1990-2009: Home Run Rate (AB/HR) percentages above the league. Mark McGwire and/or Barry Bonds #1, PED not withstanding.

There's a graph at the bottom but here are the league HRrate (AB/HR) numbers by year. Remember, lower means taking fewer At Bats (AB) to hit Home Runs (HR). That's AB, not Plate Appearances (PA), which includes Bases on Balls (BB).

Year	AL	NL
1990	42.762	43.371
1991	39.735	45.710
1992	43.439	52.098
1993	37.370	39.616
1994	31.115	35.945
1995	32.127	36.019
1996	28.844	35.005
1997	31.585	35.693
1998	31.379	34.581
1999	29.649	30.768
2000	29.221	29.532
2001	31.179	29.844
2002	31.570	33.832
2003	31.337	32.654
2004	30.223	31.139
2005	32.095	34.155
2006	30.832	31.283
2007	34.766	33.083
2008	34.414	33.970
2009	30.455	35.409
max	43.439	52.098
min	28.844	29.532

Batting Average and Home Run Rate percentages above the league 1903-2019. Thursday, February 3, 2022

Data is for both the American League (AL) and National League (NL) seasons 1903-2019.

Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth dominate, so there will be a subsequent post, probably for seasons 1950-2019. That pushes past World War II, which ended in 1945, and any post war adjustment seasons.

BA% is the percentage that a player's Batting Average (BA) is above the league BA that season.

HR% is the percentage that a player's Home Run rate (AB/HR; lower is better) is above the league Home Run rate that season.

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Batting Average and Home Run Rate percentages above the league 1950-2019. Williams and Schmidt lead. Saturday, February 5, 2022

1990-2009, two views of the top 30 or so seasons:

- highest HR% with at least 25 Home Runs: sorted by HR%. 33 seasons found with HR% at least 67.6% (NOT 70% like 1950s-1960s and 1970s-1980s).

- at least 49 Home Runs: sorted by HR, HR%. 33 seasons found.

Maximum. Minimum.

At least 25 Home Runs sorted by HR%: 

Year	L	Team	First	Last	bats	BA%	HR%	BAplayer	HRratePlay	HR	AB	H	BB	BA_L	HRrate_L	BA1	Age	throws	Lname
1998	NL	SLN	Mark	McGwire	R	14.11%	78.97%	0.2986	7.27	70	509	152	162	0.2617	34.581	No	35	R	McGwire
2001	NL	SFN	Barry	Bonds	L	25.39%	78.15%	0.3277	6.52	73	476	156	177	0.26137	29.844	No	37	L	Bonds
1995	AL	OAK	Mark	McGwire	R	1.54%	74.70%	0.2744	8.13	39	317	87	88	0.27029	32.127	No	32	R	McGwire
1992	AL	OAK	Mark	McGwire	R	3.22%	74.40%	0.2677	11.12	42	467	125	90	0.25932	43.439	No	29	R	McGwire
2002	NL	SFN	Barry	Bonds	L	42.66%	74.10%	0.3697	8.76	46	403	149	198	0.25916	33.832	Yes	38	L	Bonds
1999	NL	SLN	Mark	McGwire	R	3.74%	73.95%	0.2783	8.02	65	521	145	133	0.26828	30.768	No	36	R	McGwire
1990	AL	DET	Cecil	Fielder	R	7.09%	73.73%	0.2775	11.24	51	573	159	90	0.25911	42.762	No	27	R	Fielder
