Barry Bonds

What about Joe Bauman? Maris, schmaris: What about Joe Bauman? Everybody´s talking about Mark McGwire of the Cardinals and/or Sammy Sosa of the Cubs breaking Roger Maris of the Yankees´ 37-year-old major league homerun record of 61 in a season. But neither of them hold a candle to Joe Bauman who hit 72 - that´s right, Seventy-Two - in 1954 while playing for second-place Roswell, N.M. Rockets in the Longhorn League. It´s still the all-time record for professional baseball. Now 76 and still living in Roswell where he operated a Texaco station for many years, Bauman was a 6-5, 235-pound lefthanded-hitting first baseman - a little smaller than the righthanded McGwire and playing the same position - when he sent those 72 homers out of the park. Answering the inevitable questions of “how´d you do that?,” Bauman said the key was the same for McGwire and Sosa, who also bats righthanded, to break the record they´re shooting for: “Everything has to fall in place. “I think it´s inevitable” that the record will fall but he figured lefthand-swinging Ken Griffey Jr. of Seattle would have the best shot at the homerun record because there are more righthanded pitchers in the majors and he plays home games in a more inviting park. Lefties Ruth and Maris both benefited from Yankee Stadium´s short rightfield porch. Bauman said the pitching he saw was “good to average”; the ballparks regulation with decent lighting, except for a smallish Big Spring field (“I couldn´t hit much in that park - I hated it”) and the ball probably less “jazzed” than it is now. Roswell had 140 games scheduled that year but played only 138. Bauman - never sidelined by injury or fatigue - played in all of them (almost always night games with few doubleheaders). His best game was four homers at home against Sweetwater. However, he remembers having few multi-homerun games. While Maris´ benchmark was Babe Ruth´s 60 homers in 1927 - thus, his record has stood longer than Ruth´s did - Bauman was shooting for the 69 belted by Joe Hauser of the Minneapolis Millers in 1933 and matched by Bob Crues of Amarillo (where Bauman played for two seasons) in 1948. He got to Ruth´s mark of 60 with about 20 games left and hit three on the last day of the season in a doubleheader to break and pad the all-time record. “I probably picked up $700 or $800 (money was stuck in the fence behind home plate as the tradition of the time dictated for a homerun) that day,” Bauman recalls. “I liked the low pitches,” he says, recalling that he was frequently walked. He also batted an even .400 in 1954. Told that former Plainview Ponies star Frosty Kennedy, who died earlier this summer, said he (Kennedy) was the greatest player ever because he hit 60 homeruns AND batted over .400 in his career - feats accomplished individually by Ruth and Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams - Bauman chuckled, “Frosty was pretty confident.” But he didn´t comment on whether, by Kennedy´s yardstick, he would be the best player of all time, especially since he did both in the same season. Bauman says he has no idea what his longest homerun was but believes the balls are livelier now because “even middle-sized guys get fooled on pitches and hit them out of the park with one hand.” Bauman, whose exploits are recorded on a plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. (which he has never visited), played for Capitol Hill High School in his hometown of Oklahoma City, then signed with independent Little Rock. Although his contract was eventually purchased by the National League´s Boston Braves, he never played a day in the majors, ending an off-and-on 15-year career when he refused to have surgery on his ankle after the 1956 season. “There were just 16 major league teams then (and about 400 minor league teams after the war, so too much talent) and you could make as much or more money in a decent job in the business world,” he said. Bauman also says he lost four prime years to military service in World War II. He agrees players are more physically developed now due to better training and nutrition methods. “The evolution of mankind kind of takes care of some of that,” he surmised. “When I was playing, the clubs wrote you letters forbidding you to swim because they didn´t want you to get muscle bound.” Bauman figures his record probably will never be broken - at least at the minor league level: “If somebody was hitting a lot of homeruns, they wouldn´t leave them down in the minors long.” Even if it does fall, he can be proud of having held it for more than 40 years and he´ll be in some mighty fine company. (Danny Andrews is editor of The Herald.)

What about Joe Bauman?

Maris, schmaris: What about Joe Bauman?

Everybody´s talking about Mark McGwire of the Cardinals and/or Sammy Sosa of the Cubs breaking Roger Maris of the Yankees´ 37-year-old major league homerun record of 61 in a season.

But neither of them hold a candle to Joe Bauman who hit 72 - that´s right, Seventy-Two - in 1954 while playing for second-place Roswell, N.M. Rockets in the Longhorn League.

It´s still the all-time record for professional baseball.

