Everyone knows that A-rod is compiling mighty stats but do people truly understand the magnitude of the season he is currently undertaking? He is leading almost all offensive stats in the majors. Here's a complete rundown of A-Rod and his current standings in all of Major League Baseball.Average: 23rd, .313 to .362 (Magglio)
Hits: 21st, 114 to 138 (Ichiro)
OBP: 9th, .414 to .497 (Bonds)
XBH: 2nd, 59 to 61 (Utley)
SLUG: 1st, .662 to .614 (Howard)
OPS: 1st, 1.077 to 1.067 (Bonds)
Runs: 1st, 94 to 86 (Sheffield)
RBI: 1st, 100 to 85 (Morneau)
HR: 1st, 34 to 30 (Prince)
Those last three are what I want to focus on. As rare as the triple crown is, being first in the AL or NL in the three categories of runs, rbi and HRs is almost as rare. And to lead the entire major leagues in these three categories is even more rare.
The last person to accomplish this feat in their respective league was Mike Schmidt in the strike shortened 1981 season and he was far surpassed in runs scored by Ricky Henderson if you combine the leagues. In 1967 Yaz won the triple crown but was barely nipped in runs scored by Hank Aaron and Lou Brock over in the NL so he pulled off the AL R,RBI, and HR titles. The year prior in '66 Frank Robinson won the triple crown but he was again thwarted by Hank Aaron on the other side, this time by 5 rbi. In 1963 Hank Aaron led the NL in all categories but lost out on homers to Harmon Killebrew by 1.
So who was the last person to lead all major league baseball in the categories of runs, rbi and homers? Roger Maris during his 1961 61 home run season. And even then he didn't win each category outright. He tied Mickey Mantle with 132 runs scored and Orlando Cepeda with 142 rbi.The last to win it outright in both leagues? Mickey Mantle in 1956 with 52 homers, 132 runs and 130 rbi. Arod is on pace to blast by all those marks, but to Micks credit he won the Triple Crown that year as well. So it's time for you to pick up that average Arod, you slacker.
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