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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 (see error) or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.

Typically, a double is a well-hit ball into the outfield that finds the "gap" between the center fielder and one of the corner outfielders, or bounces off the outfield wall and down into the field of play or is hit up one of the two foul lines. To hit many doubles, one must have decent hitting skill and power; it helps to also run well enough to beat an outfield throw.

Doubles typically drive in runs from third base, second base, and even from first base at times. When total bases and slugging percentages are calculated, the number two is used for the calculation. The all time leader in double hits is Tris Speaker with 792.

A two-base hit awarded by an umpire when a batted ball is hit fairly and bounces out of play is referred to as an automatic double. The batter is awarded second base and any runners advance two bases from the base they occupied at the time of the pitch. Prior to 1931, such hits were considered as home runs.

A two-base hit awarded because the batter hit into a special situation defined in the ground rules is a ground rule double. An example of this occurs where the rules of Wrigley Field (Chicago, Illinois) award a ground rule double if a batted ball hangs in the vines on the outfield bleacher wall. The rules of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis, Minnesota) awarded a ground rule double if the ball became stuck in the ceiling.

Double leaders in Major League Baseball[]

Career[]

  1. Tris Speaker - 792
  2. Pete Rose - 746
  3. Stan Musial - 725
  4. Ty Cobb - 724
  5. Craig Biggio - 668
  6. George Brett - 665
  7. Nap Lajoie - 657
  8. Carl Yastrzemski - 646
  9. Honus Wagner - 640
  10. Hank Aaron - 624

The current active leader is Luis Gonzalez with 572 doubles.

Season[]

  1. Earl Webb (1931) - 67
  2. George Burns (1926) - 64
  3. Joe Medwick (1936) - 64
  4. Hank Greenberg (1934) - 63
  5. Paul Waner (1932) - 62
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