Bonds, McGwire, Sosa: team game numbers when they hit 73, 70, 66 home runs.

1961: Aug. 22 Maris 50, Mantle 46. Yankee game 125. Saturday, August 22, 2020

In 1961 the American League expanded from 8 to 10 teams and increased its schedule from 154 to 162 games. Both the 1927 and 1961 Yankees played one tie game...

In 1961 Roger Maris became the soonest to 50 home runs to that point in baseball history. In terms of the number of team games, which may include ties, Maris tied Ruth in 1921 at Yankee game 125.

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50 home runs 1920-1965: team game numbers, including a surprising number of ties. Sunday, August 23, 2020

Of the 16 seasons included, 9 had at least one tie game and two had two tie games. 8 of the 9 seasons with tie games played at least one more than the scheduled number of games...

Maris had the most season at bats (AB): 590. Ruth with 54 HR in 1920 had the fewest AB: 458, the only AB below 514: Mantle 54 HR in 1961 when he missed 10 of 163 games...

60 Home Runs in 154 games: Ruth yes. Maris no. Bonds, McGwire, Sosa? Monday, June 12, 2017

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In 1998 the teams of both Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa played 163 games, one more than the regular schedule. In 2001 the team of Barry Bonds played 162 games.

McGuire's Cardinals played a 7 inning 5-5 tie game but McGuire did not play in the game:

Monday, August 24, 1998

Start Time: 7:05 p.m. Local

Attendance: 28,435

Venue: Three Rivers Stadium

Game Duration: 2:18

Night Game, on turf

Cardinals 62-68-1 = Cardinals game 131 of what would now be 163 for the 1998 season.

Sosa's Cubs tied for a tournament spot and had a play-in game in Chicago, game number 163:

Monday, September 28, 1998

Start Time: 7:10 p.m. Local

Attendance: 39,556

Venue: Wrigley Field

Game Duration: 3:41

Night Game, on grass

Cubs 5, Giants 3

HR: Gary Gaetti (19, off Mark Gardner, 5th inn, 1 on, 0 outs to Deep LF)

The Cubs third baseman hit the only home run in the game for either team. Sosa had two singles in four AB, no other PA.

This post adds to the previous by checking the three seasons with the most home runs ever. There could be other seasons in which a batter hit season home run number 50 in fewer games.

Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	Date	G50	Ties	tG	Year	HR	Player
CHC	NL	159	772	643	1998-08-23	130	play in	163	1998	66	Sosa
STL	NL	155	681	509	1998-08-20 (1)	125	1	163	1998	70	McGwire
SFG	NL	153	664	476	2001-08-11	117		162	2001	73	Bonds

McGwire tied Ruth and Maris by hitting number 50 in team game 125 but Bonds shattered that by doing it Giants game 117 in 2001.

Maris wouldn't hit number 51 until Yankee game 129.

Sosa hit 51 in the same team game as 50: 130.

McGwire hit 51 in the next game on the same day, game two of a doubleheader, game 126.

Bonds hit #51 in game 122.