Jose Reyes of the New York Mets dives in to 3rd base for a triple against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
On Tuesday, the Mets' Jose Reyes hit his 15th triple of the 2011 season.
Triples, though exciting to watch, aren't well-remembered statistics. Few know the season triples record (36, set by Chief Wilson of the Pirates in 1912, in Forbes Field, which had a huge outfield well suited to triples). Fewer still know that the single-season leaderboard is dominated by dates before 1930.
Since 1945, only one player has hit more than 22 triples in a season -- Curtis Granderson, who hit 23 in 2007 for the Tigers. Only six other players have even hit 20 since that end of World War II year: Jimmy Rollins, 20 in 2007; Cristian Guzman, 20 in 2000; Lance Johnson, who hit 20 in 1996; Willie Wilson, who hit 21 in the Royals' World Championship year, 1985; Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 20 in 1979, and Hall of Famer Willie Mays, with 21 in 1957.
And here stands Jose Reyes, who hit 19 in 2008 and is threatening to hit the 20 mark by the All-Star break, and who is on pace for the first 30-triple season in 99 years. For a recent comparison, after 80 games in 2007, Granderson also had 15.
Can Reyes do it?
Poll
Can Jose Reyes keep up his triples pace and maybe even hit 30 this year?
Sure! He's a great hitter with extraordinary speed having a career year. (37 votes)
No way. 30 triples? Are you nuts? (22 votes)
59 total votes
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