While it fails to explain why others did not capitalize on it to the degree that Wilson did in 1912, nor why Wilson never came anywhere close to the record in any other season, it should be pointed out that the Pirates were playing in Forbes Field and it was 462 feet to centerfield, 376 feet to the rightfield corner, 360 feet to the leftfield corner. There was an awful lot of space for the ball to roll around before it could be policed by an outfielder. 24 of Wilson's 36 triples were hit in Forbes Field, 12 on the road.
Forbes was famous, even back then, for being the best triples park in baseball, while at the same time being the worst park for homeruns.
In addition, triples were easier to come by in those days because several of the venues featured outfields where rather than walls, they had roped off sections behind which were standing spectators. When a ball rolled into the crowd, it was still in play. Until 1926, Forbes Field had bleacher sections in center and leftfield, but the rope situation in right. In 1926, an outfield grandstand was built, shortening the parks enormous fair territory space. In the 17 years before that, the NL triples leader for the season had been a Pirate seven times. (Out of 8 teams) From 1909 through 1925, the Pirates led the NL in triples 8 times, finished second five times and third once. In some of those years they led by immense margins.
Some of the newer parks which have been built, have enhanced triples production, particularly in San Francisco, Houston and Cinncinatti, each featuring odd angles in outfield walls which generate hard to anticipate rebounds. But since the Polo Grounds closed, there aren't any parks remotely close to the conditions which prevailed for Wilson.
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