Pujols to pass Mantle, who was third when he retired, in home runs.

Mike Trout: Mickey Mantle 1952? Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Mike Trout, best young player since Mickey Mantle, should be a Yankee, too. Friday, April 4, 2014

Bowman Gum
via Wikimedia Commons

The Yankee announcers during Friday's game against the Angels at the Stadium and the Fox announcers Saturday were all over the Mike Trout as Mickey Mantle analogy.  As documented above I was on it starting in Trout's rookie season.

For some context of the gross numbers the announcers presented, both home runs and stolen bases were down in the American League in the early 1950s.  Here are the AL home run leaders through Mantle's sixth season when he achieved the triple crown:

1950 Al Rosen   (CLE) 37
1951 Gus Zernial   (2TM) 33
1952 Larry Doby+ *  (CLE) 32
1953 Al Rosen   (CLE) 43
1954 Larry Doby+ *  (CLE) 32
1955 Mickey Mantle+ #  (NYY) 37
1956 Mickey Mantle+ #  (NYY) 52

For nostalgic reasons, here is the 500 club in career home runs through this weekend:

Rk	Player	HR	From	To	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Barry Bonds	762	1986	2007	21-42	2986	12606	9847	2227	2935	601	77	1996	2558	688	1539	106	4	91	165	514	141	.298	.444	.607	1.051	*78H/D9	PIT-SFG
2	Hank Aaron	755	1954	1976	20-42	3298	13941	12364	2174	3771	624	98	2297	1402	293	1383	32	21	121	328	240	73	.305	.374	.555	.928	*9783DH/45	MLN-ATL-MIL
3	Babe Ruth	714	1914	1935	19-40	2504	10622	8399	2174	2873	506	136	2214	2062		1330	43	113		2	123	117	.342	.474	.690	1.164	971/H83	BOS-NYY-BSN
4	Alex Rodriguez	665	1994	2015	18-39	2620	11558	10001	1950	2991	529	31	1997	1265	93	2122	172	16	104	243	322	76	.299	.384	.558	.941	65D/H3	SEA-TEX-NYY
5	Willie Mays	660	1951	1973	20-42	2992	12496	10881	2062	3283	523	140	1903	1464	192	1526	44	13	91	251	338	103	.302	.384	.557	.941	*8H/39675	NYG-SFG-NYM
6	Ken Griffey	630	1989	2010	19-40	2671	11304	9801	1662	2781	524	38	1836	1312	246	1779	81	8	102	199	184	69	.284	.370	.538	.907	*89DH/73	CIN-CHW-SEA
7	Jim Thome	612	1991	2012	20-41	2543	10313	8422	1583	2328	451	26	1699	1747	173	2548	69	1	74	165	19	20	.276	.402	.554	.956	3D5H	CLE-PHI-CHW-LAD-MIN-BAL
8	Sammy Sosa	609	1989	2007	20-38	2354	9896	8813	1475	2408	379	45	1667	929	154	2306	59	17	78	202	234	107	.273	.344	.534	.878	*98D/H7	TEX-CHW-CHC-BAL
9	Frank Robinson	586	1956	1976	20-40	2808	11742	10006	1829	2943	528	72	1812	1420	218	1532	198	17	102	270	204	77	.294	.389	.537	.926	97D3H8/5	CIN-BAL-LAD-CAL-CLE
