50 Home Runs: Home Run Rate (AB/HR) percentages above the league. What about Sac Flies? Cal Raleigh?

50 Home Runs: Home Run Rate (AB/HR) percentages above the league. Babe Ruth #1. Pete Alonso dead last.  Monday, February 14, 2022

This is an update and hopefully an improvement.

I tried the numbers adding Sacrifice Flies (SF) to At Bats (AB) but omitted them in the final version. Some seasons did not have SF. I went through a lot of this in posts dealing with .400 Batting Average (BA). I calculated SF for those individuals but this post requires them for seasons and there was no way get SF numbers for the American and National Leagues. In this data you will see SF for Babe Ruth.

Hornsby (twice), Cobb, Heilmann, Terry lose .400 Batting Average when adding Sacrifice Flies to At Bats.  Monday, May 26, 2025

In 1997 Mark McGwire hit the most HR in MLB but did not lead with AL or NL because he was traded during the season from AL Oakland to NL St. Louis. To keep it simple, I used MLB totals divided by two for his league stats for 1997.

First let's look at the 54 seasons of at least 50 Home Runs (HR) sorted by HR then Year.

The key field is %Dif: the percent above the league HR rate (AB/HR) for the batter that season. AB/HR: lower is better, fewer AB to hit a HR on average.

Max is bold.    Min is red.

