Read about the first time Babe Ruth broke the HR record in 1919
Single-Season Home Run Records Before 49 in a Season
| Major Leagues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 27 | Ed Williamson, | Chicago White Stockings | (National League) |
| 1899 | 25 | Buck Freeman, | Washington Senators | (National League) |
| 1919 | 29 | Babe Ruth, | Boston Red Sox | (American League) |
| Minor Leagues | ||||
| 1895 | 45 | Perry Werden | Minneapolis Millers | (Western League) |
| Pacific Coast League | ||||
| 1904 | 25 | Charles “Truck” Eagan | Tacoma Tigers | |
| 1910 | 30 | Ping Bodie | San Francisco Seals | |
All Baseball Players With 49 Home Runs or More In One Season
Year HR# Name Team (affiliation) League (Class)
1920 54 Babe Ruth New York Yankees American League (majors)
1921 59 Babe Ruth New York Yankees American League (majors)
1923 49 Moses "Moe" Solomon 49 Hutchinson Wheat Shockers Southwestern League (C)#
0 New York Giants National League (majors)
1924 55 Clarence "Big Boy" Kraft Fort Worth Pioneers Texas League (A)
51 Wilbur Davis Okmulgee Drillers Western Association (C)
51 Cecil "Stormy" Davis Okmulgee Drillers Western Association (C)
1925 60 Tony Lazzeri Salt Lake City Bees Pacific Coast League (AA)
1926 62 Moose Clabaugh 62 Tyler Trojans East Texas League (D)
0 Brooklyn Dodgers National League (majors)
49 Guy Sturdy Tulsa Oilers Western League (B)
1927 60 Babe Ruth New York Yankees American League (majors)
49 Lou Gehrig New York Yankees American League (majors)
1929 55 Ike Boone Mission (SF) Reds Pacific Coast League (AA)
54 Babe Ruth New York Yankees American League (majors)
51 Gus Suhr San Francisco Seals Pacific Coast League (AA)
1930 63 Joe Hauser Baltimore Orioles International League (AA)
56 Hack Wilson Chicago Cubs National League (majors)
55 Nick Cullop 54 Minneapolis Millers American Association (AA)
1 Cincinnati Reds National League (majors)
52 Pat Wright Fort Wayne Chiefs Central League (B)
50 James Partridge 40 Nashville Volunteers Southern Association (AA)
10 Jeanette(PA) Jays Middle Atlantic League (C)
49 Babe Ruth New York Yankees American League (majors)
1932 58 Jimmie Foxx Philadelphia Athletics American League (majors)
54 "Buzz" Arlett Baltimore Orioles International League (AA)
49 Joe Hauser Minneapolis Millers American Association (AA)
1933 69 Joe Hauser Minneapolis Millers American Association (AA)
1934 49 Lou Gehrig New York Yankees American League (majors)
1935 56 Gene Lilliard Los Angeles Angels Pacific Coast League (AA)
53 George Puccinelli Baltimore Orioles International League (AA)
1936 51 John Winsett 50 Columbus Redbirds American Association (AA)
1 Brooklyn Dodgers National League (majors)
49 Lou Gehrig New York Yankees American League (majors)
1938 58 Hank Greenburg Detroit Tigers American League (majors)
50 Jimmie Foxx Boston Red Sox American League (majors)
1939 58 Tony Robello Pocatello Cardinals Pioneer League (C)
1947 58 Buck Frierson Sherman-Denison Twins Big State League (B)
57 D.C. "Pud" Miller Wichita Falls(TX) Spudders Big State League (B)
57 Bill Serena 57 Lubbock Hubbers West Texas-New Mexico Lg. (C)
0 Dallas Eagles Texas League (AA)
53 Howie Moss 53 Baltimore Orioles International League (AAA)
0 Cleveland Indians American League (majors)
52 Bob Crues Amarillo Gold Sox West Texas-New Mexico Lg. (C)
52 Calvin Felix Las Vegas Wranglers Sunset League (C)
51 Ralph Kiner Pittsburgh Pirates National League (majors)
51 Johnny Mize New York Giants National League (majors)
50 Hank Sauer Syracuse Chiefs International League (AAA)
49 Gordon Nell Borger Gassers West Texas-New Mexico Lg. (C)
1948 69 Bob Crues Amarillo Gold Sox West Texas-New Mexico Lg. (C)
52 Chuck Workman Nashville Vols American Association (AA)
1949 55 Lee "Muscle" Shoals Redsville Luckies Carolina League (B)
54 Ralph Kiner Pittsburgh Pirates National League (majors)
55 D.C. "Pud" Miller 52 Lamesa Lobos West Texas-New Mexici Lg. (C)
3 Gladewater(TX) Bears East Texas League (C)
50 Jerry Witte Dallas Eagles Texas League (AA)
1950 53 Jesse McClain Harlingen Capitols Rio Grande Valley Lg, (C)
50 Manuel Salvatierra 49 Laredo Apaches Rio Grande Valley Lg. (C)
1 Austin Pioneers Big State League (B)
1952 50 Joe Bauman Artesia Drillers Longhorn League (C)
1953 53 Joe Bauman Artesia Drillers Longhorn League (C)
52 Frank Gravino Fargo-Moorhead Twins Northern League (C)
50 Jim Matthews Amarillo Gold Sox West Texas-New Mexico Lg. (C)
