46 Responses to “Multiple Multiple Home Run Games by Quadragenarians”

1. Rich Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 1:24 pm

   It's too bad Hank Sauer played in 1957 because I'm sure some people would like to say "probably on roids!!"

2. Mike L Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 1:51 pm

   "Quadragenerians"? That's like Quadrotriticale, but for vintage baseball players? Four grain hybrids.

   I have to say, I keep coming back to B-R, because there's always something to learn

3. BSK Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 2:01 pm

   It's reached the point where just about any list involving HRs, I expect Barry Bonds to head the list. I know many hem and haw, but impressive is impressive and I'll be shocked if someone can come up with some sort of HR (or general offensive) achievement list that doesn't include him several times over.

4. Lawrence Azrin Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 2:03 pm

   @1 - Rich: Actually, steroids _were_ around then (1957), but I think only weightlifters and track and field athletes were using them.

   WARNING - not related to subject of this post:
   Today is Carl Yastrzemski's birthday - happy 72nd to the last Triple Crown Winner, and the player who made the 1967 "Impossible Dream" year possible! Boy do I feel old, I remember the end of the 1967 AL season vividly.

5. oneblankspace Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 2:07 pm

   Reggie Jackson is the only player with a 3-HR game on this list, on 11 July 1986 off of Dennis Leonard, David Cone (first batter that Cone faced), and Dan Quisenberry, finishing with a line of 4-4-3-7 with 2 walks and a GIDP. His Angels won 18-3.

   Jack Howell came on to play 3B for the Angels in the 6th inning of that game and went 3-3 with 2 2Bs.

6. David P Stokes Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 2:15 pm

   The 2 things that really jump out about that list are the insane number of IBB that Bonds got, and Henderson's SB total.

7. Jason Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 2:21 pm

   @5
   Your comment caused me to remember what Babe Ruth accomplished
   on May 25, 1935 for the Boston Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field.

   40-yr-old Babe Ruth hit 3 homers that day, one, the final one I think, was
   the longest ball ever hit at Forbes field, it left the ballpark completely.

   The Bambino retired five days later. I doubt anyone ever had such a sendoff.

   I wonder if any other players besides Reggie and Ruth ever had a three homer game past the age of 40.

8. Jimbo Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 2:27 pm

   Jason Giambi has been 40 for this entire season. He has 12 home runs, including a 3 home run game.

   Why isn't he on your list?

9. Raphy Says:
   August 22nd, 2011 at 2:34 pm

   @ 7
   see here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/6254
   Since that post, Giambi (mentioned in #8) has joined the list. He is second, with his 3 hr game coming at 40 years 131 days.

10. Raphy Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    @8 Giambi only has 1 multiple-hr game this season. The players listed all had more than 1.

11. Anon Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    @7 Jason - depends on what exactly you mean by sendoff. Ted Williams rather famously hit a HR in his last PA in 1960. He was also 1-3 with a walk, RBI and 2 runs that day. Pretty good last day. He was also 316/451/645 his last year in what is arguably the best final season ever.

    As for 3 HR games past 40, besides Ruth & Reggie, Jason Giambi did it earlier this year (5/19/11) and Stan Musial 7/8/62 against the Mets.

    @8 Jimbo - Gimabi doesn't meet the original criteria: multiple 2-HR games in a season. He hit 3 in the one game but has no other multiple HR games so far this year.

12. Pete R Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    Speaking of Thome, he has a chance of a major league first.

    He has 37 career home runs for the Twins, and 57 against them. This means that he could become the first player ever to hit 50 HR for and against the same team.

    Babe Ruth hit 49 HR for the Red Sox, then 90 against them. And I don't know anything about any rumors, but Albert Pujols has 53 HR against the Cubs...

13. Jason Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    @9
    Thanks Ralphy. Great list. Outside of Bob Thurman, Lee Lacy and Steve Finley, everyone else is HOF or should be.

    I guess you could say that the great are great late.

    @11

    Ted's homer in his final AB was pretty amamzing, indeed a great sendoff too. Ruth's HR was not his final AB, he lingered for five more days. But, I do believe a 3 HR day and hitting a ball completely out of the ballpark for the longest HR in that ballpark's history, is pretty amazing too.

    Also, remember that Ted didn't join the Sox in NY for the final 3 games of
    the season. However he did have 29 HR in his final season with about 310 AB as I remember.

    Enjoy this from the great John Updike...

    http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/hub_fans_bid_kid_adieu_article.shtml

14. Jason Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    Looking at Hank Sauer's page, it begs the question, has anyone ever accomplished a higher percentage of career totals from age 31 forward?