Rk	Player	HR	Year	AB	SF	AB/HR	abL/hrL	Dif	%Dif	OPS+	Age	Team	Lg	Player
1	Barry Bonds	73	2001	476	2	6.521	29.844	23.324	78.15%	259	36	SFG	NL	Barry Bonds
2	Mark McGwire	70	1998	509	4	7.271	34.581	27.309	78.97%	216	34	STL	NL	Mark McGwire
3	Sammy Sosa	66	1998	643	5	9.742	34.581	24.838	71.83%	160	29	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
4	Mark McGwire	65	1999	521	5	8.015	30.768	22.752	73.95%	177	35	STL	NL	Mark McGwire
5	Sammy Sosa	64	2001	577	12	9.016	29.844	20.829	69.79%	203	32	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
6	Sammy Sosa	63	1999	625	6	9.921	30.768	20.847	67.76%	151	30	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
7	Aaron Judge	62	2022	570	5	9.194	31.997	22.803	71.27%	210	30	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
8	Roger Maris	61	1961	590	7	9.672	35.791	26.119	72.98%	167	26	NYY	AL	Roger Maris
9	Babe Ruth	60	1927	540	11	9.000	95.938	86.938	90.62%	225	32	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
9	Cal Raleigh	60	2025	596	3	9.933	27.772	17.838	64.23%	169	28	SEA	AL	Cal Raleigh
11	Babe Ruth	59	1921	540	3	9.153	90.096	80.944	89.84%	239	26	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
11	Giancarlo Stanton	59	2017	597	3	10.119	28.120	18.002	64.02%	169	27	MIA	NL	Giancarlo Stanton
13	Jimmie Foxx	58	1932	585		10.086	61.413	51.327	83.58%	207	24	PHA	AL	Jimmie Foxx
13	Hank Greenberg	58	1938	556		9.586	49.190	39.604	80.51%	169	27	DET	AL	Hank Greenberg
13	Mark McGwire	58	1997	540	7	9.310	33.500	24.189	72.21%	170	33	OAK,STL	AL,NL	Mark McGwire
13	Ryan Howard	58	2006	581	6	10.017	31.283	21.266	67.98%	167	26	PHI	NL	Ryan Howard
13	Aaron Judge	58	2024	559	2	9.638	30.052	20.414	67.93%	225	32	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
18	Luis Gonzalez	57	2001	609	5	10.684	29.844	19.160	64.20%	174	33	ARI	NL	Luis Gonzalez
18	Álex Rodríguez	57	2002	624	4	10.947	31.570	20.622	65.32%	158	26	TEX	AL	Álex Rodríguez
20	Hack Wilson	56	1930	585		10.446	48.983	38.537	78.67%	177	30	CHC	NL	Hack Wilson
20	Ken Griffey Jr.	56	1997	608	12	10.857	31.585	20.727	65.63%	165	27	SEA	AL	Ken Griffey Jr.
20	Ken Griffey Jr.	56	1998	633	4	11.304	31.379	20.075	63.98%	150	28	SEA	AL	Ken Griffey Jr.
20	Kyle Schwarber	56	2025	604	1	10.786	30.268	19.483	64.37%	150	32	PHI	NL	Kyle Schwarber
24	Shohei Ohtani	55	2025	611	2	11.109	30.268	19.159	63.30%	179	30	LAD	NL	Shohei Ohtani
25	Babe Ruth	54	1920	458	5	8.481	113.772	105.291	92.55%	255	25	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
25	Babe Ruth	54	1928	536	8	9.926	87.255	77.329	88.62%	206	33	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
25	Ralph Kiner	54	1949	549		10.167	45.680	35.514	77.74%	186	26	PIT	NL	Ralph Kiner
25	Mickey Mantle	54	1961	514	5	9.519	35.791	26.273	73.41%	206	29	NYY	AL	Mickey Mantle
25	David Ortiz	54	2006	558	5	10.333	30.832	20.498	66.48%	161	30	BOS	AL	David Ortiz
25	Álex Rodríguez	54	2007	583	9	10.796	34.766	23.970	68.95%	176	31	NYY	AL	Álex Rodríguez
25	José Bautista	54	2010	569	4	10.537	35.069	24.532	69.95%	164	29	TOR	AL	José Bautista
25	Matt Olson	54	2023	608	4	11.259	27.800	16.541	59.50%	164	29	ATL	NL	Matt Olson
25	Shohei Ohtani	54	2024	636	5	11.778	29.984	18.207	60.72%	187	29	LAD	NL	Shohei Ohtani
35	Chris Davis	53	2013	584	7	11.019	33.282	22.263	66.89%	168	27	BAL	AL	Chris Davis
35	Pete Alonso	53	2019	597	3	11.264	25.195	13.931	55.29%	147	24	NYM	NL	Pete Alonso
35	Aaron Judge	53	2025	541	7	10.208	27.772	17.564	63.24%	215	33	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
39	Mickey Mantle	52	1956	533	4	10.250	39.076	28.826	73.77%	210	24	NYY	AL	Mickey Mantle
39	Willie Mays	52	1965	558	2	10.731	42.015	31.284	74.46%	185	34	SFG	NL	Willie Mays
39	George Foster	52	1977	615	8	11.827	40.895	29.068	71.08%	165	28	CIN	NL	George Foster
39	Mark McGwire	52	1996	423	1	8.135	28.844	20.709	71.80%	196	32	OAK	AL	Mark McGwire
39	Álex Rodríguez	52	2001	632	9	12.154	31.179	19.025	61.02%	160	25	TEX	AL	Álex Rodríguez
39	Jim Thome	52	2002	480	6	9.231	31.570	22.339	70.76%	197	31	CLE	AL	Jim Thome
39	Aaron Judge	52	2017	542	4	10.423	26.194	15.771	60.21%	171	25	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
46	Ralph Kiner	51	1947	565		11.078	47.894	36.815	76.87%	173	24	PIT	NL	Ralph Kiner
46	Johnny Mize	51	1947	586		11.490	47.894	36.404	76.01%	160	34	NYG	NL	Johnny Mize
46	Willie Mays	51	1955	580	7	11.373	33.074	21.702	65.62%	174	24	NYG	NL	Willie Mays
46	Cecil Fielder	51	1990	573	5	11.235	42.762	31.526	73.73%	167	26	DET	AL	Cecil Fielder
46	Andruw Jones	51	2005	586	7	11.490	34.155	22.665	66.36%	136	28	ATL	NL	Andruw Jones
52	Jimmie Foxx	50	1938	565		11.300	49.190	37.890	77.03%	183	30	BOS	AL	Jimmie Foxx
52	Albert Belle	50	1995	546	4	10.920	32.127	21.207	66.01%	177	28	CLE	AL	Albert Belle
52	Brady Anderson	50	1996	579	4	11.580	28.844	17.264	59.85%	156	32	BAL	AL	Brady Anderson
52	Greg Vaughn	50	1998	573	4	11.460	34.581	23.121	66.86%	156	32	SDP	NL	Greg Vaughn
52	Sammy Sosa	50	2000	604	8	12.080	29.532	17.452	59.09%	161	31	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
51	Prince Fielder	50	2007	573	4	11.460	33.083	21.623	65.36%	157	23	MIL	NL	Prince Fielder
Rk	Player	HR	Year	AB	SF	AB/HR	abL/hrL	Dif	%Dif	OPS+	Age	Team	Lg	Player
	max	73	2025	643	12	12.154	113.772	105.291	92.55%	259	36	max		max
	min	50	1920	423	1	6.521	25.195	13.931	55.29%	136	23	min		min

Sorted by %Dif:

Ruth's dominance would be even greater if had subtracted individual HR and AB from the league. In 1920 and 1927 Ruth out homered every other AL team. In 1920 the AL hit 369 HR. Ruth hit 54/369=14.6%.

