When it comes to clutch hitting in the MLB playoffs, some of the most important moments the game has seen have been doubles at pivotal moments.
Whether through a driven fly ball into the gap, a line drive down the baseline into the corner, or anything in between, sluggers like Albert Pujols and speedsters like Frank Isbell will forever be connected by their postseason two-baggers. In any era of baseball, the game’s greatest hitters have always been amongst the top of the doubles leaderboards.
Here are the greats atop the MLB postseason leaderboards whose doubles made an impact in the biggest moments.
Most Doubles in a Postseason Game: Four – Frank Isbell (1906)
Isbell of the Chicago White Sox still holds the record after accomplishing it in an 8-6 World Series victory over the crosstown Chicago Cubs on Oct. 13, 1906. The speedy second baseman, who was the majors’ stolen base leader in 1901, had five at-bats that day.
Eighteen players have hit three doubles in a postseason game, most recently Starling Marte of the New York Mets in the 2024 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Albert Pujols is the only player to accomplish the feat in two separate games, doing so in the 2011 postseason against the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers. Kike Hernandez’s three-double performance came with a single and home run in a memorable 5-for-6 night, tying the record for the most hits in a playoff game.
Most Doubles in a Postseason/World Series Game By a Team: Eight – Four Tied
Four teams have hit eight doubles in a single playoff game. The 2007 Boston Red Sox did it in Game 1 of the World Series against the Colorado Rockies, the 1906 Chicago White Sox had eight two-baggers in Game 5 of the Fall Classic against the Cubs, the 2004 New York Yankees matched the mark in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against Boston, and the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates also hit eight doubles in a 9-7 win in a matchup against the Washington Senators in Game 7 of the World Series.
Most Doubles in a Postseason/World Series Game by a Rookie: Three – Two Tied
Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox and Jim Gilliam of the Brooklyn Dodgers are tied for the record with three doubles in a playoff game. Ellsbury went 4 for 5 with the three doubles in Game 3 of the 2007 World Series against the Rockies, while Gilliam had his in Game 4 of the 1953 Fall Classic against the Yankees.
Most Doubles in a Postseason: Nine – Evan Carter (2023)
The more postseason series, the more opportunities for a player to rack up doubles. It reflects in the fact that the players with a record nine doubles in a single postseason and the four who have hit eight have done so since 2004.
After playing in just 23 career regular season games, 21-year-old rookie Evan Carter recorded a record nine doubles in the 2023 postseason. He hit three in both the ALCS and the World Series, helping propel the Texas Rangers to their first World Series title in franchise history.
The foursome with eight doubles were also on World Series-winning teams: David Freese and Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, Ben Zobrist of the Kansas City Royals in 2015 and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. Freese, who was the MVP of the NLCS and World Series, reached his great eight in the fewest plate appearances (71).
Most Doubles in a Postseason by a Rookie: Nine – Evan Carter (2023)
Carter’s postseason doubles record is also the all-time rookie record, moving him above previous record holder Yuli Gurriel who had seven doubles in the 2017 postseason with the Houston Astros.
Carter hit .300 with a home run and six RBIs while also walking 10 times in 17 playoff games during that 2023 postseason. Dustin Pedroia is third on this all-time list with the six doubles he had in 2007 with the Red Sox.
Most Career Doubles in the Postseason: 32 – Derek Jeter
The New York Yankees making the postseason 17 times in an 18-year stretch from 1995-2012 is clearly reflected in the career doubles leaderboard.
Shortstop Derek Jeter, whose 158 postseason games are the most in Major League Baseball history, leads the way with 32 doubles, followed by center fielder Bernie Williams (29) in second place and catcher Jorge Posada (23) in third.
What was perhaps Jeter’s most iconic hit wasn’t a double, but it surely should have been one. The right field umpire missed young fan Jeffrey Maier’s interference in the first game of the 1996 ALCS, allowing Jeter to circle the bases for a home run instead of the hit being ruled a ground-rule double.
David Ortiz from the rival Red Sox, ranks fourth with 22 doubles in the postseason.
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