Joe Medwick
Medwick was the last National League Triple Crown winner, capturing the 1937 award with numbers that seem almost quaint today — .374 average, 31 homers, 154 RBIs — but represented peak offensive dominance in the dead ball's twilight. The Cardinals left fielder terrorized pitchers through the Depression era, posting a career .324 average across 17 seasons while driving in 1,383 runs.
"Ducky" earned his nickname for his distinctive walk but made his reputation as the most feared contact hitter of his generation. Those 10 All-Star selections weren't ceremonial — Medwick consistently delivered when runs mattered most, exemplified by his Triple Crown season that powered St. Louis to a World Series title.
His 1968 Hall of Fame induction recognized a player who bridged baseball's eras, combining old-school line drive consistency with emerging power numbers that hinted at the game's offensive future.
Career · Batting
17 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | STL | 26 | 106 | 2 | 12 | .349 | — | — |
| 1933 | STL | 148 | 595 | 18 | 98 | .306 | — | — |
| 1934 | STL | 149 | 620 | 18 | 106 | .319 | — | — |
| 1935 | STL | 154 | 634 | 23 | 126 | .353 | — | — |
| 1936 | STL | 155 | 636 | 18 | 138 | .351 | — | — |
| 1937 | STL | 156 | 633 | 31 | 154 | .374 | — | — |
| 1938 | STL | 146 | 590 | 21 | 122 | .322 | — | — |
| 1939 | STL | 150 | 606 | 14 | 117 | .332 | — | — |
| 1940 | BRO | 143 | 581 | 17 | 86 | .301 | — | — |
| 1941 | BRO | 133 | 538 | 18 | 88 | .318 | — | — |
| 1942 | BRO | 142 | 553 | 4 | 96 | .300 | — | — |
| 1943 | NY1 | 126 | 497 | 5 | 70 | .278 | — | — |
| 1944 | NY1 | 128 | 490 | 7 | 85 | .337 | — | — |
| 1945 | BSN | 92 | 310 | 3 | 37 | .290 | — | — |
| 1946 | BRO | 41 | 77 | 2 | 18 | .312 | — | — |
| 1947 | STL | 75 | 150 | 4 | 28 | .307 | — | — |
| 1948 | STL | 20 | 19 | 0 | 2 | .211 | — | — |
| Career | 1984 | 7635 | 205 | 1383 | .324 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.