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50 home run club

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A man wearing a red shirt and St. Louis Cardinals cap holds a baseball in each hand.
A man wearing a blue hat and gray baseball uniform bearing the number 21 prepares to throw a baseball.
Mark McGwire (left) and Sammy Sosa (right) are the only players to have hit 50 home runs in four consecutive seasons.

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 50 home run club is the group of batters who have hit 50 or more home runs in a single season.[1][2][3] Babe Ruth was the first to achieve this, doing so in 1920. By reaching the milestone, he also became the first player to hit 30 and then 40 home runs in a single season, breaking his own record of 29 from the 1919 season.[4] Ruth subsequently became the first player to reach the 50 home run club on four occasions, repeating the achievement in 1921, 1927, and 1928.[5][6] He remained the only player to accomplish this until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa matched his feat in 1999 and 2001, respectively. In doing so, they became the only players to have achieved 50 home runs in four consecutive seasons.[6] Barry Bonds hit the most home runs to join the club, collecting 73 in 2001.[6] The most recent player to hit 50 home runs in three seasons is Aaron Judge, who did so in 2024.

In total, 32 players have reached the 50 home run club in MLB history and ten have done so more than once.[6] Of these, seventeen were right-handed batters, fourteen were left-handed, and one was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from either side of the plate. Four of these players (including two active members of the 50 home run club)[7] have played for only one major league team. The New York Yankees are the only franchise to have five players reach the milestone while on their roster: Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Alex Rodriguez, and Aaron Judge. Ten players are also members of the 500 home run club[8] and two of them (Willie Mays and Rodriguez) are also members of the 3,000 hit club.[9] Ten players won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in the same year as their 50 home run season.[10] Mantle is the only player to have earned the Major League Triple Crown alongside achieving 50 home runs, leading both leagues in batting average, home runs and runs batted in (RBI).[11][12][13] Mantle and Maris—collectively known as the M&M Boys—are the only teammates to reach the 50 home run club in the same season, hitting a combined 115 home runs in 1961 and breaking the single-season record for home runs by a pair of teammates.[14][15] Albert Belle is the only player to amass 50 or more doubles in addition to attaining 50 home runs.[16][17] Prince Fielder, at 23 years and 139 days, was the youngest player to reach the milestone while Bonds, at age 37, was the oldest.[18][19] Pete Alonso and Aaron Judge are the only players to hit 50 home runs in their rookie seasons.

Due to the infrequent addition of members into the 50 home run club, Baseball Digest called it "a restrictive fraternity comprising slugging elite"[20] in 1954, when there were only six members. Of the seventeen members eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, eight have been elected and three were elected on the first ballot. Eligibility requires that a player has "been retired five seasons" or deceased for at least six months,[21] disqualifying four active players and two players who have been retired for less than five seasons. Some believe the milestone has become less important with the large number of new members;[22][23] fifteen players joined the club on a total of 24 occasions from 1995 to 2010.[6] Additionally, several of these recent members have had ties to performance-enhancing drugs.[24][25][26][27]

Members

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A man in full baseball attire wears a pinstriped jersey and a baseball cap. Looking to the left of the camera, he is holding a baseball bat upward.
Babe Ruth was the first member of the 50 home run club and joined it in four seasons, a record he shares with Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
A man is pictured from his belt up looking to the left of the camera. His button-down baseball jersey says "RED SOX" across it and he is wearing a baseball cap.
Jimmie Foxx achieved the 50 home run club and won the MVP Award in 1932, 1933 and 1938.
Two men in pinstripe baseball uniform with an interlocking "NY" partially showing at the bottom.
Mickey Mantle (right) earned the Triple Crown in addition to achieving the 50 home run club in 1956. Five years later, he and Roger Maris (left) became the only teammates to reach the 50 home run club in the same season.
Key
Year The year the player's 50 home run season occurred
Player (X) Name of the player and number of 50 home run seasons they had accomplished at that point
Team The player's team for his 50 home run season
HR Number of home runs in that season
Career The number of home runs the player hit in his MLB career
^ Denotes single-season home run record progression
† Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
‡ Player is active
* Ongoing season
Members of the 50 home run club
Year Player Team HR Career Ref
 
