Josh Hamilton
Posted by Andy on July 11, 2008
A lot has been written about the amazing reemergence of Josh Hamilton, and rightly so. To overcome such a serious drug addiction and not only resume a normal life but play major league baseball at such a high level is both amazing and commendable.
Through today, Josh Hamilton's major league totals in 661 AB are 40 HR, 138 RBI, a .301 BA and an OPS+ of 138.
661 AB is about one full season, and over the last 10 full seasons, here are the only guys to have a year matching all of Hamilton's stats:
Cnt Player Year HR RBI BA OPS Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS OBP SLG OPS Positions ----+-----------------+----+--+---+-----+----+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+--------- 1 Alex Rodriguez 2007 54 156 .314 177 31 NYY AL 158 708 583 143 183 31 0 95 11 120 21 0 9 15 24 4 .422 .645 1.067 *5/D 2 Ryan Howard 2006 58 149 .313 167 26 PHI NL 159 704 581 104 182 25 1 108 37 181 9 0 6 7 0 0 .425 .659 1.084 *3 3 Mark Teixeira 2005 43 144 .301 144 25 TEX AL 162 730 644 112 194 41 3 72 5 124 11 0 3 18 4 0 .379 .575 .954 *3/D 4 David Ortiz 2004 41 139 .301 145 28 BOS AL 150 669 582 94 175 47 3 75 8 133 4 0 8 12 0 0 .380 .603 .983 *D3 5 Carlos Delgado 2003 42 145 .302 161 31 TOR AL 161 705 570 117 172 38 1 109 23 137 19 0 7 9 0 0 .426 .593 1.019 *3D 6 Sammy Sosa 2001 64 160 .328 203 32 CHC NL 160 711 577 146 189 34 5 116 37 153 6 0 12 6 0 2 .437 .737 1.174 *9 7 Todd Helton 2001 49 146 .336 160 27 COL NL 159 696 587 132 197 54 2 98 15 104 5 1 5 14 7 5 .432 .685 1.117 *3 8 Luis Gonzalez 2001 57 142 .325 174 33 ARI NL 162 728 609 128 198 36 7 100 24 83 14 0 5 14 1 1 .429 .688 1.117 *7 9 Frank Thomas 2000 43 143 .328 163 32 CHW AL 159 707 582 115 191 44 0 112 18 94 5 0 8 13 1 3 .436 .625 1.061 *D3 10 Sammy Sosa 2000 50 138 .320 161 31 CHC NL 156 705 604 106 193 38 1 91 19 168 2 0 8 12 7 4 .406 .634 1.040 *9/8 11 Todd Helton 2000 42 147 .372 163 26 COL NL 160 697 580 138 216 59 2 103 22 61 4 0 10 12 5 3 .463 .698 1.161 *3 12 Manny Ramirez 1999 44 165 .333 173 27 CLE AL 147 640 522 131 174 34 3 96 9 131 13 0 9 12 2 4 .442 .663 1.105 *9/D 13 Rafael Palmeiro 1999 47 148 .324 159 34 TEX AL 158 674 565 96 183 30 1 97 14 69 3 0 9 12 2 4 .420 .630 1.050 *D3 14 Sammy Sosa 1998 66 158 .308 160 29 CHC NL 159 722 643 134 198 20 0 73 14 171 1 0 5 20 18 9 .377 .647 1.024 *9/8 15 Juan Gonzalez 1998 45 157 .318 149 28 TEX AL 154 669 606 110 193 50 2 46 9 126 6 0 11 20 2 1 .366 .630 .996 *9D 16 Albert Belle 1998 49 152 .328 171 31 CHW AL 163 706 609 113 200 48 2 81 10 84 1 0 15 17 6 4 .399 .655 1.054 *7/D
And here are the most times anybody has had such a season since 1901:
From To Ages Seasons Link to Individual Seasons -----------------+----+----+-----+-------+------------------------------ Babe Ruth 1921 1931 26-36 7 Ind. Seasons Lou Gehrig 1927 1936 24-33 5 Ind. Seasons Jimmie Foxx 1932 1938 24-30 4 Ind. Seasons Sammy Sosa 1998 2001 29-32 3 Ind. Seasons Hank Greenberg 1937 1940 26-29 3 Ind. Seasons Todd Helton 2000 2001 26-27 2 Ind. Seasons Ken Griffey 1996 1997 26-27 2 Ind. Seasons Juan Gonzalez 1996 1998 26-28 2 Ind. Seasons Albert Belle 1996 1998 29-31 2 Ind. Seasons Chuck Klein 1929 1930 24-25 2 Ind. Seasons I find it inconceivable that anybody could root against Josh Hamilton.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Also of note is that he didn't play much in the minors (especially since 2002) due to his personal problems. His ascent to the top of the baseball world has been meteoric!
I just hope this feel-good story doesn't develop a long shadow like last year's (Rick Ankiel).
July 12th, 2008 at 12:36 am
I'm so glad Barry Bands is not on that list. This list shows the best/ most-well-rounded hitters. I like Hamilton, and I think he can fit with these guys someday!
July 12th, 2008 at 5:37 am
You're going to shoot me for saying this, but there *is* a remote chance that Hamilton is on steroids. You don't have to look far for examples like Rafael Palmeiro whose hubris had him denying to Congress he was on the stuff, or like Ankiel whose sudden rise to fame was marred by HGH. Weren't you at all suspicious of either of them before they were caught?
It *is* amazing what Hamilton has overcome and what he is achieving. Some addicts are amazing liars and are amazing cheaters. Sad to say I've become so cynical in baseball as to curb my enthusiasm for Hamilton until he's been around longer.
I know I sound harsh. But his story is a little *too* amazing.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Better steroids than all the other shit he was doing.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Read the Sports Illustrated article on Hamilton from a few weeks ago. There is a guy (Jerry Narron's brother, I believe) who is a Rangers employee whose full time it is to safeguard Hamilton. They go everywhere together, including eating all meals, staying next door in the hotel, etc. It seems very unlikely to me that Hamilton is using any controlled substance unless there is serious collusion going on.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I don't assume that anyone is or isn't using steroids (or anything else) unless some proof of either exists. Like Kingturtle said, it's a bummer that rooting for baseball players isn't always easy.
That said, the fact that Hamilton has survived for as long as he has, let alone become one of the best players in baseball, is a tremendous story.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Andy:
With regards to PEDs, there is plenty of documented evidence that teams have been complicit to use within the organization. The fact that Hamilton has a "shadow" doesn't make it harder for him to use PEDs than any other major leaguer.
That being said, there is no supported reason to assume his success has been the result of PEDs.