Rk	Player	HR	Year	AB	SF	AB/HR	abL/hrL	Dif	%Dif	OPS+	Age	Team	Lg	Player
25	Babe Ruth	54	1920	458	5	8.481	113.772	105.291	92.55%	255	25	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
9	Babe Ruth	60	1927	540	11	9.000	95.938	86.938	90.62%	225	32	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
11	Babe Ruth	59	1921	540	3	9.153	90.096	80.944	89.84%	239	26	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
25	Babe Ruth	54	1928	536	8	9.926	87.255	77.329	88.62%	206	33	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
13	Jimmie Foxx	58	1932	585		10.086	61.413	51.327	83.58%	207	24	PHA	AL	Jimmie Foxx
13	Hank Greenberg	58	1938	556		9.586	49.190	39.604	80.51%	169	27	DET	AL	Hank Greenberg
2	Mark McGwire	70	1998	509	4	7.271	34.581	27.309	78.97%	216	34	STL	NL	Mark McGwire
20	Hack Wilson	56	1930	585		10.446	48.983	38.537	78.67%	177	30	CHC	NL	Hack Wilson
1	Barry Bonds	73	2001	476	2	6.521	29.844	23.324	78.15%	259	36	SFG	NL	Barry Bonds
25	Ralph Kiner	54	1949	549		10.167	45.680	35.514	77.74%	186	26	PIT	NL	Ralph Kiner
52	Jimmie Foxx	50	1938	565		11.300	49.190	37.890	77.03%	183	30	BOS	AL	Jimmie Foxx
46	Ralph Kiner	51	1947	565		11.078	47.894	36.815	76.87%	173	24	PIT	NL	Ralph Kiner
46	Johnny Mize	51	1947	586		11.490	47.894	36.404	76.01%	160	34	NYG	NL	Johnny Mize
39	Willie Mays	52	1965	558	2	10.731	42.015	31.284	74.46%	185	34	SFG	NL	Willie Mays
4	Mark McGwire	65	1999	521	5	8.015	30.768	22.752	73.95%	177	35	STL	NL	Mark McGwire
39	Mickey Mantle	52	1956	533	4	10.250	39.076	28.826	73.77%	210	24	NYY	AL	Mickey Mantle
46	Cecil Fielder	51	1990	573	5	11.235	42.762	31.526	73.73%	167	26	DET	AL	Cecil Fielder
25	Mickey Mantle	54	1961	514	5	9.519	35.791	26.273	73.41%	206	29	NYY	AL	Mickey Mantle
8	Roger Maris	61	1961	590	7	9.672	35.791	26.119	72.98%	167	26	NYY	AL	Roger Maris
13	Mark McGwire	58	1997	540	7	9.310	33.500	24.189	72.21%	170	33	OAK,STL	AL,NL	Mark McGwire
3	Sammy Sosa	66	1998	643	5	9.742	34.581	24.838	71.83%	160	29	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
39	Mark McGwire	52	1996	423	1	8.135	28.844	20.709	71.80%	196	32	OAK	AL	Mark McGwire
7	Aaron Judge	62	2022	570	5	9.194	31.997	22.803	71.27%	210	30	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
39	George Foster	52	1977	615	8	11.827	40.895	29.068	71.08%	165	28	CIN	NL	George Foster
39	Jim Thome	52	2002	480	6	9.231	31.570	22.339	70.76%	197	31	CLE	AL	Jim Thome
25	José Bautista	54	2010	569	4	10.537	35.069	24.532	69.95%	164	29	TOR	AL	José Bautista
5	Sammy Sosa	64	2001	577	12	9.016	29.844	20.829	69.79%	203	32	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
25	Álex Rodríguez	54	2007	583	9	10.796	34.766	23.970	68.95%	176	31	NYY	AL	Álex Rodríguez
13	Ryan Howard	58	2006	581	6	10.017	31.283	21.266	67.98%	167	26	PHI	NL	Ryan Howard
13	Aaron Judge	58	2024	559	2	9.638	30.052	20.414	67.93%	225	32	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
6	Sammy Sosa	63	1999	625	6	9.921	30.768	20.847	67.76%	151	30	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
35	Chris Davis	53	2013	584	7	11.019	33.282	22.263	66.89%	168	27	BAL	AL	Chris Davis
52	Greg Vaughn	50	1998	573	4	11.460	34.581	23.121	66.86%	156	32	SDP	NL	Greg Vaughn
25	David Ortiz	54	2006	558	5	10.333	30.832	20.498	66.48%	161	30	BOS	AL	David Ortiz
46	Andruw Jones	51	2005	586	7	11.490	34.155	22.665	66.36%	136	28	ATL	NL	Andruw Jones
52	Albert Belle	50	1995	546	4	10.920	32.127	21.207	66.01%	177	28	CLE	AL	Albert Belle
20	Ken Griffey Jr.	56	1997	608	12	10.857	31.585	20.727	65.63%	165	27	SEA	AL	Ken Griffey Jr.
46	Willie Mays	51	1955	580	7	11.373	33.074	21.702	65.62%	174	24	NYG	NL	Willie Mays
51	Prince Fielder	50	2007	573	4	11.460	33.083	21.623	65.36%	157	23	MIL	NL	Prince Fielder
18	Álex Rodríguez	57	2002	624	4	10.947	31.570	20.622	65.32%	158	26	TEX	AL	Álex Rodríguez
20	Kyle Schwarber	56	2025	604	1	10.786	30.268	19.483	64.37%	150	32	PHI	NL	Kyle Schwarber
9	Cal Raleigh	60	2025	596	3	9.933	27.772	17.838	64.23%	169	28	SEA	AL	Cal Raleigh
18	Luis Gonzalez	57	2001	609	5	10.684	29.844	19.160	64.20%	174	33	ARI	NL	Luis Gonzalez
11	Giancarlo Stanton	59	2017	597	3	10.119	28.120	18.002	64.02%	169	27	MIA	NL	Giancarlo Stanton
20	Ken Griffey Jr.	56	1998	633	4	11.304	31.379	20.075	63.98%	150	28	SEA	AL	Ken Griffey Jr.
24	Shohei Ohtani	55	2025	611	2	11.109	30.268	19.159	63.30%	179	30	LAD	NL	Shohei Ohtani
35	Aaron Judge	53	2025	541	7	10.208	27.772	17.564	63.24%	215	33	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
39	Álex Rodríguez	52	2001	632	9	12.154	31.179	19.025	61.02%	160	25	TEX	AL	Álex Rodríguez
25	Shohei Ohtani	54	2024	636	5	11.778	29.984	18.207	60.72%	187	29	LAD	NL	Shohei Ohtani
39	Aaron Judge	52	2017	542	4	10.423	26.194	15.771	60.21%	171	25	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
52	Brady Anderson	50	1996	579	4	11.580	28.844	17.264	59.85%	156	32	BAL	AL	Brady Anderson
25	Matt Olson	54	2023	608	4	11.259	27.800	16.541	59.50%	164	29	ATL	NL	Matt Olson
52	Sammy Sosa	50	2000	604	8	12.080	29.532	17.452	59.09%	161	31	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
35	Pete Alonso	53	2019	597	3	11.264	25.195	13.931	55.29%	147	24	NYM	NL	Pete Alonso
Rk	Player	HR	Year	AB	SF	AB/HR	abL/hrL	Dif	%Dif	OPS+	Age	Team	Lg	Player
	max	73	2025	643	12	12.154	113.772	105.291	92.55%	259	36	max		max
	min	50	1920	423	1	6.521	25.195	13.931	55.29%	136	23	min		min

