Triple Crown

[Coach Goose]

Has there been anyone who has won the Triple Crown in both National & American leagues?

[WharfRat]

Nope. I wonder how close anyone has come?

Edit: Nevermind, I just answered my own question. Most guys who have done it (in batting) spent most of their careers in one league, ending any shot at doing it in both. From what I can tell, Nap Lajoie came "closest," although that's relative. He won the AL Triple Crown in 1901. Prior to that he'd played in the NL at the start of his career, and in 1897 he was Top-5 in RBI and HR and top-10 in BA. The following year he led the league in RBIs but was pretty far back in BA and HRs. So these two years seem to be the closest anyone has ever gotten.

I haven't looked at Pitching.

[Coach Goose]

Thanks, how about two guys who won the Triple Crown in the same year. One National One American

[WharfRat]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/triple_crowns.shtml

(Foxx and Klein in '33)

[Coach Goose]

.

[Coach Goose]

Thanks again

[Tavish]

Nope. I wonder how close anyone has come?

Edit: Nevermind, I just answered my own question. Most guys who have done it (in batting) spent most of their careers in one league, ending any shot at doing it in both. From what I can tell, Nap Lajoie came "closest," although that's relative. He won the AL Triple Crown in 1901. Prior to that he'd played in the NL at the start of his career, and in 1897 he was Top-5 in RBI and HR and top-10 in BA. The following year he led the league in RBIs but was pretty far back in BA and HRs. So these two years seem to be the closest anyone has ever gotten.

I haven't looked at Pitching.

Frank Robinson was probably the closest, he won the AL Triple Crown in 66 and back in 1962 he was .004 from leading in BA (finished 2nd), 3rd in HR, and 2nd RBI.

Randy Johnson came about as close as you can get for pitchers. He won the NL Triple Crown in 2002 and in 1995 he was 2 Wins short of winning it for the M's (led in ERA and K's).