Who is the rightful single season MLB Home Run Champ?

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Ruth, clearly wasn't playing against the best possible talent.

This is NOT clear to me and many others, what are you referring to here? 16 total MLB teams with 5 man rotations= 80 total MLB starting pitching spots available at the major league level at a time when ALL kids played baseball in the US. Compare that to todays watered down league post expansion and many great athletes never really playing baseball as they specialize in a number of other sports from an early age.

[oldjudge]

Babe Ruth. Throw out Bonds and Mac, they were cheating jucers. Maris only beat Ruth because the season was expanded by eight games. If Ruth had played in a 162 game season in 1927 he probably would have hit more than 61.

[mark evans]

I agree with those who believe the "shine is off the record." In reality we need three different records:

Most homers in 154-game season (Ruth), most homers in 162-game season w/out use of PED (Maris), most homers in 162-game season w/ use of PED (Bonds).

Not so clean and neat as the old days.

[Rob L]

It has to be Bonds, unfortunately!! Sentimentally, it's Raja.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

This is NOT clear to me and many others, what are you referring to here? 16 total MLB teams with 5 man rotations= 80 total MLB starting pitching spots available at the major league level at a time when ALL kids played baseball in the US. Compare that to todays watered down league post expansion and many great athletes never really playing baseball as they specialize in a number of other sports from an early age.

At the time, there were definitely some better latino and black players than many of the guys that were allowed to play at the time. But I do understand where you're coming from in regards to the number of teams and number of total starting pitchers. If anything, expansion has equalized the overall talent level in comparison to when the game was segregated.

[hunterdutchess]

Great post, I had to go with Maris on this one and I believe Aaron is still the all time champ. My reasons are selfish because it keeps me more interested in hoping I will see 62 or 756 by a player some day. I have no hate for what Bonds did and it is hard hard for us "mortals" to understand why you need a edge when you have that type of talent to begin with but it obviously made a difference when you see the HR numbers in today's game. Also Bonds paying the college tuition for the children of the man who got beat within a inch of his life was a very noble jester.

[Rob L]

Originally Posted by hunterdutchess

Also Bonds paying the college tuition for the children of the man who got beat within a inch of his life was a very noble jester.

Really, I didn't hear this. That is finally something I can positive about for Bonds. Being a huge Angels honk, I love to see the Dodgers fall on their face. But what happened to Brian Stow -still makes me cringe!!

[ullmandds]

Babe Ruth no doubt changed the game and is the greatest home run hitter and all around ball player(pitcher, fielder, hitter, runner) there ever was!

When Maris broke Ruth's record an asterisk was placed due to the increase to 162 games for the season.

So now there may as well be an asterisk next to Barry Bonds...who IS the single season home run king...for now!

[batsballsbases]

I think My Avatar says it all for me! And Jeff thanks for keeping my old Avatar alive! I see you finally won one! Or is that mine? If not good for you! Al

[Anthony S.]

1961 was an expansion year. The American League expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams. Does anybody care that there were more than 20% new pitchers in the league in 1961, who weren't good enough to be in league in 1960?