Now 76 and still living in Roswell where he operated a Texaco station for many years, Bauman was a 6-5, 235-pound lefthanded-hitting first baseman - a little smaller than the righthanded McGwire and playing the same position - when he sent those 72 homers out of the park.

Answering the inevitable questions of “how´d you do that?,” Bauman said the key was the same for McGwire and Sosa, who also bats righthanded, to break the record they´re shooting for: “Everything has to fall in place.

“I think it´s inevitable” that the record will fall but he figured lefthand-swinging Ken Griffey Jr. of Seattle would have the best shot at the homerun record because there are more righthanded pitchers in the majors and he plays home games in a more inviting park.

Lefties Ruth and Maris both benefited from Yankee Stadium´s short rightfield porch.

Bauman said the pitching he saw was “good to average”; the ballparks regulation with decent lighting, except for a smallish Big Spring field (“I couldn´t hit much in that park - I hated it”) and the ball probably less “jazzed” than it is now.

Roswell had 140 games scheduled that year but played only 138. Bauman - never sidelined by injury or fatigue - played in all of them (almost always night games with few doubleheaders).

His best game was four homers at home against Sweetwater. However, he remembers having few multi-homerun games.

While Maris´ benchmark was Babe Ruth´s 60 homers in 1927 - thus, his record has stood longer than Ruth´s did - Bauman was shooting for the 69 belted by Joe Hauser of the Minneapolis Millers in 1933 and matched by Bob Crues of Amarillo (where Bauman played for two seasons) in 1948.

He got to Ruth´s mark of 60 with about 20 games left and hit three on the last day of the season in a doubleheader to break and pad the all-time record.

“I probably picked up $700 or $800 (money was stuck in the fence behind home plate as the tradition of the time dictated for a homerun) that day,” Bauman recalls.

“I liked the low pitches,” he says, recalling that he was frequently walked.

He also batted an even .400 in 1954. Told that former Plainview Ponies star Frosty Kennedy, who died earlier this summer, said he (Kennedy) was the greatest player ever because he hit 60 homeruns AND batted over .400 in his career - feats accomplished individually by Ruth and Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams - Bauman chuckled, “Frosty was pretty confident.”

But he didn´t comment on whether, by Kennedy´s yardstick, he would be the best player of all time, especially since he did both in the same season.

Bauman says he has no idea what his longest homerun was but believes the balls are livelier now because “even middle-sized guys get fooled on pitches and hit them out of the park with one hand.”

Bauman, whose exploits are recorded on a plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. (which he has never visited), played for Capitol Hill High School in his hometown of Oklahoma City, then signed with independent Little Rock.

Although his contract was eventually purchased by the National League´s Boston Braves, he never played a day in the majors, ending an off-and-on 15-year career when he refused to have surgery on his ankle after the 1956 season.

“There were just 16 major league teams then (and about 400 minor league teams after the war, so too much talent) and you could make as much or more money in a decent job in the business world,” he said.

Bauman also says he lost four prime years to military service in World War II.

He agrees players are more physically developed now due to better training and nutrition methods. “The evolution of mankind kind of takes care of some of that,” he surmised. “When I was playing, the clubs wrote you letters forbidding you to swim because they didn´t want you to get muscle bound.”

Bauman figures his record probably will never be broken - at least at the minor league level: “If somebody was hitting a lot of homeruns, they wouldn´t leave them down in the minors long.”

Even if it does fall, he can be proud of having held it for more than 40 years and he´ll be in some mighty fine company.

(Danny Andrews is editor of The Herald.)

George Stanton has 54 homers tying A. Rodriquez who hit 54 in 2007 just missing the almost list(55-59).  With 18 games to go Stanton has a PHR of 60.75.  If he stays on the same pace he has been on all year he will be the newest member of the 60 Homers Club. 

Some cause for concern was that he was not in the last lineup, if he is to reach 60 he can't be sitting out games. On 9/11/07 A. Rod had 52 homers with a PHR of 55 with 10 games left to play but only hit two more homers (20% of remaining games). Stanton will need to hit 1 homer in 33% of remaining games. No problem, he's been doing it all year long.

He would be the 15th player in organized baseball to hit 60 in a season. He would be tied with Tony Lazzeri, Babe Ruth and Forrest Kennedy at 60.

You can google 60 homers club to find the Webb site.

