Sam Crawford: Triples Machine

Sam Crawford: Triples Machine

Sam Crawford: Triples Machine

Having the nickname of “Wahoo Sam”, one of the most skilled players to ever play the game of baseball was right fielder and first baseman Sam Crawford. Though not mentioned in the same sentence as more popular players like Babe Ruth or his teammate Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford played a pivotal role in the game that involved accomplishing a more difficult feat. What was this feat? This was none other than the “three-bagger”, or the triple.

Compared to the single, the double and even the home run, the triple is the hardest type of hit for a hitter to record simply because it involves precise hitting out to certain parts of a ballpark, savvy base running skills, and most of all good enough speed. Crawford had all 3 components in spades.

Crawford began his baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds and played in Cincinnati from 1899 to 1902. In his first 4 years combined Crawford played in 403 games, and in 1586 at-bats he batted .312 with 26 home runs and 261 RBI’s off 495 hits, 56 doubles, 49 stolen bases, a .361 on base percentage, a .474 slugging percentage and an .835 OPS. In these 4 years Crawford hit 60 triples, which were 7, 15, 16 and 22 separately.

In 1903 Crawford moved north to play for the Detroit Tigers, and he would end up enjoying his long stay in the Motor City. Playing in 137 games Crawford batted .335 with 89 RBI’s, 184 hits, 23 doubles, 25 triples and 18 stolen bases, posting a .366 on base percentage, a .489 slugging percentage and an .855 OPS. In 1904 Crawford played in 150 games and had 73 RBI’s, 143 hits, 22 doubles, 16 triples and 20 stolen bases. 1904 was a down year by Crawford’s standards as his later years would suggest.

Playing in 154 games in 1905 Crawford batted .297 with 75 RBI’s, 171 hits, 38 doubles, 10 triples and 22 stolen bases, posting a .357 on base percentage, a .430 slugging percentage, and a .786 OPS. Playing in 145 games in 1906 Crawford batted .295 with 72 RBI’s, 166 hits, 25 doubles, 16 triples and 24 stolen bases, posting a .747 OPS. In 1907 Crawford played in 144 games and batted .323 with 81 RBI’s, 188 hits, 34 doubles, 17 triples and 18 stolen bases, posting a .366 on base percentage, a .460 slugging percentage, and an .826 OPS.

Playing in 152 games in 1908 Crawford batted .311 with 80 RBI’s, 184 hits, 33 doubles, 16 triples and 15 stolen bases, posting a .355 on base percentage, a .457 slugging percentage, and an .812 OPS. In 1909 Crawford played in 156 games and batted .314 with 97 RBI’s, 185 hits, 35 doubles, 14 triples and 30 stolen bases, posting a .366 on base percentage, a .452 slugging percentage and an .817 OPS. In 1910 Crawford played in 154 games and batted .289 with 120 RBI’s, 170 hits, 26 doubles, and led the American League with 19 triples. Crawford also had 20 stolen bases and a .756 OPS.

1911 was the start of a great 3-year run for Wahoo Sam as he played in 146 games and batted .378 with 115 RBI’s, 217 hits, 36 doubles, 14 triples and 37 stolen bases, posting a .438 on base percentage, a .526 slugging percentage, and a .964 OPS. In 1912 Crawford played in 149 games and batted .325 with 109 RBI’s, 189 hits, 30 doubles, 21 triples and 42 stolen bases, posting a .470 slugging percentage and an .843 OPS. In 1913 Crawford played in 153 games and batted .317 with 83 RBI’s, 193 hits, 32 doubles and led the American League with 23 triples. Crawford also had 13 stolen bases, a .489 slugging percentage and an .860 OPS. Playing in 157 games in 1914 Crawford batted .314 with 104 RBI’s, 183 hits, 22 doubles, and once again led the American League in triples with 26. 25 stolen bases, a .388 on base percentage, a .483 slugging percentage and an .871 OPS were also recorded by Crawford.

When it came to the voting process to determine the American League Most Valuable Player, Sam Crawford was very much in the mix for 4 consecutive years, with his best shot coming in 1914 where he finished in 2nd just behind another great baseball player in second baseman Eddie Collins of the Philadelphia Athletics. From 1911 to 1913 Crawford finished in a tie for 14th in AL MVP voting.

The last great year in Crawford’s career would be 1915 where he played 156 games and batted .299 with 112 RBI’s, 183 hits, 31 doubles, and yet again led the American League in triples with 19. Crawford also recorded 24 stolen bases and a .799 OPS. Crawford finally encountered his decline as he played in only 100 games in 1916, batting .286 with 92 hits, 11 doubles and 13 triples. 1917 was the completion of his decline and the end of his 19-year career as he had a mere 18 hits in 61 games. Crawford had 0 triples in 1917.

In a 162-game average per season Crawford remained steady as he averaged 20 triples and 24 stolen bases. Playing alongside The Georgia Peach in Ty Cobb and his uncanny ability to steal home plate, Crawford was also amazing on the base paths, and the dynamic duo put immense amount of pressure on opposing defenses. Crawford finished his great career with 309 triples, 14 more than Cobb’s 295. No player in recent years had come anywhere close to challenging the record of one who was considered to be a true triples machine.