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Youngest players to hit X homers

Posted by Andy on January 22, 2009

This questions came up on an earlier post so here are the answers.

Youngest players to hit 30 HR in a season:

  Cnt                       HR Year Age Tm  Lg  G   PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  Positions
+----+-----------------+---+--+----+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+
    1 Mel Ott               42 1929  20 NYG NL 150 674 545 138 179 37  2 151 113   0  38   6  10   0   0   6  0  .328  .449  .635 1.084 *9/4
    2 Ted Williams          31 1939  20 BOS AL 149 677 565 131 185 44 11 145 107   0  64   2   3   0  10   2  1  .327  .436  .609 1.045 *9
    3 Frank Robinson        38 1956  20 CIN NL 152 668 572 122 166 27  6  83  64   7  95  20   8   4  14   8  4  .290  .379  .558  .937 *78
    4 Tony Conigliaro       32 1965  20 BOS AL 138 586 521  82 140 21  5  82  51   6 116   5   6   3   9   4  2  .269  .338  .512  .850 *9/8
    5 Alex Rodriguez        36 1996  20 SEA AL 146 677 601 141 215 54  1 123  59   1 104   4   6   7  15  15  4  .358  .414  .631 1.045 *6
    6 Jimmie Foxx           33 1929  21 PHA AL 149 638 517 123 183 23  9 118 103   0  70   2  16   0   0   9  7  .354  .463  .625 1.088 *3/5
    7 Hal Trosky            35 1934  21 CLE AL 154 685 625 117 206 45  9 142  58   0  49   2   0   0   0   2  2  .330  .388  .598  .986 *3
    8 Eddie Mathews         47 1953  21 MLN NL 157 681 579 110 175 31  8 135  99   0  83   2   1   0   6   1  3  .302  .406  .627 1.033 *5
    9 Bob Horner            33 1979  21 ATL NL 121 515 487  66 153 15  1  98  22   6  74   3   0   3   9   0  2  .314  .346  .552  .898 *53
   10 Jose Canseco          33 1986  21 OAK AL 157 682 600  85 144 29  1 117  65   1 175   8   0   9  12  15  7  .240  .318  .457  .775 *79/D

Youngest to hit 40 in a season:

  Cnt                       HR Year Age Tm  Lg  G   PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  Positions
+----+-----------------+---+--+----+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+
    1 Mel Ott               42 1929  20 NYG NL 150 674 545 138 179 37  2 151 113   0  38   6  10   0   0   6  0  .328  .449  .635 1.084 *9/4
    2 Eddie Mathews         47 1953  21 MLN NL 157 681 579 110 175 31  8 135  99   0  83   2   1   0   6   1  3  .302  .406  .627 1.033 *5
    3 Joe DiMaggio          46 1937  22 NYY AL 151 692 621 151 215 35 15 167  64   0  37   5   2   0   0   3  0  .346  .412  .673 1.085 *8
    4 Eddie Mathews         40 1954  22 MLN NL 138 601 476  96 138 21  4 103 113   0  61   2   3   7   9  10  3  .290  .423  .603 1.026 *57
    5 Alex Rodriguez        42 1998  22 SEA AL 161 748 686 123 213 35  5 124  45   0 121  10   3   4  12  46 13  .310  .360  .560  .920 *6/D
    6 Juan Gonzalez         43 1992  22 TEX AL 155 632 584  77 152 24  2 109  35   1 143   5   0   8  16   0  1  .260  .304  .529  .833 *87/D9
    7 Johnny Bench          45 1970  22 CIN NL 158 671 605  97 177 35  4 148  54   9 102   0   1  11  12   5  2  .293  .345  .587  .932 *273/985
    8 Orlando Cepeda        46 1961  23 SFG NL 152 636 585 105 182 28  4 142  39  11  91   9   0   3  21  12  8  .311  .362  .609  .971 *379
    9 Troy Glaus            47 2000  23 ANA AL 159 678 563 120 160 37  1 102 112   6 163   2   0   1  14  14 11  .284  .404  .604 1.008 *5/6D
   10 Albert Pujols         43 2003  23 STL NL 157 685 591 137 212 51  1 124  79  12  65  10   0   5  13   5  1  .359  .439  .667 1.106 *73/D   

Youngest to hit 50:

