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 5th 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 18th (597) and then a totally forgotten man… Robinson Cano at 28th (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.