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Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera became the first MLB Triple Crown winner since 1967 on Wednesday night, as he finished the 2012 season with the American League lead in batting average (.330), home runs (44) and RBIs (139). How exclusive is the Triple Crown club? Cabrera is only the 15th player to win the Triple Crown in MLB history. The list includes Hall of Fame players like Carl Yastrzemski, Frank Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Joe Medwick, Lou Gehrig, Chuck Klein, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie.
This rare statistical achievement highlights the broad talents Cabrera possesses at the plate, and his raw numbers rank among the very best of the Triple Crown winners in the modern era:
| Year | Player | Position | Team | League | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Miguel Cabrera | Third baseman | Detroit Tigers | AL | 44 | 139 | 0.33 |
| 1967 | Carl Yastrzemski | Left fielder | Boston Red Sox | AL | 44 | 121 | 0.326 |
| 1966 | Frank Robinson | Right fielder | Baltimore Orioles | AL | 49 | 122 | 0.316 |
| 1956 | Mickey Mantle§ | Center fielder | New York Yankees | AL | 52* | 130* | .353* |
| 1947 | Ted Williams | Left fielder | Boston Red Sox | AL | 32 | 114 | 0.343 |
| 1942 | Ted Williams | Left fielder | Boston Red Sox | AL | 36* | 137* | .356* |
| 1937 | Joe Medwick | Left fielder | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 31 | 154 | 0.374 |
| 1934 | Lou Gehrig | First baseman | New York Yankees | AL | 49* | 165* | .363* |
| 1933 | Jimmie Foxx§ | First baseman | Philadelphia Athletics | AL | 48 | 163 | 0.356 |
| 1933 | Chuck Klein | Right fielder | Philadelphia Phillies | NL | 28 | 120 | 0.368 |
| 1925 | Rogers Hornsby | Second baseman | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 39* | 143* | .403* |
| 1922 | Rogers Hornsby | Second baseman | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 42 | 152 | 0.401 |