It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye. (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.
Thiis week, as you can see in the chart, we are looking at 20-20-20 and 20-20-20-20 seasons.
- The triple seems to be the key to the 20-20-20-20 and 20-20-20 season. While the seven players on these two lists combined to lead the league in triples a total of 16 times, they each had only one season of 20 or more three baggers.
- Three of the seven are in the Hall of Fame (Jim Bottomley, Willie Mays and George Brett).
- The list includes two primary CF, one RF, one LF, one SS, one 3B and one 1B.
- All seven achieved their twenty-something(s) seasons in their “twenty-somethings” (four in their age-26 seasons, three in their age-28 seasons).
Let’s take a look at these seven players (their 20-20-20-20 or 20-20 20 season and careers).
I’ll try to put them in the order I rank their notable season – which is, of course, purely subjective. I should note that after the first three, I could easily have juggled the order. (You will probably surmise I gave an edge to players who were MVPs in their 20-20-20 or 20-20-20-20 seasons.)
Jimmy Rollins, SS, 2007 Phillies
Photo: Scinsvche, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
In his qualifying season, Rollins led the league in games played (162, the most in any season on either list). He also led the league in runs scored with 139, again the most of any season on either list. His 41 steals are the most ever in a 20-20-20-20 season. His 212 hits tie George Brett for the most in a 29-20-20-20 or 20-20-20 season. Rollins’ 380 total bases are the most among players in a season qualifying for either list. He is also one of just three players to hit at least 30 homers while qualifying for either list. He is the only player on either list to hit under .300 in their qualifying season.
Overall, Rollin played in 17 MLB seasons (2000-2016 … Phillies, Dodgers, White Sox – all but two for the Phillies). He hit .264-231-936, with 1,421 runs scored and 470 stolen bases. He was a three-time All Star, four-time Gold Glover and the 2007 NL Most Valuable Player (in his 20-20-20-20 season). He led the NL in triples three times and steals once (46 in 2001) and hit 20+ home runs in four seasons (once reaching 30). Rollins had four seasons of 40 or more stolen bases and six more of thirty or more.
Willie Mays, CF, 1957 Giants
Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Mays’ 35 home runs were the most in any season qualifying for either list and his 38 stolen bases second only to Rollins. In addition, his .333 average is the second highest on either list and the highest among those who had 20 or more steals.
The Hall of Famer played in 23 MLB seasons (1948, 1951-73 … Black Barons, Giants, Mets), going .301-660-1.909, with 2,068 runs scored and 339 steals. Mays was an All Star in 20 MLB seasons. He was the 1951 NL Rookie of the Year; 1954 and 1965 NL MVP; and a 12-time Gold Glover. Mays led the league in home runs four times, stolen bases four times; triples three times; total bases three times; runs twice, hits once and batting average once. He hit forty or more homers in six seasons, twice topping 50, and stole thirty or morebases three time. Surprisingly, he never led the league in RBI.
Jim Bottomley, 1B, 1928 Cardinals
Photo: The New York Times, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Bottomley was one of just two players to led his league in home runs while qualifying for either list. His 20 triples also led the NL, as did his 136 RBI (the most RbI in any season on either list. His 123 runs scored trail only Jimmy Rollins on either list. He was the NL MVP in his 20-20-20 campaign.
The Hall of Famer played in 16 MLB seasons (1922-37 … Cardinals, Reds, Browns), hitting .310-219-1,422, with 1,177 runs scored and 58 steals. Bottomley led the league in doubles twice, RBI twice, total bases twice and hits, triples, and home runs once each.
Frank Schulte, RF, 1911 Cubs
Photo: Charles M. Conlon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
While Schulte only had 24 home runs in his 20-20-20-20 season, no one else in MLB had more than 16 that year and his 107 RBI led the National League. (He was the NL MVP in his four-twenty year.) Those 107 RBI tied for third among the seven seasons on the two lists.
Schulte played in 15 MLB seasons (1904-1918 … Cubs, Pirates, Phillies, Nationals), going, .270-92-793, with 906 runs scored and 233 stolen bases. He led the league in home runs twice and in triples, RBI and total bases once each. (He did not lead the league in triples in his 20-20-20-20 season.)
George Brett, 3B, 1979 Royals
Brett is all tied up in these stats. Brett’s 212 hits tied for the most in any qualifying season on either list; his 42 doubles also tied for first; his 107 RBI tied for third; and his 20 triples tied for third (a five-way tie). His .329 average is third and his 119 runs fourth.
The Hall of Famer played in 21 MLB seasons (1973-93 … Royals), going .305-317-1,596, with 1,583 runs scored and 201 steals. He was a 13-time All Star, a three-time batting champion and the 1980 AL MVP (.390-24-118). He hit over .300 in 11 seasons. Brett led the league in triples three times; batting average three times; hits three times; doubles twice; and total bases once.
Jeff Heath, RF, 1941 Indians
Heath’s .340 batting average was tops in any qualifying 20-20-20-20 or 20-20-20 season, and his 123 RBI were second only to Jim Bottomley’s 1928 qualifying campaign. Heath’s 199 hits were third among those on the two lists. His 20 triples led the league.
Heath played in 14 MLB seasons (1936-49 … Indians, Browns, Nationals, Braves), going .293-194-887, with 777 runs and 56 stolen bases. The two-time All Star led the league in triples twice and hit .300 or better in seven seasons. He came close to a 20-20-20-20 season, stealing 18 bases in his 20-20-20 campaign. It was the only time he reached double-digit steals in a season.
Curtis Granderson, CF, 2007 Tigers
Granderson’s 23 triples are the most of any season on either list and his 26 steals are third. Notably, in his qualifying season, he was only caught stealing once. His 74 RBI are the lowest on either list.
Granderson played in 16 MLB seasons (2004-19 … Tigers, Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Brewers, Marlins), going .249-344-937, with 1,217 runs scored and 153 steals. He was a three-time All Star and led the league in triples twice, runs scored once and RBI once. He had four seasons of 100+ runs scored; two of 100+ RBI; four of 30 or more home runs (two of forty or more); and three of 20 or more steals.
Primary Resource: Stathead.com
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