10	Mark McGwire	583	1986	2001	22-37	1874	7660	6187	1167	1626	252	6	1414	1317	150	1596	75	3	78	147	12	8	.263	.394	.588	.982	*3/HD59	OAK-STL
11	Harmon Killebrew	573	1954	1975	18-39	2435	9833	8147	1283	2086	290	24	1584	1559	160	1699	48	0	77	243	19	18	.256	.376	.509	.884	357DH/49	WSH-MIN-KCR
12	Rafael Palmeiro	569	1986	2005	21-40	2831	12046	10472	1663	3020	585	38	1835	1353	172	1348	87	15	119	232	97	40	.288	.371	.515	.885	*3D7/H98	CHC-BAL-TEX
13	Reggie Jackson	563	1967	1987	21-41	2820	11418	9864	1551	2584	463	49	1702	1375	164	2597	96	13	68	183	228	115	.262	.356	.490	.846	*9D8H/7	KCA-OAK-BAL-NYY-CAL
14	Manny Ramirez	555	1993	2011	21-39	2302	9774	8244	1544	2574	547	20	1831	1329	216	1813	109	2	90	243	38	33	.312	.411	.585	.996	79D/H	CLE-BOS-LAD-CHW-TBR
15	Mike Schmidt	548	1972	1989	22-39	2404	10062	8352	1506	2234	408	59	1595	1507	201	1883	79	16	108	156	174	92	.267	.380	.527	.908	*53/H64	PHI
16	Mickey Mantle	536	1951	1968	19-36	2401	9907	8102	1676	2415	344	72	1509	1733	126	1710	13	14	47	113	153	38	.298	.421	.557	.977	*8397H/645	NYY
17	Albert Pujols	534	2001	2015	21-35	2169	9458	8145	1542	2570	568	16	1631	1127	288	930	94	1	91	301	99	39	.316	.401	.586	.987	*37D5/9H64	STL-LAA
18	Jimmie Foxx	534	1925	1945	17-37	2317	9676	8134	1751	2646	458	125	1922	1452		1311	13	71		69	87	73	.325	.428	.609	1.038	*35H2/7916	PHA-BOS-CHC-PHI
19	Frank Thomas	521	1990	2008	22-40	2322	10075	8199	1494	2468	495	12	1704	1667	168	1397	87	0	121	226	32	23	.301	.419	.555	.974	*D3/H	CHW-OAK-TOR
20	Willie McCovey	521	1959	1980	21-42	2588	9692	8197	1229	2211	353	46	1555	1345	260	1550	69	5	70	176	26	22	.270	.374	.515	.889	*3H7/9D	SFG-SDP-OAK
21	Ted Williams	521	1939	1960	20-41	2292	9788	7706	1798	2654	525	71	1839	2021	86	709	39	5	20	197	24	17	.344	.482	.634	1.116	*79H/1	BOS
22	Ernie Banks	512	1953	1971	22-40	2528	10394	9421	1305	2583	407	90	1636	763	198	1236	70	45	96	229	50	53	.274	.330	.500	.830	36/H57	CHC
23	Eddie Mathews	512	1952	1968	20-36	2391	10100	8537	1509	2315	354	72	1453	1444	107	1487	26	36	58	123	68	39	.271	.376	.509	.885	*53/H7	BSN-MLN-ATL-HOU-DET
24	Mel Ott	511	1926	1947	17-38	2730	11348	9456	1859	2876	488	72	1860	1708		896	64	109		82	89		.304	.414	.533	.947	*95H8/74	NYG
25	Gary Sheffield	509	1988	2009	19-40	2576	10947	9217	1636	2689	467	27	1676	1475	130	1171	135	9	111	235	253	104	.292	.393	.514	.907	975D/6H3	MIL-SDP-FLA-LAD-ATL-NYY-DET-NYM
Rk	Player	HR	From	To	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
26	Eddie Murray	504	1977	1997	21-41	3026	12817	11336	1627	3255	560	35	1917	1333	222	1516	18	2	128	315	110	43	.287	.359	.476	.836	*3D/H57	BAL-NYM-CLE-LAD-ANA

