Triple Threats: Crawford, Reyes Bring Three-Base Excitement

Announcer Dave Baker proclaimed after pitcher Greg Maddux hit a triple that it "replaced the Kentucky Derby as the most exciting two minutes in sports." However, most triples are hit by speedsters who turn a double into a three-base hit. And all Maddux jokes aside, the sight of a runner gunning for third is easily one of the most breath-taking plays in baseball. Baseball fans are blessed, as we are entering a triples revival this decade, thanks to the exploits of Carl Crawford and Jose Reyes.

The duo led their respective league in triples in both 2005 and 2006, becoming just the fourth twosome to accomplish that feat since the dawn of the American League in 1901. Lance Johnson and Brett Butler were the last to accomplish that feat, when they turned the trick in the 1993-94 seasons. Before that, one has to go back to 1974-75 seasons, when Mickey Rivers and Ralph Garr topped the leader boards. And the first time it had ever been done was in the 1954-55 seasons, when Minnie Minoso and Willie Mays were atop the triples charts.

Crawford has led the American League in triples three straight seasons, becoming just the sixth player in Major League Baseball history to accomplish the feat. Elmer Flick 1905-07, Sam Crawford 1913-15, Zoilo Versalles 1963-65, Garry Templeton 1977-79 and Lance Johnson 1991-94 were the others. Despite being just 25-years old, Crawford is ninth among active players with 65 triples. Cristian Guzman, 29, is the only other player in the top 10 under age 33.

Reyes has led the league in both runs and triples the past two seasons, just the third player in Major League Baseball history to achieve that feat. George Sisler was the first to post the runs-triples double-double in back-to-back seasons, when he led in both categories in 1921-22. Snuffy Stirnweiss did it during the war years, when he did it in 1944-45. Reyes also finished fourth in the league in runs, the best showing in the combined categories of triples, stolen bases and runs since Lou Brock in 1968.