MLB is now 1/3 into the 2012 season – 54 games – and Cincinnati Reds 1B Joey Votto is on track to hit 67 doubles. That would tie him with Boston Red Sox outfielder Earl Webb, also known as “the Earl of Doublin’,” who reached that mark in 1931.
The National League record of 64 was set by Joe “Ducky” Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals of the Gas House Gang era in 1936.
The Reds have played 53 games and Votto has 22 doubles; that pace translates to 67 doubles, which would tie the ML record and set a new NL record.
Todd Helton hit 59 two baggers for the Rockies in 2000, the same year Carlos Delgado (Blue Jays) led the American League with 57. Those represent the highest totals in each league since 1936 when Medwick had his record-setting season and Charlie “The Mechanical Man “Gehringer hits 60 for the Tigers.
There have been only 3 other seasons in which a player racked up 60+ doubles:
“Tioga” George Burns for the 1926 Indians. His 64 was the standard before Webb’s still-standing record season and the first time a player reached level 60. Tris Speaker, the all-time leader with 792 doubles , had set the record of 59 in 1923.
Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg and Paul Waner hit 63 and 62 for the 1934 Detroit Tigers and 1932 Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively.
Brian Roberts became the 19th player to top 55 doubles with 59 for the 2009 Baltimore Orioles. Two players have hit 55 or higher in a season for a total of 21 seasons in MLB history.
Medwick and Billy Herman did it twice each. Medwick had 56 in 1937 as a follow-up to his record-setting NL season and Herman, the HOF second baseman for the Chicago Cubs, hit 57 in the 1935 and 1936 seasons.
Several other players are on track to hit 55 or higher this season; here are the projected totals:
Adrian Gonzalez Red Sox 60
Robinson Cano Yankees 58
Michael Cuddyer Rocky Mountains 57
David Wright Mets 56
Ian Kinsler Rangers 56
The top 5 doubles career leaders really are a cross-section of players and eras. Here are the top 5 leaders with career totals and active years:
Tris 792 loudspeaker 1907 – 1928
Pete Rose 746 1963 – 1986
Stan Musial 725 1941 – 1963
Ty Cobb 723 1905 – 1928
Craig Biggio 668 1988 – 2007
Helton and Bobby Abreu (now with the Dodgers) are the leaders among active players with 564 and 562. Both are within range of the 20th-all-time 572 doubles currently held by recently retired Ivan “Pudge.” Rodriguez.