1954 72 Joe Bauman Roswell Rockets Longhorn League (C)
64 Bob Lennon 64 Nashville Vols Southern Association (AA)
0 New York Giants National League (majors)
56 Frank Gravino Fargo-Moorhead Twins Northern League (C)
49 Ted Kluszewski Cincinnati Redlegs National League (majors)
1955 51 Willie Mays New York Giants National League (majors)
1956 66 Dick Stuart Lincoln Chiefs Western League (A)
62 Ken Guettler Shreveport Ports Texas League (AA)
60 "Frosty" Kennedy Plainview Ponies Southwestern League (B)
55 Steve Bilko Los Angeles Angels Pacific Coast League (Open)
52 Mickey Mantle New York Yankees American League (majors)
51 Bud Heslet Visalia Cubs California League (C)
51 Len Tucker Pampa (TX) Oilers Southwestern League (B)
51 Leon Wagner Danville Leafs Carolina League (B)
49 Allen Weygandt Topeka Hawks Western League (A)
1957 56 Steve Bilko Los Angeles Angels Pacific Coast League (Open)
1961 61 Roger Maris New York Yankees American League (majors)
54 Mickey Mantle New York Yankees American League (majors)
1962 59 Ramiro Caballero Guanajuato Tuzos Mexican Central League (A)
49 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants National League (majors)
1964 49 Harmon Killebrew Minnesota Twins American League (majors)
49 Hector Espino 46 Monterrey Sultanes Mexican League (AA)
3 Jacksonville Suns International League (AAA)
1965 52 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants National League (majors)
1966 55 Herberto Vargas 55 Guanajuato Tuzos Mexican Central League (A)
0 Poza Rica Mexican League (AA)
49 Frank Robinson Baltimore Orioles American League (majors)
1968 49 Tony Solaita 49 High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Carolina League (A)
2 [Carolina League Playoffs] for 51
1969 49 Harmon Killebrew Minnesota Twins American League (majors)
1974 55 Bill McNulty Sacramento Salons Pacific Coast League (AAA)
53 Gorman Thomas 51 Sacramento Salons Pacific Coast League (AAA)
2 Milwaukee Brewers American League (majors)
1977 52 George Foster Cincinnati Reds National League (majors)
1982 50 Ron Kittle Edmonton Trappers Pacific Coast League (AAA)
1986 54 Jack Pierce Leon Braves Mexican League (AAA)
53 Nicholas Castanada San Luis Potosi Tuneros Mexican League (AAA)
1987 49 Mark McGwire Oakland Athletics American League (majors)
49 Andre Dawson Chicago Cubs National League (majors)
1990 51 Cecil Fielder Detroit Tigers American League
1995 50 Albert Belle Cleveland Indians American League
1996 52 Mark McGwire Oakland Athletics American League
50 Brady Anderson Baltimore Orioles American League
1997 58 Mark McGwire 34 Oakland Athletics American League
24 St. Louis Cardinals National League
56 Ken Griffey, Jr. Seattle Mariners American League
1998 70 Mark McGwire St. Louis Cardinals National League
66 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs National League
56 Ken Griffey, Jr. Seattle Mariners American League
50 Greg Vaughn San Diego Padres National League
49 Albert Belle Chicago White Sox American League
1999 65 Mark McGwire St. Louis Cardinals National League
63 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs National League
2000 50 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs National League
49 Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants National League
2001 73 Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants National League
64 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs National League
57 Luis Gonzales Arizona Diamondbacks National League
52 Alex Rodriguez Texas Rangers American League
49 Jim Thome Cleveland Indians American League
49 Shawn Green Los Angeles Dodgers National League
49 Todd Helton Colorado Rockies National League
2002 57 Alex Rodriguez Texas Rangers American League
52 Jim Thome Cleveland Indians American League
49 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs National League
2005 51 Andruw Jones Atlanta Braves National League
2006 58 Ryan Howard Philadelphia Phillies National League
54 David Ortiz Boston Red Sox American League
49 Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals National League
2007 54 Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees American League
50 Prince Fielder Milwaukee Brewers National League
Footnote #- Moses “Moe” Solomon also known as “the Rabbi of Swat” In 1923 led Southwestern Lg. with 222 hits and 143 runs; had 104 extra base hits, 439 total bases, batted .421, as well as a new minor league record 49 home runs.