2003	NL	SFN	Barry	Bonds	L	30.40%	73.46%	0.341	8.67	45	390	133	148	0.26153	32.654	No	39	L	Bonds
2004	NL	SFN	Barry	Bonds	L	37.83%	73.38%	0.3619	8.29	45	373	135	232	0.26259	31.139	Yes	40	L	Bonds
1992	NL	PIT	Barry	Bonds	L	23.55%	73.30%	0.3108	13.91	34	473	147	127	0.25154	52.098	No	28	L	Bonds
1998	NL	CHN	Sammy	Sosa	R	17.67%	71.83%	0.3079	9.74	66	643	198	73	0.2617	34.581	No	30	R	Sosa
1996	AL	OAK	Mark	McGwire	R	12.58%	71.80%	0.3121	8.13	52	423	132	116	0.27718	28.844	No	33	R	McGwire
1992	AL	DET	Rob	Deer	R	-4.82%	71.73%	0.2468	12.28	32	393	97	51	0.25932	43.439	No	32	R	Deer
1994	NL	HOU	Jeff	Bagwell	R	37.72%	71.47%	0.3675	10.26	39	400	147	65	0.26685	35.945	No	26	R	Bagwell
1994	NL	CIN	Kevin	Mitchell	R	22.09%	71.25%	0.3258	10.33	30	310	101	59	0.26685	35.945	No	32	R	Mitchell
1994	NL	SFN	Matt	Williams	R	0.21%	71.21%	0.2674	10.35	43	445	119	33	0.26685	35.945	No	29	R	Williams
1992	NL	SDN	Fred	McGriff	L	13.80%	70.88%	0.2863	15.17	35	531	152	96	0.25154	52.098	No	29	L	McGriff
2002	AL	CLE	Jim	Thome	L	15.31%	70.76%	0.3042	9.23	52	480	146	122	0.26378	31.57	No	32	R	Thome
1997			Mark	McGwire	R	1.28%	70.73%	0.2741	9.63	58	540	148	101	0.27061	32.909	No	34	R	McGwire
1994	NL	SFN	Barry	Bonds	L	16.93%	70.60%	0.312	10.57	37	391	122	74	0.26685	35.945	No	30	L	Bonds
1993	NL	SFN	Barry	Bonds	L	27.39%	70.42%	0.3358	11.72	46	539	181	126	0.26361	39.616	No	29	L	Bonds
1991	NL	SFN	Kevin	Mitchell	R	2.29%	69.94%	0.2561	13.74	27	371	95	43	0.25033	45.71	No	29	R	Mitchell
2001	NL	CHN	Sammy	Sosa	R	25.32%	69.79%	0.3276	9.02	64	577	189	116	0.26137	29.844	No	33	R	Sosa
1990	AL	OAK	Jose	Canseco	R	5.91%	69.60%	0.2744	13	37	481	132	72	0.25911	42.762	No	26	R	Canseco
2007	AL	TBA	Carlos	Pena	L	4.10%	69.36%	0.2816	10.65	46	490	138	103	0.27053	34.766	No	29	L	Pena
1990	NL	SDN	Jack	Clark	R	3.91%	69.20%	0.2665	13.36	25	334	89	104	0.25644	43.371	No	35	R	Clark
2007	AL	NYA	Alex	Rodriguez	R	16.03%	68.95%	0.3139	10.8	54	583	183	95	0.27053	34.766	No	32	R	Rodriguez
1993	AL	TEX	Juan	Gonzalez	R	16.18%	68.82%	0.3097	11.65	46	536	166	37	0.26657	37.37	No	24	R	Gonzalez
1992	AL	TEX	Juan	Gonzalez	R	0.37%	68.73%	0.2603	13.58	43	584	152	35	0.25932	43.439	No	23	R	Gonzalez
1990	AL	OAK	Mark	McGwire	R	-9.24%	68.64%	0.2352	13.41	39	523	123	110	0.25911	42.762	No	27	R	McGwire
2006	NL	PHI	Ryan	Howard	L	18.42%	67.98%	0.3133	10.02	58	581	182	108	0.26452	31.283	No	27	L	Howard
1999	NL	CHN	Sammy	Sosa	R	7.35%	67.76%	0.288	9.92	63	625	180	78	0.26828	30.768	No	31	R	Sosa
1992	NL	SDN	Gary	Sheffield	R	31.33%	67.60%	0.3303	16.88	33	557	184	48	0.25154	52.098	Yes	24	R	Sheffield
Year	L	Team	First	Last	bats	BA%	HR%	BAplayer	HRratePlay	HR	AB	H	BB	BA_L	HRrate_L	BA1	Age	throws	Lname