15. Lawrence Azrin Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    @14/ Jason - above

    Jason, I'd say Dazzy Vance; he had a grand total of 11 games/ 33 innings pitched (and 0 Wins) before age 31, so basically his career started at age 31.

    Lefty O'Doul's career was almost as extreme; 76 Games/ 78 PA before age 31.

16. John Autin Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    These don't reach the level of Vance or Sauer, but:
    -- Hoyt Wilhelm pitched about 90% of his innings after his 31st birthday.
    -- Phil Niekro amassed 83% of his wins after turning 31.

17. Richard Chester Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    @15

    Connie Marrero's ML carreer began at age 38. He pitched for 5 years.

18. Larry R. Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    How about Jamie Moyer? 82.8% of his Ws, 78.8% of his IPs, 78.2% of his Ks, etc etc, after 31.

19. Cheese Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    @12:

    Loved the #5 Pujols 'Cubs' jerseys worn by the 2 fans at the game yesterday...that and the Cubs chairman whose 'family' bought the Cubs. He is straight out of central casting.

    Also, I liked the announcers who speculated that Fielder and Pujols could swap teams this off-season. That would be something (although unlikely)

20. Cheese Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    ..although he did mention they want the new GM to bring analytic skills to the position..

21. Lawrence Azrin Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    @17/ Richard Chester - Connie Marrero's still alive at age 100! (b. 4/25/1911). I recall reading a story about him a few months ago, struggling to survive in Cuba.

    Gavvy Cravath began his "real" MLB career at age 31, Ken Williams (of the Browns) first played full-time at age 30. That fellow "The Rookie" movie was based on (Jim Morris) debuted at age 35.

    I guess it depends on how substantial a career you want (O'Doul would be about the minimum for me). Satchel Paige may be the most extreme example, debuting at age 42.

22. Jason Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    @15-18

    Thanks. I didn't realize that Moyer and Niekro did so much from age 31 forward.

    Connie Marrero starting at age 38 made me think of folks like
    Satchel Paige and others who got a late start for reason's out
    of their control.

    Even so, nobody tops Dazzy Vance and O'Doul.

23. Lawrence Azrin Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    @14/ Jason - Also, if you combined Hank Sauer's career from age 31 on, with that of a similar type player who started young but faded early (say Rocky Colavito), I'd bet you'd have a HOF-type career.

24. Jason Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    @23- Instead of Rocky Colavito, how about keeping it current with Andruw
    Jones? His last decent season was age 30 in 2007. And it wasn't that decent, but did cap an 11 year run where he never played less than 153 games and totaled 353 HR.

    I am not saying that Andruw Jones is anywhere near HOF level, but to combine the two is an interesting thought. You would have a player with almost 650 HR and around 2,000 RBI.

25. Jason Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    Colavito being from the same era is a much better choice.

26. Richard Chester Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    @21

    Marrero is the oldest still living former ML player.

    Also Luke Easter's career began at age 33 and played for several years.

27. Lawrence Azrin Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    @24, @25 - are there two different Jasons whom eerily posted at the exact same time (5:09), or just one who is argueing with himself?

    Andruw Jones would probably make a better pair in this "what-if" exercise, since Sauer's career really started at age 31, and Jones' oustanding years ended at age 30.

    FWIW, Colavito (till age 30) + Sauer (age 31-on) =
    2678G/ 10,815 PA/ 2531 hits/ 583 HR/ 1443 R/ 1752 RBI
    I did not calculate the averages, but they would not be as impressive as the above "what-if" numbers.

28. mosc Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    @24
    I still feel like Andruw could have a serious resurgence. He hasn't lost much power, he just doesn't make contact very well anymore. His glove is also perfectly fine, his legs just don't take him to as many balls as they used to. I think he's got the most unused potential of any 34 year old you're ever going to see. It's not like the guy had some debilitating injury that caused his numbers to fall off. You could say he lost the roids (07 being the change) but really it's not power he's missing so I don't know how much I buy that.

29. Jason Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    @27 just one Jason who loves talking baseball.

30. Lawrence Azrin Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    @30/ Jason - thanks for clearing that up - kinda Twilight Zone-ish.

    Andruw Jones is similar to Carlos Baerga in that both seemed to be heading for HOF-level careers and then suddenly declined and never really got back close to their previous level of play. Baerga's decline wasn't fall-of-a-cliff like Jones, but happened even younger (age 27).

