What Has Happened to the Big Boppers?

You Know... The Sultans of Swat, the Kings of clout, the Big Bashers, OR, in days gone past" The Colossus of Clout, 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 homeruns 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 belt 61 home runs and break the Babes long standing record. Mr Maris ended his career with 275 taters to his credit. The 1960's were a great time for great baseball players, during this era Hammerin' Hank Aaron hit most of his 755 career homeruns to take the all time record. Mr consistency never hit more than 47 Dingers in a season.

In the 1990's and early 2000s we witnessed Slammin Sammy Sosa hit 63, 64, & 66 Homeruns in separate seasons and now sits with 609 lifetime. Is he done? wait and see. During this period of long balls Mark McGwire hit 65 and 70 homeruns and left the game with a total of 583 fly aways.

Most recently, Most baseball fans are aware of Barry Bonds hitting 73 Home runs in a single season and taking the all time record with 762 round trippers.* Of course with an asterisk.

So where does that leave todays followers of the power play? In 2007 A-Rod hit 54, Prince Fielder 50, Ryan Howard 47, Carlos Pena 46 and Adam Dunn 40. In 2008 Ryan Howard hit 48 homeruns. He has 177 in 5 seasons. Adam Dunn again hit 40 giving him 278 in 8 seasons. A-Rod had 40, giving him 553, and at his young age, he has the best shot at reaching for763 big Blasts.

The top Homerun Kings as of today, including three active players looks 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 pitchers FEAR today include Vladimir Guererro, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, and David Ortiz.

So Why have only six players ever hit 60 or more homeruns in a season?? And no one in the past few years?? Let's just say it takes a combination of talent, focus and an eye for the right pitch coupled with the right swing, at the right moment, day after day, throughout a 162 game schedule. Probably a Homerun out of every 10 at bats. And then we have the 'S' factor. Three of the players in this category have been suspected of using steroids.


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