Take another look at the ten 60 HR seasons:

Rk	Player	HR	Year	AB	SF	AB/HR	abL/hrL	Dif	%Dif	OPS+	Age	Team	Lg	Player
9	Babe Ruth	60	1927	540	11	9.000	95.938	86.938	90.62%	225	32	NYY	AL	Babe Ruth
2	Mark McGwire	70	1998	509	4	7.271	34.581	27.309	78.97%	216	34	STL	NL	Mark McGwire
1	Barry Bonds	73	2001	476	2	6.521	29.844	23.324	78.15%	259	36	SFG	NL	Barry Bonds
4	Mark McGwire	65	1999	521	5	8.015	30.768	22.752	73.95%	177	35	STL	NL	Mark McGwire
8	Roger Maris	61	1961	590	7	9.672	35.791	26.119	72.98%	167	26	NYY	AL	Roger Maris
3	Sammy Sosa	66	1998	643	5	9.742	34.581	24.838	71.83%	160	29	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
7	Aaron Judge	62	2022	570	5	9.194	31.997	22.803	71.27%	210	30	NYY	AL	Aaron Judge
5	Sammy Sosa	64	2001	577	12	9.016	29.844	20.829	69.79%	203	32	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
6	Sammy Sosa	63	1999	625	6	9.921	30.768	20.847	67.76%	151	30	CHC	NL	Sammy Sosa
9	Cal Raleigh	60	2025	596	3	9.933	27.772	17.838	64.23%	169	28	SEA	AL	Cal Raleigh

The newest, Cal Raleigh, has the lowest %Dif.

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