Coaker Triplett
Encyclopedia
Herman Coaker Triplett was a backup outfielder
in Major League Baseball
, playing mainly as a left fielder
for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 185 lb., Triplett batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Boone, North Carolina
.
Basically a line-drive hitter and a good fielding replacement, Triplett was one of many players who only appeared in the majors during World War II
. He debuted with the Chicago Cubs
, playing for them briefly during the 1938 season before joining the St. Louis Cardinals
(1941-1943) and Philadelphia Phillies
(1943-1945). His most productive season came in 1943, when he hit a collective .260 batting average
with 56 runs batted in in 114 games, ending fourth in the National League
with 15 home run
s and fifth with a .439 slugging percentage.
In a six-season career, Triplett was a .256 hitter (334-for-1307) with 27 home runs and 173 RBI in 470 games, including 148 runs
, 47 doubles
, 14 triples
, 10 stolen base
s, and a .320 on-base percentage.
Triplett resumed his baseball career with the Buffalo Bisons
of the International League
, hitting .306 in 1946, .315 in 1947, and .353 in 1948 to win the league batting title. He added 22 home runs in 1949 and a .337 average in 1950. The next year, he replaced Specs Toporcer
as Buffalo's manager
during the midseason, as Toporcer's eyesight had declined.
Triplett died in his homeland of Boone, North Carolina, at the age of 80.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, playing mainly as a left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 185 lb., Triplett batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Boone, North Carolina
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
.
Basically a line-drive hitter and a good fielding replacement, Triplett was one of many players who only appeared in the majors during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He debuted with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, playing for them briefly during the 1938 season before joining the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1941-1943) and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1943-1945). His most productive season came in 1943, when he hit a collective .260 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 56 runs batted in in 114 games, ending fourth in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with 15 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and fifth with a .439 slugging percentage.
In a six-season career, Triplett was a .256 hitter (334-for-1307) with 27 home runs and 173 RBI in 470 games, including 148 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 47 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 14 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 10 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and a .320 on-base percentage.
Triplett resumed his baseball career with the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons (disambiguation)
The following sports teams from Buffalo, New York went by the name Bisons:Baseball* Buffalo Bisons, current baseball team in the International League* Buffalo Bisons , former baseball team in the National League from 1879-85....
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, hitting .306 in 1946, .315 in 1947, and .353 in 1948 to win the league batting title. He added 22 home runs in 1949 and a .337 average in 1950. The next year, he replaced Specs Toporcer
Specs Toporcer
George Toporczer [played as Toporcer] was a professional baseball player and executive. He served primarily as a utility infielder during his eight seasons in Major League Baseball, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1921 through 1928. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
as Buffalo's manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
during the midseason, as Toporcer's eyesight had declined.
Triplett died in his homeland of Boone, North Carolina, at the age of 80.
Facts
- In his college years at Appalachian StateAppalachian State UniversityAppalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
, Triplett was a high-scoring football halfbackHalfback (American football)A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and baseball team captain. - In 1976 gained induction into the Appalachian State Hall of Fame. He also is a member of the Buffalo Bisons Hall of Fame and Watauga Sports Hall of Fame.