Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Most career Home Runs by 2 teammates: Ruth+Gehrig, Mathews+Aaron, Mays+McCovey?

The home runs are for when they were teammates. Absence for injury, illness, suspension are not considered. However, for Mays and McCovey there are these factors:

McCovey's first game was July 31, 1959. So the 17 home runs Mays hit in 1959 before that date are not included. Likewise, all but one of McCovey's 14 1972 home runs are excluded because they were hit after this infamous Mays transaction:

May 11, 1972: Traded by the San Francisco Giants to the New York Mets for Charlie Williams and $50,000.

Those home runs would not have lifted May+McCovey into first place among these three pairs of teammates. If anyone thinks that another pair would exceed these, please submit the documentation. Pairs here are listed chronologically.

Eddie Mathews + Hank Aaron: 863
Willie Mays + Willie McCovey: 784
Babe Ruth + Lou Gehrig: 771


yearRuthGehrigR+GyearMathewsAaronM+AyearMaysMcCoveyM+M
192525204519544013531959171330
192647166319554127681960291342
1927604710719563726631961401858
192854278119573244761962492069
192946358119583130611963384482
193049419019594639851964471865
193146469219603940791965523991
193241327319613234661966373673
193334346819622945741967223153
193422497119632344671968233659
42434777119642324471969134558
19653232641970283967
19661644601971181836
4214428631972011
413371784
career659493career493733career646469
64.34%70.39%85.40%60.30%63.93%79.10%

Percent: career home runs with that team divided into home runs hit with that teammate.

This despite Mathews missing his biggest home run season: 47 in 1953 waiting for Aaron's arrival in 1954. And Aaron continuing his high production after 1966: 39,29,44,38,47,34,40.

Mays loses all his New York Giants home runs, including 41 and 51, and McCovey's second tour Giant homers are irrelevant.

Ruth loses his first five Yankee seasons: 54,59,35,41,46. Gehrig after Ruth left following 1934: 30,49,37,29.

Best combined totals for season:
Ruth+Gehrig: 107, 92, 90
Mathews+Aaron: 85
Mays+McCovey: 91

Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961: 54 + 61 = 115.

No comments: