As the Cubs’ Derrek Lee pursues a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since 1967, here’s a look at the last five players–all in the Hall of Fame–to lead their league in batting average, home runs and RBIs.
1. Carl Yastrzemski,
Red Sox
1967: .326-44-121
Yaz was the AL’s Most Valuable Player as the Red Sox advanced to the World Series, losing to St. Louis in seven games. This was the only season he led the league in homers and RBIs in his 23-year career. He was a three-time batting champ.
2. Frank Robinson, Orioles
1966: .316-49-122
He was named AL MVP in his first season in Baltimore after spending 10 years in Cincinnati. The Orioles swept the Dodgers to win the World Series. Other than ’66, Robinson never led the league in a Triple Crown category in 21 seasons.
3. Mickey Mantle,
Yankees
1956: .353-52-130
On the way to the Yankees topping the Dodgers 4-3 in the Series, the switch-hitter was named MVP. He led the league four times in homers, but his only batting and RBI titles in 18 years came in ’56.
4. Ted Williams,
Red Sox
1947: .343-32-114
1942: .356-36-137
The .344 lifetime hitter finished second in MVP voting to a Yankee in both seasons (Joe DiMaggio in ’47, Joe Gordon in ’42). He won six batting titles in 19 years–hitting .406 in 1941 when he also led in homers but was fourth in RBIs–and led in HRs and RBIs four times. He did win MVP awards in ’46 and ’49.
5. Joe Medwick,
Cardinals
1937: .374-31-154
The last of seven NL winners (Hornsby won it in ’22 and ’25) also sandwiched RBI titles in ’36 and ’38 around his lone MVP season. The 10-time All-Star didn’t finish higher than fourth in homers in any of his 16 other seasons.