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 6/7/2015.

We baseball fans are still primitive despite all the new metrics that flash across our TV screens.  We still insist on listing home run leaders by total.  That makes about as much sense as listing the best hitters by hits with Pete Rose at the top and Ty Cobb number two.

What makes sense is something analogous to OPS+, home runs weighted by year, league, park, whatever.  Babe Ruth hit more home runs than all other AL teams in 1920, 1921, 1927.

We don't even consider home runs per at bat (AB).  Also mentioned in the two games between the Yankees and Angels was that Albert Pujols is only two home runs behind Mickey Mantle.  Pujols in now tied with Jimmie Foxx at number 17.  But Pujols already has a few more AB than both Foxx and Mantle.  In the 500 club only Mark McGwire and Ted Williams have fewer AB than Mantle.  Hank Aaron has the most homers but also the most AB.

Here is the 100 club through 1921 when Babe Ruth hit 59 and became number one:

Rk	Player	HR	From	To	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Babe Ruth	162	1914	1921	19-26	686	2641	2108	537	718	162	55	527	485		345	15	28			44	27	.341	.467	.700	1.167	71/98H3	BOS-NYY
2	Roger Connor	138	1880	1897	22-39	1998	8847	7797	1620	2467	441	233	1323	1002		455	39	9			244		.316	.397	.486	.883	*35/4879	TRO-NYG-NYI-PHI-STL
3	Sam Thompson	126	1885	1906	25-46	1410	6525	5998	1261	1988	343	161	1305	451		234	63	13			232		.331	.384	.505	.890	*9/783	DTN-PHI-DET
4	Harry Stovey	122	1880	1893	23-36	1486	6832	6138	1492	1771	347	174	908	663		450	31				509		.289	.361	.461	.822	3798/1	WOR-PHA-BOS-BSN-BLN-BRO
5	Gavvy Cravath	119	1908	1920	27-39	1221	4642	3951	575	1134	232	83	719	561		578	28	105			89	20	.287	.380	.478	.858	*97/H83	BOS-WSH-CHW-PHI
6	Jimmy Ryan	118	1885	1903	22-40	2014	9124	8172	1643	2513	451	157	1093	804		491	83	65			419		.308	.375	.444	.820	897/6145	CHC-CHI-WSH
7	Hugh Duffy	106	1888	1906	21-39	1737	7841	7044	1554	2293	325	119	1302	664		268	29	104			574		.326	.386	.451	.837	879/64532	CHC-CHI-BOS-BSN-MLA-PHI
8	Dan Brouthers	106	1879	1904	21-46	1673	7676	6711	1523	2296	460	205	1296	840		238	105	20			256		.342	.423	.519	.942	*3/7195	TRO-BUF-DTN-BSN-BOS-BRO-BLN-LOU-PHI-NYG
9	Mike Tiernan	106	1887	1899	20-32	1478	6732	5915	1316	1838	257	162	853	748		376	41	28			428		.311	.392	.463	.855	*978/1	NYG
10	Honus Wagner	101	1897	1917	23-43	2795	11748	10439	1739	3420	643	252	1732	963		735	125	221			723	26	.328	.391	.467	.858	*6935/847H1	LOU-PIT
11	Ed Delahanty	101	1888	1903	20-35	1837	8400	7511	1600	2597	522	186	1466	741		439	94	54			455		.346	.411	.505	.916	*7384/695	PHI-CLE-WSH

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 6/7/2015.

Ruth retired in early 1935 with six homers in only 72 AB.  Here is the 250 club through 1935:

Rk	Player	HR	From	To	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Babe Ruth	714	1914	1935	19-40	2504	10622	8399	2174	2873	506	136	2214	2062		1330	43	113		2	123	117	.342	.474	.690	1.164	971/H83	BOS-NYY-BSN
2	Lou Gehrig	378	1923	1935	20-32	1687	7522	6249	1466	2142	428	141	1570	1139		619	29	102			89	92	.343	.446	.638	1.084	*3/H976	NYY
3	Jimmie Foxx	302	1925	1935	17-27	1256	5241	4397	975	1492	257	79	1075	781		644	7	54			48	42	.339	.440	.640	1.079	*35/2H967	PHA
4	Rogers Hornsby	300	1915	1935	19-39	2237	9411	8112	1571	2910	538	169	1571	1030		674	48	216		3	135	64	.359	.434	.578	1.012	*465H/3978	STL-NYG-BSN-CHC-SLB
5	Al Simmons	256	1924	1935	22-33	1652	7295	6707	1215	2328	430	122	1459	464		553	20	101			77	57	.347	.391	.562	.953	*78/H9	PHA-CHW
6	Cy Williams	251	1912	1930	24-42	2002	7725	6780	1024	1981	306	74	1005	690		721	86	164			115	92	.292	.365	.470	.835	*89H/7	CHC-PHI

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 6/7/2015.

Ruth had almost twice as many as long time Yankee teammate Lou Gehrig.  Through 1934 it was Ruth 708, Gehrig 348.

1951 was Mantle's rookie season and the last for the Yankee Clipper Joe DiMaggio.  Here is the 350 club through 1951:

Rk	Player	HR	From	To	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Babe Ruth	714	1914	1935	19-40	2504	10622	8399	2174	2873	506	136	2214	2062		1330	43	113		2	123	117	.342	.474	.690	1.164	971/H83	BOS-NYY-BSN
2	Jimmie Foxx	534	1925	1945	17-37	2317	9676	8134	1751	2646	458	125	1922	1452		1311	13	71		69	87	73	.325	.428	.609	1.038	*35H2/7916	PHA-BOS-CHC-PHI
3	Mel Ott	511	1926	1947	17-38	2730	11348	9456	1859	2876	488	72	1860	1708		896	64	109		82	89		.304	.414	.533	.947	*95H8/74	NYG
4	Lou Gehrig	493	1923	1939	20-36	2164	9663	8001	1888	2721	534	163	1995	1508		790	45	106		2	102	100	.340	.447	.632	1.080	*3/H976	NYY
5	Joe DiMaggio	361	1936	1951	21-36	1736	7673	6821	1390	2214	389	131	1537	790		369	46	14		130	30	9	.325	.398	.579	.977	*8/79H3	NYY
6	Johnny Mize	351	1936	1951	23-38	1724	7102	6202	1103	1949	355	83	1281	833		492	48	20		92	28	1	.314	.400	.568	.968	*3/H9	STL-NYG-NYY

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 6/7/2015.

