The obvious questions is are there any players that have finished with more home runs than strikeouts. The obvious answer is yes, plenty of times. Al Simmons, Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mel Ott, and the list goes on and on. A better question is are there any players that have hit more than 50 home runs and struck out less than 50 times.

That list shrinks down to one, his name was Johhny Mize. Eclipsing the 40 home run palteau three times in his career he would hit 50 home runs while striking out only 42 times in 1947. The future Hall of Famer  would have 138 runs batted in and 137 runs scored with a .302/.384/.614. So, while a handful can claim they have matched strikeouts to home runs for a season, only the great Johnny Mize can say he did it with 50 home runs.

This Day in Baseball
September 25th

1955
At the age of 20, Al Kaline becomes the youngest player to win a batting title. The Tigers’ outfielder finishes the season with .340 average.

1965
At the alleged age of 60, Satchel Paige becomes the oldest player ever to appear in a major league game. Pitching for the Kansas City A’s, he blanks the Red Sox for three innings striking out one and giving up just one hit to Carl Yastrzemski.

1965
At age 34, Willie Mays becomes the oldest player to slug 50 home runs in a seasons. Giant center fielder was also the youngest to accomplish the feat hitting 51 homers in 1955.

1997
NBC’s hit TV show “ER” airs live and includes the Cubs telecast in the background of various scenes to authenticate its claim of not being pre-recorded. The medical drama cuts to the game just as Brad Ausmus hits a three-run homer much to the delight of the Astros’ catcher who is taping his favorite program to watch later, not knowing he would be part of the cast.

1998
Ken Griffey, Jr. hits his league-leading 56th homer of the season and 350th of his career becoming the youngest player ever to reach the milestone.

25 major league players have hit 50 or more home runs in a season with more than half coming in the last 15 years. And, just over 100 ball players have stolen 50 or more bases in a season. Brady Anderson and Barry Bonds are the only two players who have hit 50 home runs and stolen 50 bases in a single season (not the same season). Ironically, both players have only broke the 50 home run total and 50 stolen base barrier once throughout their career.

This Date in Baseball
September 23rd

1916
Allowing only just one walk during a twin bill with the Cincinnati Reds, Grover Alexander of the Phillies wins both ends of a doubleheader (7-3 and 4-0) to establish an National League record. The future Hall of Famer will repeat the feat on September 3, 1917 against the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) at Ebbets Field.

1988
Jose Canseco of the A’s becomes baseball’s first 40-40 player when he swipes his 39th and 40th base in a 14-inning victory over the Brewers, 9-8.

1998
By stealing second base, Craig Biggio becomes the first player since Tris Speaker in 1912 to have 50 stolen bases and 50 doubles in the same season.

2000
Joining Frank Robinson, Devil Rays’ Fred McGriff becomes only the second player in major league history to hit 200 homers in both the American and National League.

2006
At Camden Yards, Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons hits a foul ball straight back over the screen that hits a fan in the rib cage. The injured patron is the batter’s wife, Laura.

And while we repeatedly agree to disagree on the best player of all time we repeatedly agree to disagree on the best season of all time. With that said I can just give you the facts. And the fact is that Rogers Hornsby remains the only player ever to have a batting average higher than .400 and a slugging percentage higher than .750. Babe Ruth fell just short in 1923 with a .393 average and Ted Williams fell just short in 1941 with a .735 slugging percentage.

This Day in Baseball

1968
After being no-hit yesterday by Giants’ hurler Gaylord Perry, the Cardinal hurler Ray Washburn returns the favor by no-hitting San Francisco, 2-0.

1984
With a 3-0 victory over Milwaukee, the Tigers clinch the American League East title to become only the fourth team in major league history to lead from start to finish of a season. The other three clubs to accomplish the feat include the 1923 Giants, 1927 Yankees, and the 1955 Dodgers.

1996
Roger Clemens ties his own record for strikeouts in game by mowing down 20 Tigers in the Red Sox 4-0 victory in Detroit. The ‘Rocket’ first achieved the feat a decade earlier against the Mariners.

