Triple and SB Fun II - Hustlers

Along the same lines as my doubles and triples post, you'd expect a guy with a lot of triples to steal some bases. And then there's Dale Long.

In 1955, the year before his famous 8-game home run streak, Long did something pretty weird. He hit 13 triples to lead the league...but did not steal a base all year! Joe DiMaggio actually did something similar five years earlier, stealing no bases (no surprise so late in his career), but still legging out 10 three-baggers. In fact, in his last three years, he hit 20 without a stolen base. Oddly enough, Long also did the reverse seven years later, stealing six bases while hitting zero triples! The last "modern" time this was done was by good ol' Roy Howell in 1980, who hit nine and never even attempted a steal! Here's the complete list, since 1950.

Name	Year	3B	SB	CS
Dale Long	1955	13	0	1
Joe DiMaggio	1950	10	0	0
Vic Power	1955	10	0	2
Jerry Lumpe	1962	10	0	2
Roy Howell	1980	9	0	0
Bill Mazeroski	1962	9	0	3
Billy Goodman	1956	8	0	3
Gene Woodling	1951	8	0	4
Dick Stuart	1961	8	0	3
Gil McDougald	1959	8	0	3
Bill Howerton	1950	8	0	0
Mickey Vernon	1955	8	0	4
Walt Dropo	1950	8	0	0

How about over a career? Well, here, our heroes are Russ Nixon and Dick Stuart. Nixon hit 19 triples over 12 seasons and never stole a base. Not one. Even by mistake. Stuart hustled for 30 three-baggers during his 10 seasons, while compiling a measly two thefts. These guys were hustlers. Here's my list of all-time hustlers, based on triples and stolen bases.

Name	First Yr	3B	SB	SB Pct
Roberto Clemente	1955	166	83	64%
Brooks Robinson	1955	68	28	56%
Ernie Banks	1953	90	50	49%
Willie Stargell	1962	55	17	52%
Bill Skowron	1954	53	16	47%
Wade Boggs	1982	61	24	41%
Gus Bell	1950	66	30	49%
Joe Torre	1961	59	23	44%
Bill Mazeroski	1956	62	27	54%

No big surprises. I suppose you could say that a lot of them were both great hitters and baserunners who found a lot of gaps. Though, with the possible exception of Clemente, they didn't have great judgement when it came to steals. (well, maybe there were a lot of busted hit-and-runs...) I'd be curious how many times they were thrown out at third.

How about for a team? Here are the ones that had more triples than stolen bases since 1970, when teams began stealing at a "modern" clip.

Team	Year	3B	SB	3B/SB
PIT	1973	44	23	1.91
DET	1972	32	17	1.88
TOR	1978	39	28	1.39
DET	1970	38	29	1.31
CHA	1977	52	42	1.24
BOS	1984	45	38	1.18
MIN	1982	44	38	1.16
DET	1973	32	28	1.14
CHN	1970	44	39	1.13
DET	1971	38	35	1.09
BOS	1983	32	30	1.07
NYN	1975	34	32	1.06
PIT	1970	70	66	1.06
MIN	1981	36	34	1.06

The 1973 Pirates hold that mark, finishing third in the majors with 44 triples, but dead last in steals, with only 23 all season. Those early 70's Tigers were also a bunch of slow hustlers, stealing an expansion-era low 17 bases in 1972 while still hitting more triples than 13 other teams...including Texas, which led the AL with 127 steals, but finished dead last in three-baggers, with a mere 18. Huh? A nice segue for the next post...