Special Report: America’s Fascination with The HR

Topping 30

Years with most players hitting 30 or more homers:

* 1996: 41

* 1998: 33

* 1997: 30

* 1987: 28

* 1995: 22

Note: In 1961, 15 players hit 30 or more homers.

Topping 40

Years with most players hitting 40 or more homers:

1996: 15

1997: 10

1961: 10

1955: 7

1969: 7

Topping 50

Years with most players hitting 50 or more homers:

1938: 2

1947: 2

1961: 2

1996: 2

1997: 2

1998: 2

Home Runs Per Game

Years with most home runs per game:

1996: 2.19

1997: 2.18

1987: 2.12

1998: 2.09

1994: 2.07

Home Runs by Decade

How 1998 compares to other modern-era baseball seasons in terms of home runs:

1901-1910

Home Runs: 3,207

Home Runs/Game: 0.28

30+ Homers: 0

40+ Homers: 0

50+ Homers: 0

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Harry Davis: 68 (6.8)

Sam Crawford: 55 (5.5)

1911-1920

Home Runs: 4,800

Home Runs/Game: 0.36

30+ Homers: 0

40+ Homers: 0

50+ Homers: 1

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Gavy Cravath: 117 (11.7)

Babe Ruth: 103 (10.3)

1921-1930

Home Runs: 10,829

Home Runs/Game: 0.89

30+ Home Runs: 38

40+ Home Runs: 15

50+ Home Runs: 4

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Babe Ruth: 462 (46.2)

Rogers Hornsby: 243 (24.3)

1931-1940

Home Runs: 13,448

Home Runs/Game: 1.09

30+ Home Runs: 59

40+ Home Runs: 16

50+ Home Runs: 3

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Jimmie Foxx: 414 (41.4)

Lou Gehrig: 306 (30.6)

1941-1950

Home Runs: 13,460

Home Runs/Game: 1.09

30+ Home Runs: 42

40+ Home Runs: 8

50+ Home Runs: 3

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Ted Williams: 239 (23.9)

Ralph Kiner: 215 (12.5)

1951-1960

Home Runs: 20,921

Home Runs/Game: 1.70

30+ Home Runs: 96

40+ Home Runs: 37

50+ Home Runs: 2

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Eddie Mathews: 338 (33.8)

Mickey Mantle: 320 (32.0)

1961-1970

Home Runs: 27,470

Home Runs/Game: 1.65

30+ Home Runs: 130

40+ Home Runs: 40

50+ Home Runs: 3

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Harmon Killebrew: 403 (40.3)

Hank Aaron: 373 (37.3)

1971-1980

Home Runs: 29,200

Home Runs/Game: 1.46

30+ Home Runs: 91

40+ Home Runs: 17

50+ Home Runs: 1

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Reggie Jackson: 310 (31.0)

Mike Schmidt: 283 (28.3)

1981-1990

Home Runs: 33,172

Home Runs/Game: 1.62

30+ Home Runs: 121

40+ Home Runs: 11

50+ Home Runs: 1

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Dale Murphy: 299 (29.9)

Eddie Murray: 268 (26.8)

1991-1998

Home Runs: 32,060

Home Runs/Game: 1.93

30+ Home Runs: 179

40+ Home Runs: 47

50+ Home Runs: 7

THE TOP TWO HR (Avg/Yr)

Albert Belle: 306 (30.6)

Ken Griffey, Jr.: 304 (30.4)

--Researched by HOUSTON MITCHELL