1999
Slammin’ Sammy Sosa becomes the first player in major league history to hit 60 homers twice. The Cub outfielder hits his milestone round-tripper off of Brewer hurler Jason Bere.

2006
The Dodgers, who are last in the National League in homers, hit four consecutive home runs in an inning when Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew, Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson all go deep in the bottom of the ninth to tie the Padres at the nine. The improbable feat, which had only been accomplished by the 1964 Twins, 1963 Indians and the 1961 Braves, leads to Nomar Garciaparra’s walk-off two-run homer in the tenth and sole possession of first place as the Los Angeles beat the Friars 11-10.

But in his hay-day this 15 time all-star and 5 time gold glove winner could steal some bases. From 1984 through 1989, Gywnn would average just under 35 stolen bases per season with a career high of 56 in 1987.

This Day in Baseball

1977
With a third-inning round-tripper off Jim Crawford at Tiger Stadium, Yankees DH Dave Kingman becomes the first player to homer for four different teams in one season. The much-traveled veteran will hit a total of 26 home runs this year playing for the Mets (9), Padres (11), Angels (2), and the Bronx Bombers (4).

1981
Dodger rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela sets the National League rookie mark with his eighth shutout of the season. The record had been shared by Irv Young (1905), Grover Alexander (1911) and Jerry Koosman (1968).

1984
Dwight Gooden ties a major league record with 32 strikeouts in two consecutive games striking out 16 Phillies in a 2-1 loss at Veterans Stadium.

1998
At the age of 107, Chet Hoff, dies in Daytona Beach, Florida giving the southpaw the longest life span of any major leaguer. ‘Red’ played for the New York Highlanders in (1911-13) and St. Louis Browns (1915) compiling a 2-4, 2.49 record before WW I ended his playing career.

2007
Marc Ecko, who made millions from his brand of clothing, announces on the Today Show, he is giving the public the opportunity to vote on the fate of Barry Bonds’ record-breaking home run ball. The 35-year old fashion designer, who paid $752,467 for the ball at an online auction, has set up a website, www.vote756.com, which gives the fans the option of voting to (1) send the ball directly to Cooperstown, (2) branding it with an asterisk before sending it to the Hall of Fame or (3) putting the ball on a rocket ship and launching it into outer space.

Davis would be voted an all-star and eventually win a gold glove and silver slugger award that same year.

This Day in Baseball

1883
Tommy Burns and Ned Williamson of the National League’s Chicago White Stockings both score three runs in the seventh inning to establish a major league record which still stands today.

1924
Jim Bottomley goes 6-for-6, including two homers, and bats in a record 12 runs as the Cardinals beat the Dodgers, 17-3. The previous mark of 11 RBIs in one game was established in 1892 by today’s opposing Dodger manager, Wilbert Robinson.

1940
In a 16-4 Browns rout of the Yankees at Sportsman’s Park, Johnny Lucadello becomes the first player in big league history to hit his first two career home runs from different sides of the plate in the same game. The 21-year old second baseman will hit just three more home runs during his six-year career.

1975
Rennie Stennett ties a major league mark established in 1892 with his 7-for-7 performance in a nine-inning game. The Pirates’ second baseman gets two hits in one inning twice, the first and fifth frames, in the Bucs’ 22-0 rout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the most one-sided shutout since 1900.

2002
Diamondback righty Curt Schilling K’s his 300th victim to join Randy Johnson in becoming the first teammates to each strike out at least 300 batters in the same season.

Biggio remains the only player to hit 50 doubles, steal 50 bases and hit 20 home runs in the same season. The only other player to reach 40 doubles, 50 stolen bases and 20 home runs is Hanley Ramirez who did so in 2007. Is Biggio a Hall of Famer?

This Day in Baseball
1904
Beating the Braves, 3-2, Giant hurler George Wiltse runs his career record to 12-0. ‘Hooks’ dozen consecutive victories establishes the record for the most wins at the start of a career for a starter.