31. Timothy P. Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    Anybody else notice that Sal Maglie looks just like Jim Neighbors?
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maglisa01.shtml

32. Timothy P. Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    Wow! Boston really plays well against left handed starters. I'm going to take the Red Sox on the road at +138. Texas is coming off being shutout also.

33. Ebessan Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    "I am not saying that Andruw Jones is anywhere near HOF level..."

    I feel like if you combine 400 HR, maybe the greatest ten years of defense in baseball history, and are a cornerstone on one of the greatest dynastic runs in baseball history, and you DON'T make the Hall of Fame, I don't really know why it even bothers to exist.

34. nesnhab Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    In no way does this spoil the drama, but Ted Williams' last at bat was not in the last game of the season. He could have played at least a couple more games on the road, but he chose not to. I've read at least two accounts of the game from the Fireside Book of Baseball and there was no certain indication prior to the game that it was his last--although it was surely his last at Fenway.

35. John Autin Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    Hmm, an Andruw Jones HOF debate ... I smell a 200-comment thread! 🙂

    (Let's float a trial balloon....)

    Andruw currently has exactly 60 WAR, right about where he was 4 years ago. (I'm not feeling that resurgence, Mosc.) Anyway, since 1893, among all OFs with 50 to 70 WAR:
    -- 21 are in the HOF;
    -- 15 have been eligible but not selected, led by Larry Walker (67.3), Tim Raines (64.6) and Reggie Smith;
    -- 4 are retired but have not yet come up for a vote (Edmonds, Sheffield, Lofton, Sosa); and
    -- 1 is permanently ineligible (Shoeless Joe) -- 2, if you want to call Pete Rose an OF.

    Remember, this is just a trial balloon -- don't use your best material!

36. Gerry Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    Amos Rusie and Joe McGinnity were both born in 1871, both won 246 games - but McGinnity's first win came after Rusie's last win. Put those two careers together and you have a pitcher with, let's see, carry the one, 492 wins.

37. Mike L Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    A35, JA, noooo. Not Andruw Jones. I'll save my best arguments for later.

38. John Autin Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    Fangraphs ran an Andruw HOF poll last December. It was essentially a tie:
    http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/is-andruw-jones-a-hall-of-famer/

39. Johnny Twisto Says:
    August 22nd, 2011 at 11:11 pm

    Gerry/36, I've always loved that factoid. A related tidbit is that Rusie was traded for Christy Mathewson. At the time, Mathewson had never won a game, and subsequently Rusie would never win another one. Mathewson would team with McGinnity as one of the great 1-2 SP combos in MLB history.

40. Johnny Twisto Says:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 12:06 am

    I'm going to take the Red Sox on the road at +138.

    Sorry kiddo. Pay up.

41. MLS Says:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 6:25 am

    @19..Did you happen to see the 1st inning "hit" that Pujols had? Was it just me or wasn't that a bit generous?

42. Andy Says:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 10:08 am

    It's Raphy, not Ralphy. Heh.

43. Andy Says:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 10:09 am

    This post represents another one of the stats that 20 years from now will probably look very odd. During the steroids era, so many players played to an old age and a lot of HR were hit. Raphy's list is already stilted quite a bit toward 1993-2009 and there will probably be relatively few new entries over the next bunch of seasons, so ultimately the list will be fairly restricted to just that period of time.

44. steven Says:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 11:45 am

    Claude Osteen also bore a strong resemblance to Jim Nabors.

45. Lawrence Azrin Says:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 11:47 am

    @36/ Gerry - this should give us even more respect for Denton True Young, who won more games than Amos Rusie and Joe McGinnity combined (he also had more starts and innings pitched than them together).

    241/ MLS - Yeah, I'm going to remember that dubious "hit", if Pujols finishes at .300 on the nose.

46. flyingelbowsmash Says:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    Andruw Jones' HOF chances are going to need time. Right now we see a guy who isn't a HOFer but once we can step back and reflect upon what he did do (and not his decline) his chances are pretty good. Plus, after seeing what Berkman has done with himself this season, you can't necessarily write off a mid-30's guy as done. Even without steroids and HGH, there are plenty of modern methods to stay competitive.

    Or, he will join the ranks of another guy on the topic list, Graig Nettles, a great defensive player with above average power. The 70's-80's were a glory run for third basemen. My son is 14 and all through little league and now in Babe Ruth, no one wants to touch 3B, when I was a kid, that was the position, we wanted to be like Mike; Mike Schmidt that is. . .