Ray’s Ramblings: Doubles

We took a look at triples recently, the 2021 leaders, the single season bests and the all-time leaderboard for a career. Today, we will look at doubles.

Here is a link to the Triples article.

THE HISTORY OF DOUBLES

Here is the single season leaderboard, all-time.

Player (age that year)	Doubles	Year	PA	Bats
Earl Webb (33)	67	1931	660	L
George Burns (33)	64	1926	657	R
Joe Medwick+ (24)	64	1936	677	R
Hank Greenberg+ (23)	63	1934	667	R
Paul Waner+ (29)	62	1932	697	L
Charlie Gehringer+ (33)	60	1936	731	L
Todd Helton (26)	59	2000	697	L
Chuck Klein+ (25)	59	1930	722	L
Tris Speaker+ (35)	59	1923	695	L
Nick Castellanos (27)	58	2019	664	R
Carlos Delgado (28)	57	2000	711	L
Billy Herman+ (25)	57	1935	735	R
Billy Herman+ (26)	57	1936	709	R
Garret Anderson (30)	56	2002	678	L
Craig Biggio+ (33)	56	1999	749	R
Nomar Garciaparra (28)	56	2002	693	R
George Kell+ (27)	56	1950	724	R
Joe Medwick+ (25)	56	1937	677	R
Jose Ramirez (24)	56	2017	645	B
Brian Roberts (31)	56	2009	717	B
Lance Berkman (25)	55	2001	688	B
Matt Carpenter (27)	55	2013	717	L
Ed Delahanty+ (31)	55	1899	645	R
Gee Walker (28)	55	1936	589	R

Haven’t seen a 60 burger since 1936. The active leader is Nick Castellanos who almost joined that club in 2019 when he socked 58. Jose Ramirez slapped 56 doubles back in 2017.

Here is the all-time leaderboard for doubles.

Player (yrs, age)	Doubles	PA	Bats
Tris Speaker+ (22)	792	12020	L
Pete Rose (24)	746	15890	B
Stan Musial+ (22)	725	12721	L
Ty Cobb+ (24)	724	13103	L
Albert Pujols (21, 41)	672	12690	R
Craig Biggio+ (20)	668	12504	R
George Brett+ (21)	665	11625	L
Nap Lajoie+ (21)	657	10468	R
Carl Yastrzemski+ (23)	646	13992	L
Honus Wagner+ (21)	643	11756	R
Adrian Beltre (21)	636	12130	R
David Ortiz (20)	632	10091	L
Henry Aaron+ (23)	624	13941	R
Paul Molitor+ (21)	605	12167	R
Paul Waner+ (20)	605	10767	L
Cal Ripken Jr.+ (21)	603	12883	R
Barry Bonds (22)	601	12606	L

The active leader is Albert Pujols who is 5^th all-time (did you know that?). He’s still active though it is possible he’s played his last big-league game. Next is Miguel Cabrera at 18^th (597) and then a totally forgotten man… Robinson Cano at 28^th (571).

2021 DOUBLES LEADERS

Name	Team	AB	PA	2B
Bryce Harper	PHI	488	599	42
J.D. Martinez	BOS	570	634	42
Whit Merrifield	KCR	664	720	42
Jeimer Candelario	DET	557	626	42
Tommy Edman	STL	641	691	41
Ozzie Albies	ATL	629	686	40
Marcus Semien	TOR	652	724	39
Nick Castellanos	CIN	531	585	38
Kyle Tucker	HOU	506	567	37
Cedric Mullins II	BAL	602	675	37
Rafael Devers	BOS	591	664	37
J.P. Crawford	SEA	619	687	37
Adam Frazier	– – –	577	639	36
Paul Goldschmidt	STL	603	679	36
Bryan Reynolds	PIT	559	646	35
Yordan Alvarez	HOU	537	598	35
Matt Olson	OAK	565	673	35
Jorge Polanco	MIN	588	644	35
Enrique Hernandez	BOS	508	585	35

2021 DOUBLES NOTES

We had no one get to 45 doubles. The last full season, 2019, the leader was Castellanos and we had two others with 50 – Rafael Devers with 54 and Xander Bogaerts 52. The last time someone didn’t hit 45 doubles in a full season was 1987.

The only full season of his career that he hasn’t hit 30 doubles, he hit 34 in 2021, was his rookie year of 2013 when he hit 29. I’m speaking about Nolan Arenado.

Speaking of Bogaerts, he had huge fall. His last two full seasons he socked 45 and 52 doubles, an average of 48.5 a season. He hit just 34 this years.

There were six men to hit 40 doubles. Three of them failed to reach 20 homers: Whit Merrifield (42/10), Jeimer Candelario (42/16) and Tommy Edman (41/11).

The most doubles for someone who failed to hit 10 homers was J.P. Crawford with 37 two-baggers and nine homers. Adam Frazier went 5/36.

Castellanos lost 21 doubles dropping to 38. That’s a three year low (full season) as he hit 46 back in 2018. He hit 34 homers in 2021, his first season with more than 27.

Paul Goldschmidt hit 36 doubles. He’s averaged 38 doubles per 162 games in his career. His best is 43 but he has eight years of at least 33.

Bryce Harper led the way with a career best 42. He had never hit more than 38 previously and his career best for homers is also 42.

J.D. Martinez also had 42 to tie for the AL lead with Merrifield. That was the first season with more than 37 doubles for JDM while it was the third season of 40 for Merrifield who now has campaigns of 41, 42 and 43.

Cedric Mullins had 37 doubles in his breakout season. He had hit 13 doubles his first 418 big-league plate appearances.

Matt Olson had a career best 35 doubles and a career best 39 homers.

Bryan Reynolds hit 35 doubles. He hit 37 doubles as a rookie.

Marcus Semien hit 39 doubles leaving him just short of going 40/40 (he had 45 homers). He went 40/30 in 2019 with 43 doubles and 33 homers.