The top four are the ones I remember as a kid.  Mel Ott had the National League record.  I didn't realize that DiMaggio had been number five when he retired, same as Mark McGwire when he retired in 2001 with 583; McGwire is now number ten.

Here is the 500 club through 1968, Mantle's final season:

Rk	Player	HR	From	To	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Babe Ruth	714	1914	1935	19-40	2504	10622	8399	2174	2873	506	136	2214	2062		1330	43	113		2	123	117	.342	.474	.690	1.164	971/H83	BOS-NYY-BSN
2	Willie Mays	587	1951	1968	20-37	2446	10386	9130	1763	2812	446	129	1654	1137	165	1147	33	7	76	212	299	93	.308	.384	.578	.962	*8/H96375	NYG-SFG
3	Mickey Mantle	536	1951	1968	19-36	2401	9907	8102	1676	2415	344	72	1509	1733	126	1710	13	14	47	113	153	38	.298	.421	.557	.977	*8397H/645	NYY
4	Jimmie Foxx	534	1925	1945	17-37	2317	9676	8134	1751	2646	458	125	1922	1452		1311	13	71		69	87	73	.325	.428	.609	1.038	*35H2/7916	PHA-BOS-CHC-PHI
5	Ted Williams	521	1939	1960	20-41	2292	9788	7706	1798	2654	525	71	1839	2021	86	709	39	5	20	197	24	17	.344	.482	.634	1.116	*79H/1	BOS
6	Eddie Mathews	512	1952	1968	20-36	2391	10100	8537	1509	2315	354	72	1453	1444	107	1487	26	36	58	123	68	39	.271	.376	.509	.885	*53/H7	BSN-MLN-ATL-HOU-DET
7	Mel Ott	511	1926	1947	17-38	2730	11348	9456	1859	2876	488	72	1860	1708		896	64	109		82	89		.304	.414	.533	.947	*95H8/74	NYG
8	Hank Aaron	510	1954	1968	20-34	2279	9888	8889	1603	2792	484	88	1627	866	200	991	23	19	91	239	215	59	.314	.373	.560	.933	*987/4H35	MLN-ATL

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 6/7/2015.

Mantle was number three.  Now he is number 16.  Here is that 1968 list again sorted in ascending order by AB:

Rk	Player	HR	From	To	Age	G	PA	AB ▴	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Ted Williams	521	1939	1960	20-41	2292	9788	7706	1798	2654	525	71	1839	2021	86	709	39	5	20	197	24	17	.344	.482	.634	1.116	*79H/1	BOS
2	Mickey Mantle	536	1951	1968	19-36	2401	9907	8102	1676	2415	344	72	1509	1733	126	1710	13	14	47	113	153	38	.298	.421	.557	.977	*8397H/645	NYY
3	Jimmie Foxx	534	1925	1945	17-37	2317	9676	8134	1751	2646	458	125	1922	1452		1311	13	71		69	87	73	.325	.428	.609	1.038	*35H2/7916	PHA-BOS-CHC-PHI
4	Babe Ruth	714	1914	1935	19-40	2504	10622	8399	2174	2873	506	136	2214	2062		1330	43	113		2	123	117	.342	.474	.690	1.164	971/H83	BOS-NYY-BSN
5	Eddie Mathews	512	1952	1968	20-36	2391	10100	8537	1509	2315	354	72	1453	1444	107	1487	26	36	58	123	68	39	.271	.376	.509	.885	*53/H7	BSN-MLN-ATL-HOU-DET
6	Hank Aaron	510	1954	1968	20-34	2279	9888	8889	1603	2792	484	88	1627	866	200	991	23	19	91	239	215	59	.314	.373	.560	.933	*987/4H35	MLN-ATL
7	Willie Mays	587	1951	1968	20-37	2446	10386	9130	1763	2812	446	129	1654	1137	165	1147	33	7	76	212	299	93	.308	.384	.578	.962	*8/H96375	NYG-SFG
8	Mel Ott	511	1926	1947	17-38	2730	11348	9456	1859	2876	488	72	1860	1708		896	64	109		82	89		.304	.414	.533	.947	*95H8/74	NYG

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 6/7/2015.

Mays had more homers than Mantle but 1,028 more AB.  Aaron had fewer homers than Mantle but 787 more AB.  Mays has 77 more homers than Aaron on only 241 more AB.  The home run pecking order among those three: Mantle, Mays, Aaron.