• Minor league affiliates for above not included at this time.
1894 60 Grant “Home Run” Johnson Findlay Sluggers National American Semi-Pro Baseball Association 2001 53 Marty Watson Evansville Outlaws
Noteworthy 48 home run seasons:
Independent league record 2000 48 Ozzie Canseco Newark Bears Atlantic League (Ind.) NCAA Division I record 1985 48 Pete Incaviglia Oklahoma State
Other noteworthy single-season home run record ·· 78-year old record !:
Eastern League single-season HR record holders Progression:
(NOTE: The Eastern League was known as the New York-Pennsylvania League, 1923-1937) 1923 19 Bill Batch York White Roses New York-Penn League 1925 33 Joe Munson Harrisburg Senators New York-Penn League 1930 41 Ken Strong Hazleton Mountaineers New York-Penn League (B) 1979 41 Rick Lancellotti Buffalo Bisons Eastern League (AA) Close but no cigar over the years: 1962 38 Ken Harrelson Binghamton Triplets Eastern League 1973 38 Tom Robson Pittsfield Rangers Eastern League 1981 40 Ron Kittle Glens Falls White Sox Eastern League 1999 38 Chris Norton Portland Sea Dogs Eastern League 2004 39 Mitch Jones Trenton Thunder Eastern League
1950 51 Makato Kozuru Shochiku Robins Central League
1963 52 Katsuya Momura Nankai Hawks Pacific League
1964 55 Sadaharu Oh Yomiuri Giants Central League
1968 49 Sadaharu Oh Yomiuri Giants Central League
1973 51 Sadaharu Oh Yomiuri Giants Central League
1974 49 Sadaharu Oh Yomiuri Giants Central League
1976 49 Sadaharu Oh Yomiuri Giants Central League
1977 50 Sadaharu Oh Yomiuri Giants Central League
1985 54 Randy Bass Hanshin Tigers Central League
52 Hiromitsu Ochai Lotte Orions Pacific League
1986 50 Hiromitsu Ochai Lotte Orions Pacific League
1989 49 Ralph Bryant Kintetsu Buffaloes Pacific League
2001 55 Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes Pacific League
49 Alex Cabrera Seibu Lions Pacific League
2002 55 Alex Cabrera Seibu Lions Pacific League
50 Hideki Matsui Yamiuri Giants Central League
2003 51 Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes Pacific League
50 Alex Cabrera Seibu Lions Pacific League
1999 54 Lee Seung-yeop Samsung Lions
2003 56 Lee Seung-yeop Samsung Lions
53 Shim Jong-soo Hyundai Unicorns
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League:
1943 10 Eleanor Dapkus Racine Belles
Mexican League
1964 46 Hector Espino Monterrey Sultanes
1986 53 Nicholas Castanada San Luis Potosi Tuneros
54 Jack Pierce Leon Braves
Negro National League
1926 27 Mule Suttles St. Louis Stars
1929 27 Willie “Devil” Wells St. Louis Stars
San Diego Padres (Pacific Coast League)
1948 48 Jack Graham
1949 48 Max West
Cuban Winter League
1928-29 7 Mule Suttles .
1938-39 11 Josh Gibson Santa Clara Leopards
1952-53 16 Lou Klein Havana Reds
Close but no cigar:
1945-46 9 Dick Sisler Havana Reds
Puerto Rican Winter League
1947-48 27 Willard “Home Run” Brown Santurce
Also see list of all players with field goals of 60 yards or more in the history of American football.
Go to the list of amazing sports lists.
This list compiled and designed by P.S.Luchter
©All Rights Reserved.
Updated 8/23/2008