AboutTom Schott Expertise I will deal with the major leagues only from 19th century to present. I`m good on baseball history, records, statistics, ballparks. Try to stick to on-the-field stuff. I`m not interested in personal off-the-field stuff like spouses, girl friends, drug habits, salaries, mascots, etc. If you already know the answer to the question, please don't ask it. I don't want to play "stump the expert."
Experience I've written on the subject, and I have substantial library of resources.
Publications Numerous encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine articles. One book, several book chapters.
Question QUESTION: When was the first Triple Crown Award recognized? Also, is there an actual award? I know Mickey Mantle's 1956 trophy was auctioned off in 1999 for $200,000 +. Have all triple crown winners received an award or is it simply an honor?
ANSWER: David,
According to information I've been able to discover, there is no physical award. A triple crown is an honor. I don't know anything about the Mantle trophy. Perhaps it was given by the team or privately. (If you know the origin, I would appreciate your letting me know.) Triple crown has been recognized throughout baseball history.
QUESTION: I'll see if I can find out more re: Mantle's trophy. Re: baseball's recognition of triple crowns throughout history, are you saying that Hugh Duffy received triple crown recognition in 1894?
Answer I guess that would depend on how you define "recognition." Today guys get curtain calls for almost anything. Anything and everything some player does is "recognized" today: special announcements at the park, newspaper, ESPN. I doubt if Hugh Duffy received that kind of recognition, as indeed, some of the people who followed him in this rare honor. But you can be sure of this: the players knew it and respected it, and so did close followers of the game like you and I.