Mark McGwire has a slight lead over Barry Bonds for the top spot. Their ranks above with possible/probable years shown before Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED) use:

McGwire 6: 1,3 (1995),4 (1992),12 (1996),19,30 (1990)
Bonds 7: 2,5,8,9,10 (1992),20 (1994),21 (1993)

I'd call it a toss up. How about you?

Also led league in BA: Bonds 2002 and 2004; Gary Sheffield 1992.

At least 49 Home Runs sorted by HR, HR%:

Year	L	Team	First	Last	bats	BA%	HR%	BAplayer	HRratePlay	HR	AB	H	BB	BA_L	HRrate_L	BA1	Age	throws	Lname
2001	NL	SFN	Barry	Bonds	L	25.39%	78.15%	0.3277	6.52	73	476	156	177	0.26137	29.844	No	37	L	Bonds
1998	NL	SLN	Mark	McGwire	R	14.11%	78.97%	0.2986	7.27	70	509	152	162	0.2617	34.581	No	35	R	McGwire
1998	NL	CHN	Sammy	Sosa	R	17.67%	71.83%	0.3079	9.74	66	643	198	73	0.2617	34.581	No	30	R	Sosa
1999	NL	SLN	Mark	McGwire	R	3.74%	73.95%	0.2783	8.02	65	521	145	133	0.26828	30.768	No	36	R	McGwire
2001	NL	CHN	Sammy	Sosa	R	25.32%	69.79%	0.3276	9.02	64	577	189	116	0.26137	29.844	No	33	R	Sosa
1999	NL	CHN	Sammy	Sosa	R	7.35%	67.76%	0.288	9.92	63	625	180	78	0.26828	30.768	No	31	R	Sosa
1997			Mark	McGwire	R	1.28%	70.73%	0.2741	9.63	58	540	148	101	0.27061	32.909	No	34	R	McGwire
2006	NL	PHI	Ryan	Howard	L	18.42%	67.98%	0.3133	10.02	58	581	182	108	0.26452	31.283	No	27	L	Howard
2002	AL	TEX	Alex	Rodriguez	R	13.61%	65.32%	0.2997	10.95	57	624	187	87	0.26378	31.57	No	27	R	Rodriguez
2001	NL	ARI	Luis	Gonzalez	L	24.39%	64.20%	0.3251	10.68	57	609	198	100	0.26137	29.844	No	34	R	Gonzalez
1997	AL	SEA	Ken	Griffey	L	12.44%	65.63%	0.3043	10.86	56	608	185	76	0.27061	31.585	No	28	L	Griffey
1998	AL	SEA	Ken	Griffey	L	4.81%	63.98%	0.2844	11.3	56	633	180	76	0.27132	31.379	No	29	L	Griffey
2007	AL	NYA	Alex	Rodriguez	R	16.03%	68.95%	0.3139	10.8	54	583	183	95	0.27053	34.766	No	32	R	Rodriguez
2006	AL	BOS	David	Ortiz	L	4.34%	66.48%	0.2867	10.33	54	558	160	119	0.27481	30.832	No	31	L	Ortiz
1996	AL	OAK	Mark	McGwire	R	12.58%	71.80%	0.3121	8.13	52	423	132	116	0.27718	28.844	No	33	R	McGwire
2002	AL	CLE	Jim	Thome	L	15.31%	70.76%	0.3042	9.23	52	480	146	122	0.26378	31.57	No	32	R	Thome
2001	AL	TEX	Alex	Rodriguez	R	19.17%	61.02%	0.318	12.15	52	632	201	75	0.26687	31.179	No	26	R	Rodriguez
1990	AL	DET	Cecil	Fielder	R	7.09%	73.73%	0.2775	11.24	51	573	159	90	0.25911	42.762	No	27	R	Fielder
2005	NL	ATL	Andruw	Jones	R	0.43%	66.36%	0.2628	11.49	51	586	154	64	0.26167	34.155	No	28	R	Jones
1998	NL	SDN	Greg	Vaughn	R	4.03%	66.86%	0.2723	11.46	50	573	156	79	0.2617	34.581	No	33	R	Vaughn
1995	AL	CLE	Albert	Belle	R	17.23%	66.01%	0.3168	10.92	50	546	173	73	0.27029	32.127	No	29	R	Belle
2007	NL	MIL	Prince	Fielder	L	8.29%	65.36%	0.288	11.46	50	573	165	90	0.26591	33.083	No	23	R	Fielder
1996	AL	BAL	Brady	Anderson	L	7.17%	59.85%	0.2971	11.58	50	579	172	76	0.27718	28.844	No	32	L	Anderson
2000	NL	CHN	Sammy	Sosa	R	20.19%	59.09%	0.3195	12.08	50	604	193	91	0.26587	29.532	No	32	R	Sosa
1997	NL	COL	Larry	Walker	L	39.27%	67.52%	0.3662	11.59	49	568	208	78	0.26294	35.693	No	31	R	Walker
2000	NL	SFN	Barry	Bonds	L	15.19%	66.83%	0.3063	9.8	49	480	147	117	0.26587	29.532	No	36	L	Bonds
2002	NL	CHN	Sammy	Sosa	R	11.04%	66.46%	0.2878	11.35	49	556	160	103	0.25916	33.832	No	34	R	Sosa
2001	AL	CLE	Jim	Thome	L	8.99%	65.57%	0.2909	10.73	49	526	153	111	0.26687	31.179	No	31	R	Thome
2006	NL	SLN	Albert	Pujols	R	25.07%	65.10%	0.3308	10.92	49	535	177	92	0.26452	31.283	No	26	R	Pujols
1996	AL	SEA	Ken	Griffey	L	9.23%	61.44%	0.3028	11.12	49	545	165	78	0.27718	28.844	No	27	L	Griffey
1998	AL	CHA	Albert	Belle	R	21.04%	60.39%	0.3284	12.43	49	609	200	81	0.27132	31.379	No	32	R	Belle
2001	NL	COL	Todd	Helton	L	28.40%	59.86%	0.3356	11.98	49	587	197	98	0.26137	29.844	No	28	L	Helton
2001	NL	LAN	Shawn	Green	L	13.73%	57.67%	0.2973	12.63	49	619	184	72	0.26137	29.844	No	29	L	Green
Year	L	Team	First	Last	bats	BA%	HR%	BAplayer	HRratePlay	HR	AB	H	BB	BA_L	HRrate_L	BA1	Age	throws	Lname

Mark McGwire has the best HR% in this group, too, with Barry Bonds again a very close second. McGwire is on this list four times, Bonds only twice. Sammy Sosa five. Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey three each. I'd give the edge to McGwire over Bonds but that might simply be more PED years and also Bonds walking ridiculous numbers of times; see BB in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in the first group sorted by HR% when Bonds hit 46, 45, 45 HR.

Batting Average and Home Run Rate percentages above the league 1950-2019. Williams and Schmidt lead. Saturday, February 5, 2022

1950-1969: Home Run Rate (AB/HR) percentages above the league. Willie McCovey #1. Monday, February 7, 2022

1970-1989: Home Run Rate (AB/HR) percentages above the league. Mike Schmidt #1. Wednesday, February 9, 2022