  Cnt                       HR Year Age Tm  Lg  G   PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  Positions
+----+-----------------+---+--+----+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+
    1 Prince Fielder        50 2007  23 MIL NL 158 681 573 109 165 35  2 119  90  21 121  14   0   4   9   2  2  .288  .395  .618 1.013 *3/D
    2 Jimmie Foxx           58 1932  24 PHA AL 154 701 585 151 213 33  9 169 116   0  96   0   0   0   0   3  7  .364  .469  .749 1.218 *35
    3 Ralph Kiner           51 1947  24 PIT NL 152 666 565 118 177 23  4 127  98   0  81   2   1   0  12   1  0  .313  .417  .639 1.056 *7
    4 Mickey Mantle         52 1956  24 NYY AL 150 652 533 132 188 22  5 130 112   6  99   2   1   4   4  10  1  .353  .464  .705 1.169 *8
    5 Willie Mays           51 1955  24 NYG NL 152 670 580 123 185 18 13 127  79  13  60   4   0   7  12  24  4  .319  .400  .659 1.059 *8
    6 Alex Rodriguez        52 2001  25 TEX AL 162 732 632 133 201 34  1 135  75   6 131  16   0   9  17  18  3  .318  .399  .622 1.021 *6/D
    7 Babe Ruth             54 1920  25 NYY AL 142 615 457 158 172 36  9 137 150   0  80   3   5   0   0  14 14  .376  .533  .849 1.382 *978/31
    8 Alex Rodriguez        57 2002  26 TEX AL 162 725 624 125 187 27  2 142  87  12 122  10   0   4  14   9  4  .300  .392  .623 1.015 *6
    9 Roger Maris           61 1961  26 NYY AL 161 698 590 132 159 16  4 142  94   0  67   7   0   7  16   0  0  .269  .372  .620  .992 *98
   10 Cecil Fielder         51 1990  26 DET AL 159 673 573 104 159 25  1 132  90  11 182   5   0   5  15   0  1  .277  .377  .592  .969 *3D

Bookended by father and son!

Youngest to hit 20:

  Cnt                       HR Year Age Tm  Lg  G   PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  Positions
+----+-----------------+---+--+----+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+
    1 Tony Conigliaro       24 1964  19 BOS AL 111 444 404  69 117 21  2  52  35   1  78   5   0   0  11   2  4  .290  .354  .530  .884 *78/9
    2 Mel Ott               42 1929  20 NYG NL 150 674 545 138 179 37  2 151 113   0  38   6  10   0   0   6  0  .328  .449  .635 1.084 *9/4
    3 Ted Williams          31 1939  20 BOS AL 149 677 565 131 185 44 11 145 107   0  64   2   3   0  10   2  1  .327  .436  .609 1.045 *9
    4 Willie Mays           20 1951  20 NYG NL 121 524 464  59 127 22  5  68  57   0  60   2   1   0  11   7  4  .274  .356  .472  .828 *8
    5 Mickey Mantle         23 1952  20 NYY AL 142 626 549  94 171 37  7  87  75   0 111   0   2   0   5   4  1  .311  .394  .530  .924 *89/5
    6 Eddie Mathews         25 1952  20 BSN NL 145 593 528  80 128 23  5  58  59   0 115   1   5   0   9   6  4  .242  .320  .447  .767 *5
    7 Al Kaline             27 1955  20 DET AL 152 681 588 121 200 24  8 102  82  12  57   5   0   6  13   6  8  .340  .421  .546  .967 *9
    8 Frank Robinson        38 1956  20 CIN NL 152 668 572 122 166 27  6  83  64   7  95  20   8   4  14   8  4  .290  .379  .558  .937 *78
    9 Orlando Cepeda        25 1958  20 SFG NL 148 644 603  88 188 38  4  96  29   7  84   3   0   9  18  15 11  .312  .342  .512  .854 *3
   10 Vada Pinson           20 1959  20 CIN NL 154 706 648 131 205 47  9  84  55   3  98   1   2   0   9  21  6  .316  .371  .509  .880 *8      

Not a single guy after 1964!

Youngest to hit 10:

  Cnt                       HR Year Age Tm  Lg  G   PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  Positions
+----+-----------------+---+--+----+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+
    1 Mel Ott               18 1928  19 NYG NL 124 499 435  69 140 26  4  77  52   0  36   2  10   0   0   3  0  .322  .397  .524  .921 *9/4785
    2 Mickey Mantle         13 1951  19 NYY AL  96 386 341  61  91 11  5  65  43   0  74   0   2   0   3   8  7  .267  .349  .443  .792 *9/8
    3 Tony Conigliaro       24 1964  19 BOS AL 111 444 404  69 117 21  2  52  35   1  78   5   0   0  11   2  4  .290  .354  .530  .884 *78/9
    4 Ed Kranepool          10 1964  19 NYM NL 119 461 420  47 108 19  4  45  32   2  50   2   3   4   9   0  1  .257  .310  .393  .703 *3/98
    5 Ken Griffey           16 1989  19 SEA AL 127 506 455  61 120 23  0  61  44   8  83   2   1   4   4  16  7  .264  .329  .420  .749 *8
    6 Mike Tiernan          10 1887  20 NYG NL 103 442 407  82 117 13 12  62  32   0  31   3   0   0   0  28  0  .287  .344  .452  .796 *978/1
    7 Travis Jackson        11 1924  20 NYG NL 151 633 596  81 180 26  8  76  21   0  56   0  16   0   0   6  7  .302  .326  .428  .754 *6
    8 Jimmie Foxx           13 1928  20 PHA AL 118 473 400  85 131 29 10  79  60   0  43   1  12   0   0   3  8  .328  .416  .548  .964 *532
    9 Mel Ott               42 1929  20 NYG NL 150 674 545 138 179 37  2 151 113   0  38   6  10   0   0   6  0  .328  .449  .635 1.084 *9/4
   10 Buddy Lewis           10 1937  20 WSH AL 156 733 668 107 210 32  6  79  52   0  44   3  10   0   0  11  5  .314  .367  .425  .792 *5       

And while we're at it, youngest to hit 1!

