Slugging Shortstops

Playing in “the friendly confines of Wrigley Field,” Ernie Banks’ home-run totals were slightly inflated. The Hall of Famer, who finished his career playing first base for the Cubs, hit 290 homers in Chicago, 222 on the road.

Alex Rodriguez put up his big homer numbers playing inside Seattle’s lighter-than-air Kingdome. Now, the Mariners play outside in Safeco Field, where they host the Dodgers again this afternoon. When it comes to home-run slugging shortstops, though, A-Rod takes a second seat to only one.

Most home runs by a shortstop * in a single season:

47 Ernie Banks, 1958

45 Ernie Banks, 1959

44 Ernie Banks, 1955

43 Ernie Banks, 1957

42 Alex Rodriguez, 1998

42 Alex Rodriguez, 1999

* minimum 75 games at shortstop

Source: Baseball Prospectus

Reported by Bob Rohwer