         ----    ----

Albert Pujols            STL              .357             37      116

Manny Ramirez         BOS/LAD       .332             37      121

Mark Teixeira           ATL/LAA        .308             33      121

Josh Hamilton          TEX              .304             32      130

Aubrey Huff             BAL              .304             32      108

Alex Rodriguez          NYY             .302             35      103

David Wright            NYM             .302             33      124

(Editor’s note: Pujols has now reached the triple milestones for the eighth time in eight career MLB seasons.)

Lou Gehrig had nine straight triple milestone seasons (1929-1937). Babe Ruth did it eight straight years (1926-1933). Manny Ramirez did it six straight years (1999-2004). No one else has done it more than five times in a row.

Only five players have more than eight total triple milestone seasons - Ruth 12, Gehrig 11, Ramirez 10, Jimmie Foxx and Barry Bonds each with nine.

Three other players could have made it with one more swing of the bat.

Kevin Youkilis           BOS              .312             29      115

Lance Berkman         HOU              .312             29      106

Ryan Ludwick           STL              .299             37      113

Another would probably have made it except for a season-ending injury in early August.

Carlos Lee               HOU              .314             28      100

 

Roy Halladay became the first pitcher since 2005 who achieved the pitchers’ triple milestones of 20 wins, 200 strikeouts and an ERA under 3.00.

                                                Wins             SO      ERA

                                                ------           ----    -----  

Roy Halladay            TOR                20              206     2.78

A more detailed analysis, including minor leaguers who reached triple milestones, will be available later.

Bill Gilbert is a baseball analyst and writer and member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).