  Cnt                       HR Year Age Tm  Lg  G   PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  Positions
 ----+-----------------+---+--+----+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------
    1 Pat Callaghan          2 1884  17 IND AA  61 266 258  38  67  8  5   0   8   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  0  .260  .282  .353  .635 *5
    2 Phil Cavarretta        1 1934  17 CHC NL   7  23  21   5   8  0  1   6   2   0   3   0   0   0   0   1  0  .381  .435  .619 1.054 /*3
    3 Tommy Brown            2 1945  17 BRO NL  57 204 196  13  48  3  4  19   6   0  16   0   2   0   3   3  0  .245  .267  .332  .599 *6/9
    4 Danny Murphy           1 1960  17 CHC NL  31  81  75   7   9  2  0   6   4   0  13   1   1   0   2   0  0  .120  .175  .187  .362 *8/9
    5 Paul Hines             1 1873  18 WAS NA  39 182 181  33  60  6  3  29   1   0   1   0   0   0   0   0  1  .331  .335  .414  .749 *7/42
    6 John Cassidy           1 1875  18 TOT NA  47 188 188  17  32  4  2   7   0   0   5   0   0   0   0   0  1  .170  .170  .229  .399 3
    7 Henry Luff             2 1875  18 NHV NA  38 166 166  15  45 10  3  18   0   0   5   0   0   0   0   3  3  .271  .271  .404  .675 *51/986
    8 Lew Brown              2 1876  18 BSN NL  45 198 195  23  41  6  6  21   3   0  22   0   0   0   0   0  0  .210  .222  .333  .555 *2/89
    9 John Ward              1 1878  18 PRO NL  37 140 138  14  27  5  4  15   2   0  13   0   0   0   0   0  0  .196  .207  .312  .519 *1
   10 Pete Conway            1 1885  18 BUF NL  29  95  90   7  10  5  0   7   5   0  28   0   0   0   0   0  0  .111  .158  .200  .358 *1/963

Those are some young pups.

6 Responses to “Youngest players to hit X homers”

  1. Raphy Says:

    I'm trying to figure out how PI is ranking players within the same age group. I don't think that it is using straight age (See Tony Conigliaro 1941 vs. Mantle 1951 on the 10 list). I thought that it was ranking them by earliest date, as can be seen in the 1 and 10 lists. However, if you look at the 50 list Mays is after Mantle, despite being younger and doing it earlier.

    What am I missing?

  2. David in Toledo Says:

    Looking at the data, I wonder if Alex Rodriguez will ever have a year with more walks than strikeouts. Here are the years when Henry Aaron had more BB than K's: age 24 (by 10), age 30 (by 16), and then each year from age 34 through 41. Will A-Rod learn greater selectivity, or how to cut back on his swing and still drive them out, or how to keep his head a little more still?

  3. kingturtle Says:

    very fun to look at! but you left out 60+ HRs...

    *Roger Maris (age 26), 61 HRs in 1961
    *Sammy Sosa (age 30), 63 HRs in 1999
    *Sammy Sosa (age 29), 66 HRs in 1998
    *Sammy Sosa (age 32), 64 HRs in 2001
    *Babe Ruth (age 32), 60 HRs in 1927
    *Mark McGwire (age 34), 70 HRs in 1998
    *Mark McGwire (age 35), 65 HRs in 1999
    *Barry Bonds (age 36), 73 HRs in 2001

    And to complete the list, 70+ HRs:
    *Mark McGwire (age 34), 70 HRs in 1998
    *Barry Bonds (age 36), 73 HRs in 2001

  4. gerry Says:

    I'm not sure about the significance of more walks than strikeouts. I note that Ken Griffey only did it once.

  5. David in Toledo Says:

    Albert Pujols has managed more walks than strikeouts 7 times (all but the rookie season), and had almost twice as many BB as K's last year. IMO, that helps to explain why, IMO, he is a better hitter than either A-Rod or Griffey Jr.

  6. JohnnyTwisto Says:

    Note how many of Pujols's walks are intentional. And you can infer that a bunch of his "unintentional" walks are pitch-arounds too.

    Still, Pujols is a freak. It's quite impressive for a power hitter in today's game to strike out as little as he does.

    But if the overall production is otherwise similar, the extra strikeouts are not that big a deal. I'd certainly rather have A-Rod hitting 45 HR with 120 K than 25 HR with 60 K.