1920 Babe Ruth† New York Yankees 54^ 714 [5]
1921 Babe Ruth† (2) New York Yankees 59^ 714 [5]
1927 Babe Ruth† (3) New York Yankees 60^ 714 [5]
1928 Babe Ruth† (4) New York Yankees 54 714 [5]
1930 Hack Wilson† Chicago Cubs 56 244 [28]
1932 Jimmie Foxx† Philadelphia Athletics 58 534 [29]
1938 Jimmie Foxx† (2) Boston Red Sox 50 534 [29]
Hank Greenberg† Detroit Tigers 58 331 [30]
1947 Johnny Mize† New York Giants 51 359 [31]
Ralph Kiner† Pittsburgh Pirates 51 369 [32]
1949 Ralph Kiner† (2) Pittsburgh Pirates 54 369 [32]
1955 Willie Mays† New York Giants 51 660 [33]
1956 Mickey Mantle† New York Yankees 52 536 [34]
1961 Mickey Mantle† (2) New York Yankees 54 536 [34]
Roger Maris New York Yankees 61^ 275 [35]
1965 Willie Mays† (2) San Francisco Giants 52 660 [33]
1977 George Foster Cincinnati Reds 52 348 [36]
1990 Cecil Fielder Detroit Tigers 51 319 [37]
1995 Albert Belle Cleveland Indians 50 381 [38]
1996 Brady Anderson Baltimore Orioles 50 210 [39]
Mark McGwire Oakland Athletics 52 583 [40]
1997 Ken Griffey Jr.† Seattle Mariners 56 630 [41]
Mark McGwire (2) Oakland Athletics
St. Louis Cardinals		 58 583 [40]
1998 Greg Vaughn San Diego Padres 50 355 [42]
Ken Griffey Jr.† (2) Seattle Mariners 56 630 [41]
Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs 66 609 [43]
Mark McGwire (3) St. Louis Cardinals 70^ 583 [40]
1999 Sammy Sosa (2) Chicago Cubs 63 609 [43]
Mark McGwire (4) St. Louis Cardinals 65 583 [40]
2000 Sammy Sosa (3) Chicago Cubs 50 609 [43]
2001 Alex Rodriguez Texas Rangers 52 696 [44]
Luis Gonzalez Arizona Diamondbacks 57 354 [45]
Sammy Sosa (4) Chicago Cubs 64 609 [43]
Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants 73^ 762 [46]
2002 Jim Thome† Cleveland Indians 52 612 [47]
Alex Rodriguez (2) Texas Rangers 57 696 [44]
2005 Andruw Jones Atlanta Braves 51 434 [48]
2006 Ryan Howard Philadelphia Phillies 58 382 [7]
David Ortiz† Boston Red Sox 54 541 [49]
2007 Alex Rodriguez (3) New York Yankees 54 696 [44]
Prince Fielder Milwaukee Brewers 50 319 [50]
2010 José Bautista Toronto Blue Jays 54 344 [51]
2013 Chris Davis Baltimore Orioles 53 295 [52], [53]
2017 Giancarlo Stanton‡ Miami Marlins 59 429 [54]
Aaron Judge‡ New York Yankees 52 315 [55]
2019 Pete Alonso‡ New York Mets 53 226 [56]
2022 Aaron Judge‡ (2) New York Yankees 62 315 [55]
2023 Matt Olson‡ Atlanta Braves 54 259 [57]
2024 Aaron Judge‡ (3) New York Yankees 58 315 [55]
Shohei Ohtani‡ Los Angeles Dodgers 54 225 [58]

See also

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References

[edit]

General

  • "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 20, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2012.

