You know … The Sultans of Swat, the Kings of Influence, the Big Bashers, Or, in days gone by “The Colossus of Influence, Hammerin Hank, the Rajah, the Bash Brothers, Big Mac, Mr October, the Big Hurt and Slammin Sammy.

Let’s start in 1927: Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in a 154-game season. A record that stood for 34 years. The Babe hit 714 Homeruns in his career. In 1961, in a 162-game season, an unknown, at the time, Roger Maris, came on the scene to score 61 home runs and break Babes’ long-standing record. Maris finished her career with 275 taters to her credit. The 1960s was a great time for great baseball players, during this era Hammerin ‘Hank Aaron hit the majority of his 755 career home runs to take the all-time record. Mr consistency never hit more than 47 Dingers in one season.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, we witnessed Slammin Sammy Sosa hit 63, 64, and 66 Homeruns in separate seasons and now has 609 for life. Is over? Wait and see. During this long passing period, Mark McGwire hit 65 and 70 home runs and left the game with a total of 583 flights.

More recently, most baseball fans know that Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in a single season and took the all-time record with 762 rounds. * Of course, with an asterisk.

So where does that leave current followers of the power game? In 2007 A-Rod hit 54, Prince Fielder 50, Ryan Howard 47, Carlos Peña 46 and Adam Dunn 40. In 2008 Ryan Howard hit 48 home runs. He has 177 in 5 seasons. Adam Dunn again scored 40 giving him 278 in 8 seasons. A-Rod was 40, giving him 553, and at his young age, he has the best chance of hitting 763 Great Blasts.

The best Homerun Kings as of today, including three active players, look like this; Barry Bonds 762 *, Hank Aaron 755, Babe Ruth 714, Willie Mays 660, Ken GRIFFEY Jr 611, Sammy Sosa 609, Frank Robinson 586, Mark McGwire 583, A-ROD 553 and Jim Thome 541. Some other long ball threats that FEAR pitchers today include Vladimir Guererro, Manny Ramírez, Albert Pujols and David Ortiz.

So why have only six players hit 60 or more home runs in a season? And nobody in recent years? Let’s say it takes a combination of talent, focus, and a keen eye for the right throw along with the right swing, at the right time, day after day, throughout a 162-game schedule. Probably one Homerun out of 10 at-bats. And then we have the ‘S’ factor. Three of the players in this category are suspected of using steroids.

HOMERUN is one of the most exciting aspects of America’s pastime. Perhaps this will be next year when baseball fans can cheer on a home run matchup that results in the next player hitting 60 or more Homeruns in a season.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *