Saturday, March 1, 2014

In 2014 will a Yankee hit at least 30 home runs? It's happened in 66% of Yankee seasons since 1920.

Since Babe Ruth joined the team in 1920 30 different Yankee players have hit at least 30 home runs (HR) in a season 91 times.  The Yankees had batters with at least 30 HR in 62 of the 93 (66%) seasons from 1920 through 2013.

In 25 seasons the Yanks had at least two 30 HR batters.  In four seasons the Yanks had three 30 HR batters: 1941, 2003, 2004, 2005.


Last First Year HR AB AB/HR bats throws
Keller Charlie 1941 33 507 15.4 L R
Henrich Tommy 1941 31 538 17.4 L L
DiMaggio Joe 1941 30 541 18.0 R R


Last First Year HR AB AB/HR bats throws
Giambi Jason 2003 41 535 13.0 L R
Soriano Alfonso 2003 38 682 17.9 R R
Posada Jorge 2003 30 481 16.0 B R
Rodriguez Alex 2004 36 601 16.7 R R
Sheffield Gary 2004 36 573 15.9 R R
Matsui Hideki 2004 31 584 18.8 L R
Rodriguez Alex 2005 48 605 12.6 R R
Sheffield Gary 2005 34 584 17.2 R R
Giambi Jason 2005 32 417 13.0 L R

In 1961 Mickey Mantle (54) and Roger Maris (61) hit at least 50 HR, the only teammates to do it in the same season on any team.  Not even Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig did that.

In 2013 the Yankees had a lot of injuries and Robinson Cano led the team with only 27 HR; Alfonso Soriano was second with 17 in 219 at bats (AB).

In 2014 will a Yankee hit at least 30 home runs?

Cano and Curtis Granderson are gone.  Alex Rodriguez is suspended for the season.  But Mark Teixeira is returning from a wrist injury.  Candidates with previous seasons of at least 30:

Mark Teixeira: 43, 39 Yanks, 39 Yanks, 38, 33 Yanks, 33, 33, 30; 8 times, including three as a Yank, which included leading the American Conference in 2009; most recently in 2011

Alfonso Soriano: 46 Nationals record, 39 Yanks, 38 Yanks, 36, 34 (Yanks/Cubs), 32; 5 times, including two as a Yank; most recently in 2013

Newcomers:

Carlos Beltran: 41 Met record, 38, 33, 32; most recently in 2012; 37 year old April 24

Jacoby Ellsbury: 32 in 2011 with the Red Sox; second most: 9

Brian McCann: 24 in 2006 and 2011 with the Braves

Teixeira and Soriano look like the most likely.   McCann and Ellsbury are both lefty batters and may benefit from playing their home games in Yankee Stadium with its short right field.  Beltran is a switch hitter.

Yanks who hit at least 30 HR:

First Last count high First Year Last Year
Babe Ruth 13 60 1920 1933
Lou Gehrig 10 49 1927 1937
Mickey Mantle 9 54 1955 1964
Joe DiMaggio 7 46 1937 1950
Alex Rodriguez 7 54 2004 2010
Jason Giambi 5 41 2002 2008
Charlie Keller 3 33 1941 1946
Roger Maris 3 61 1960 1962
Don Mattingly 3 35 1985 1987
Mark Teixeira 3 39 2009 2011
Yogi Berra 2 30 1952 1956
Graig Nettles 2 37 1976 1977
Reggie Jackson 2 41 1977 1980
Dave Winfield 2 37 1982 1983
Tino Martinez 2 44 1997 2001
Alfonso Soriano 2 39 2002 2003
Gary Sheffield 2 36 2004 2005
Curtis Granderson 2 43 2011 2012
Bob Meusel 1 33 1925 1925
Joe Gordon 1 30 1940 1940
Tommy Henrich 1 31 1941 1941
Joe Pepitone 1 31 1966 1966
Bobby Murcer 1 33 1972 1972
Bobby Bonds 1 32 1975 1975
Mike Pagliarulo 1 32 1987 1987
Danny Tartabull 1 31 1993 1993
Bernie Williams 1 30 2000 2000
Jorge Posada 1 30 2003 2003
Hideki Matsui 1 31 2004 2004
Robinson Cano 1 33 2012 2012


Jason Giambi 17 June 2006
by randomduck (flickr) via Wikimedia Commons
Ten of the 30 Yanks who hit at least 30 HR had Yankee highs at least 40:

Firstt Last Count High First Year Last Year
Roger Maris 3 61 1960 1962
Babe Ruth 13 60 1920 1933
Alex Rodriguez 7 54 2004 2010
Mickey Mantle 9 54 1955 1964
Lou Gehrig 10 49 1927 1937
Joe DiMaggio 7 46 1937 1950
Tino Martinez 2 44 1997 2001
Curtis Granderson 2 43 2011 2012
Jason Giambi 5 41 2002 2008
Reggie Jackson 2 41 1977 1980

No comments: