The following is a list of the players who hit the most triples in one game in major league baseball history. Two players hold the record, while many other players have come close to the record.
I’m listing the two players who hold the record for most triples in a game, and then giving a brief list of all the notable players who have come close to matching the record. As the number of players on the list shows, it is much harder to hit a triple in a game than a home run.
Most Triples by a Player in One Game in Major League Baseball History
T-1. George Strief (1885) – 4
On June 25, 1885, Bill Strief of the Philadelphia A’s set the major league record for most triples in a game by a player when he had four triples vs the Brooklyn Grays. George Strief was never much of a baseball player from a hitting standpoint, as he only played five years and had a career average of .208.
George Strief only had 175 at-bats during the 1885 season, and he only tripled five times that season. So he collected 80% of his triples for the year in his one record setting game. In his career, George Strief only tripled 14 times, so he collected 29% of his career triples in just one game.
T-1. Bill Joyce (1897) – 4
On May 18, 1897, Bill Joyce of the New York Giants tied the record for most triples in a game by a player when he had four triples vs the Pittsburgh Pirates. Joyce was a much better baseball player than George Strief was, as Joyce had a career average of .293.
During the 1897 season, Bill Joyce had 13 triples, so his four triples in one game accounted for 31% of his total for the season. Bill Joyce played for eight seasons, and he recorded a career total of 106 triples, so he averaged better than 13 triples a season.
Players Who Have Hit Three Triples in One Major League Baseball Game
To date, a total of 46 players have had three triples in one game since 1900. These are some of the most notable players to have hit three triples in one game.
- Joe DiMaggio
New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio hit three triples in a game played on August 27, 1938. That was three years before DiMaggio set the major league record for longest hitting streak.
- Miller Huggins
Before he became a manager and led the New York Yankees to their first three World Series titles in 1923, 1927 and 1928, Miller Huggins managed to hit three triples in a game for the Cincinnati Reds in 1904 as a player.
- Earle Combs
One of Miller Huggins players on the New York Yankees, Earle Combs, hit three triples in game during the 1927 season. Earle Combs is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, as is Miller Huggins and many other New York Yankees players and managers.
- Dave Brain
Born in Hereford, England, Dave Brain is the only player in baseball history to hit three triples in a game twice during the same season. Brain accomplished the feat in 1905, the first time for the St. Louis Cardinals, and the second time for the Pittsburgh Pirates after he was traded during the season.
- Roberto Clemente
Had three triples in a game in 1958.
- Willie Mays
Had three triples in a game in 1960.
- Ernie Banks
Had three triples in a game in 1966.
- Denard Span
Denard Span is the last player to have three triples in one game. Span accomplished the feat on June 29, 2010, for the Minnesota Twins.