Specific

  1. ^ Johnston, Joey (July 1987). "Will 50-Homer Seasons Become Extinct in the Majors?". Baseball Digest. 46 (7). Evanston, IL, USA: Century Publishing: 60–61. ISSN 0005-609X. [permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ Smith, Claire (September 29, 1997). "On Baseball; Numbers Tell It All: 1997 Was Impressive". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2012. Larry Walker...missed joining McGwire and Griffey in the 50 home run club (49).
  3. ^ Bastian, Jordan (September 19, 2010). "Bautista belts 49th as Jays edge Red Sox". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2012. Bautista['s]...next blast will put him in the 50 home run club.
  4. ^ "Progressive Leaders & Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Babe Ruth Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 20, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Ryan Howard Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  8. ^ "Career Leaders & Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  9. ^ "Career Leaders & Records for Hits". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  10. ^ "Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  11. ^ "Mantle Eligible for 'Hall' Today". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. January 16, 1974. p. 24. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2012. Mantle took the triple crown in 1956 when he batted .353 with 52 home runs and 130 runs batted in.
  12. ^ "Mickey Mantle Named Most Valuable Player". The Milwaukee Journal. November 15, 1956. p. 20. Retrieved July 4, 2012. Mantle, who won the triple batting crown..., became the eighth man in history to win the batting, home run and runs batted in titles in one season. [He] led the league, both leagues in fact, with a .353 batting average, 52 homers and 130 runs batted in. [permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "1956 Major League Baseball Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 15, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  14. ^ Singer, Tom (August 24, 2011). "Plenty of duos have look of M&M Boys". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2012. [T]heir combined total of 115 still stands as the benchmark for teammates.
  15. ^ "A Short History of the Single-Season Home Run Record". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012. [Maris] and Mantle...broke the record for most single-season home runs by a pair of teammates.
  16. ^ Carter, Bob (September 5, 2006). "Belle battled fans, teammates, self". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2012. In 1995,...he became the first player to amass 50 doubles and 50 homers in the same year.
  17. ^ "Belle is forgotten man". The Spokesman-Review. September 27, 1998. p. C5. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2012. [H]e became the first player to hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in 1995.
  18. ^ "Prince hits 50, but it's 52 he wants to 'shut up' his dad". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. September 26, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  19. ^ "Baseball; Giants' Bonds Is Fastest to 50 Homers". The New York Times. August 12, 2001. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  20. ^ Leonard, George K. (October 1954). "37 Stars Hit 50 Homers in Year!". Baseball Digest. 13 (9). Evanston, IL, USA: Century Publishing: 43. ISSN 0005-609X. Retrieved July 11, 2012. Not as exclusive as the "Four Homers in One Game Club" but, nevertheless, a restrictive sort of fraternity is that comprising batters who have blasted 50—or more—home runs in one season. This group of slugging elite... [permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ "Rules for Election". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  22. ^ Chass, Murray (September 30, 2001). "Baseball: Notebook; Measure of Inflation For Home Run Race". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2012. I think it takes some of the luster off the numbers that some of the best players established...
  23. ^ Schwarz, Alan (June 9, 2002). "Ideas & Trends; Scoring Hits, Runs and Asterisks". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2012. Where 50 home runs in a season once meant something (just 18 players did it before 1995), 16 have since...
  24. ^ Krawczynski, Jon (October 2, 2010). "Bautista's homer binge brings questions". USA Today. Retrieved July 15, 2012. McGwire has admitted to using steroids during his career and Sosa and Bonds have been dogged by allegations.
  25. ^ Bloom, Barry M. (December 13, 2007). "Mitchell Report proposes solutions". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  26. ^ Kepner, Tyler (February 9, 2009). "Rodriguez Admits to Use of Performance Enhancers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  27. ^ Schmidt, Michael S. (July 30, 2009). "Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on 2003 Doping List". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  28. ^ "Hack Wilson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  29. ^ a b "Jimmie Foxx Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  30. ^ "Hank Greenberg Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  31. ^ "Johnny Mize Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  32. ^ a b "Ralph Kiner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Willie Mays Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  34. ^ a b "Mickey Mantle Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  35. ^ "Roger Maris Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  36. ^ "George Foster Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 3, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  37. ^ "Cecil Fielder Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  38. ^ "Albert Belle Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  39. ^ "Brady Anderson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  40. ^ a b c d "Mark McGwire Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  41. ^ a b "Ken Griffey Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  42. ^ "Greg Vaughn Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  43. ^ a b c d "Sammy Sosa Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  44. ^ a b c "Alex Rodriguez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 12, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  45. ^ "Luis Gonzalez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 1, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  46. ^ "Barry Bonds Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  47. ^ "Jim Thome Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  48. ^ "Andruw Jones Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  49. ^ "David Ortiz Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  50. ^ "Prince Fielder Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  51. ^ "Jose Bautista Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  52. ^ "Chris Davis Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 11, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  53. ^ "Orioles slugger Chris Davis suspended 25 games". apnews.com. Open. September 12, 2014. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  54. ^ "Giancarlo Stanton Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  55. ^ a b c "Aaron Judge Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  56. ^ "Pete Alonso Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  57. ^ "Matt Olson breaks Braves' single-season homer mark | 09/16/2023". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  58. ^ "Shohei Ohtani Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 19, 2024.

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