40 home runs, not easy

A couple of months ago, I was listening to a podcast show and in the show, the host indicated that it has been quite a while without seeing any players from “a team” hit 40+ home runs in a single season. Nowadays, hitters tend to hit the ball in the air and there are more home runs in today’s baseball games. However, blasting 40 home runs in a single season is not so easy.

 

Back in 2000, Sammy Sosa blasted 50 home runs and Barry Bonds crushed 49 HRs. In that season, there were 16 players who hit at least 40 home runs. The next year, Barry Bonds smashed 73 home runs, which is still the record of most single-season home runs. Additionally, Sammy Sosa hit 64 home runs in 2001. Meanwhile, Luis Gonzalez and Alex Rodriguez each crushed 50+ home runs. In total, 12 players each hit at least 40 home runs in 2001.

 

In 2002, 8 players each hit at least 40 HRs. Alex Rodriguez and Hall of Famer Jim Thome each blasted 50+ home runs this year. The next season, Alex Rodriguez and Jim Thome were home run leaders with 47 home runs. And, there were 10 batters who hit 40+ home runs in that season.

 

In 2004 and 2005, there were 9 players who hit 40+ home runs each season. In 2006, 11 batters each blasted 40+ home runs. Ryan Howard and Hall of Famer David Ortiz each had 50+ home runs.

 

In 2007, only 5 players hit at least 40 home runs. The next season, Ryan Howard and Adam Dunn were the only two players who had 40+ home runs.   

 

From 2007 to 2018, there were fewer than 10 players who hit at least 40 home runs each season. It had been quite rare to see a player with 40+ home runs in a single season.

 

However, things changed a little bit in 2019. Pete Alonso won the NL Rookie of the Year award. He finished the 2019 season with 53 home runs and was the only player with 50+ home runs in that season. In total, 10 players each crushed at least 40 home runs.

 

Well, we all know that the 2020 season was a shortened season and each team only played 60 games. Luke Voit was the home run leader in 2020 and he hit 22 home runs.

 

Last season, 5 players each blasted 40+ home runs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Salvador Perez each hit 48 home runs in 2021. This season, all spotlights focused on Aaron Judge during the regular season. Judge had a great season, hitting .311/.425/.686 with 62 home runs and 131 RBI. Judge is now the new AL single-season home run king. But, only 4 players had 40+ home runs this year.

 

Since 2007, it hasn’t been easy to see 10+ batters who each hit at least 40 home runs in a single season. Hence, for some teams, it’s highly possible that there haven’t been any players with 40+ HRs in a single season because there are actually fewer players who can hit 40 home runs in a single season. So, for the fans of that team, they might still have to wait for a while to see the next player who can crush 40 home runs in a single season.