1929
Between games of a twinbill, Cincinnati enterain fans by sponsoring a base-circling contest with the winning player recieving $75 in prize money. Evar Swanson breaks Hans Lobart’s record of 13.8 seconds set earlier in the year as he completes the 360 foot dash 13.3 seconds, according to official AAU timers who officiated the race.

1950
At Ebbets Field, Cardinal starter, Cloyd Boyer, hurts his arm while warming up and is replaced by Red Munger. The reliever goes the distance beating the Dodgers, 6-2, getting credit for a complete game, but not for a game started.

1979
After hitting a single in the second, a double in the fourth, and tripling in eighth, Bob Watson completes a natural cycle with a home run the in ninth inning of the Red Sox 10-2 victory over Baltimore at memorial Stadium. The Boston first baseman becomes the first modern major leaguer to hit for the cycle in both leagues having accomplished the feat with Houston in 1977.

2003
With his 2,063rd career base on balls, Barry Bonds passes Babe Ruth all-time walks list. The Giant left fielder now only trails Rickey Henderson, who has 2,190 free passes.

This Day in Baseball

1941
With his 6-5 victory over New York at Sportsman’s Park, Cardinals right-hander Howie Krist finishes the season, 10-0. Spud’s perfect season establishes a National League record for the most wins in season by a pitcher without a defeat.

1951
In a 9-6 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, rookie Bob Nieman hits consecutive dingers off Mickey McDermott becoming the first player to hit home runs in his first two career at bats in the majors.

1986
Giant third baseman Bob Brenly, usually a catcher, ties a major league record by making four errors in one inning, but makes amends by hitting two home runs, including the ninth inning game-winner, as San Francisco beats the Braves at Candlestick Park, 7-6.

1987
The Blue Jays blast a major league record of ten home runs in an 18-3 rout of the Orioles at Camden Yards.

1990
Mariner Ken Griffey and his son, Junior, become the first father and son to hit homers in the same major league game. The back-to-back blasts are given up by Angel hurler Kirk McCaskill.

1998
At Kauffman Stadium, the Royals become the fifth team in baseball history to score in every inning. The eight innings of consistency leads to 16-6 win over the A’s.

To put things into perspective, only 20 players in the history of baseball have hit.366 or higher in two or more seasons throughout a career. The “Georgia Peach” did so 14 times in his career, almost double the next closest player Rogers Hornsby, who did so 8 times. Perhaps this explains why he received the most votes of any player in the inaugural Hall of Fame Ballot…more votes than Cy Young, more than Honus Wagner, more votes than Christy Mathewson, and even more votes than Babe Ruth.

Baseball specialists gauge power by looking at slugging percentage and speed by looking at stolen bases. Since Alexander Cartwright invented the game there have been three players who for a season stole 40 or more bases and had a slugging percentage north of .600; Barry Bonds, George Sisler and Ty Cobb. But in 1911 Ty Cobb became the first and only player with a slugging percentage higher than .600 with 80 or more stolen bases. His 83 stolen bases doubled the total for Bonds (40) and nearly doubled the total for Sisler (42).

Unfortunately, Chuck Klein passed away in 1958, 22 years before he would eventually be elected into the Hall of Fame by the veterans committee.

Babe Ruth is regarded by many as the best player to ever step onto a major league field. He has the highest career wins above replacement player (WAR), highest slugging percentage (SLG), highest on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), and the list goes on and one.

As far as individual season accomplishments are concerned he remains the only player to hit 60 or more home runs and maintain a .350 batting average. I think this is difficult to us to grasp because most players that we have grown up with specialize in batting for average or batting for power.

His 1927 season would be like combining an Ishiro Suziki with a Ryan Howard (forgive me for using Howard but with the exception of the steroids era he is the only player to hit 58 home runs in the last 45 years). Realistically, only Ruth and Marris have reached 60 home runs as far as I am concerned.

Albert Pujols, who is by far the best hitter in baseball since I stepped foot on the planet, has reached the .350 batting average plateau twice in his career. But he has never reached the 50 home run plateau let along the highly coveted 60 home run mark. This is why many consider Ruth the best player to ever step foot on a diamond.