2017

2017 HR contenders 

Mark Trumbo-  BAL.  AL

Nelson Cruz-    SEA.  AL

Kari's Davis-    OAK.  AL

Edwin Encarnacion-  TOR. AL

Christopher Carter-  MIL. NL

James Brian Dozier- MIN. AL

Nolan  Arenado- COL. NL

Jose Alberto Pujols- LAA  AL

Mik Trout- LAA.  AL 

These are my top picks to win the 2017 Home Run Title.  Below is more Information on these players. If you think of other players that should be on list let me know. The pre-season odd will be posted next week.

60 Homers Club

                ***

Mark Trumbo

• Full Name: Mark Daniel Trumbo
• Born: 1/16/1986 in Anaheim, CA
• Draft: 2004, Anaheim Angels, 18th rd. (533rd overall)
• High School: Villa Park, CA
• Debut: 9/11/2010

• Mark Trumbo 2016 Stats

  BALtamore.     AL
  2016. 47HR.  159GP.256Avg

  AVG	HR.	RBI	SB	OPS
  		108

------------------------------

Nelson Cruz

• Full Name: Nelson Ramon Cruz
• Born: 7/1/1980 in Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic
• Debut: 9/17/2005
• SEA  AL
• 43HR. 155GP. .287Avg
• -----------------------

K. Davis

• Full Name: Khris Adrian Davis
• Born: 12/21/1987 in Lakewood, CA
• Draft: 2009, Milwaukee Brewers, 7th rd. (226th overall)
• College: CSU Fullerton
• Debut: 4/1/2013
• 42HR. 150GP. .247Avg
• OAK.  AL

----------------------

E. Encarnacion 

• Full Name: Edwin Elpidio Encarnacion
• Pronunciation: ehn-kahr-nah-see-OHN
• Born: 1/7/1983 in La Romana, Dominican Republic
• Draft: 2000, Texas Rangers, 9th rd. (274th overall)
• High School: Manuela Toro Morice, Caguas, PR
• Debut: 6/24/2005
• 42HR. 160GP. .263Avg
• TOR.    AL
• -----------------------------

C. Carter

• Full Name: Vernon Christopher Carter
• Born: 12/18/1986 in Redwood City, CA
• Draft: 2005, Chicago White Sox, 15th rd. (455th overall)
• High School: Sierra Vista, Las Vegas, NV
• Debut: 8/9/2010
• 41HR. 160GP. .222Avg
• MIL. NL
• -----------------------

Full Name: James Brian Dozier

Pronunciation: DOE-zher

Born: 5/15/1987 in Fulton, MS

Draft: 2009, Minnesota Twins, 8th rd. (252nd overall)

College: Southern Mississippi

Debut: 5/7/2012

41HR.   155GP.   268Avg. 35DB.     MIN.   AL

-----------------------------

Full Name: Nolan James Arenado

Pronunciation: ar-eh-NAH-do

Born: 4/16/1991 in Newport Beach, CA

Draft: 2009, Colorado Rockies, 2nd rd. (59th overall)

High School: El Toro, Lake Forest, CA

Debut: 4/28/2013

Relationship(s): brother of Jonah Arenado

41HR.   160GP.   .294Avg

COL.  NL

--------------------------

Full Name: Jose Alberto Pujols

Nickname: The Machine

Born: 1/16/1980 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Draft: 1999, St. Louis Cardinals, 13th rd. (402nd overall)

College: MCC-Maple Woods

Debut: 4/2/2001

31HR.     152GP.          268GP

LAA.   AL

--------------------------

• Full Name: Michael Nelson Trout
• Nickname: The Millville Meteor
• Born: 8/7/1991 in Vineland, NJ
• Draft: 2009, Los Angeles Angels, 1st rd. (25th overall)
• High School: Millville, NJ
• Debut: 7/8/2011
• Relationship(s): son of Jeff Trout
• 29HR.  159GP.   .315
• LAA.    AL
• -------------------------
• Full Name: Nolan James Arenado
• Pronunciation: ar-eh-NAH-do
• Born: 4/16/1991 in Newport Beach, CA
• Draft: 2009, Colorado Rockies, 2nd rd. (59th overall)
• High School: El Toro, Lake Forest, CA
• Debut: 4/28/2013
• Relationship(s): brother of Jonah Arenado
• 41HR.  160GP.  294Avg
• COL.  NL
• ------------------------ 
• Full Name: Matthew Ryan Kemp
• Nickname: The Bison
• Born: 9/23/1984 in Midwest City, OK
• Draft: 2003, Los Angeles Dodgers, 6th rd. (181st overall)
• High School: Midwest City, OK
• Debut: 5/28/2006
• 35HR. 156GP.    268Avg
• ATL.  NL

Frosty's birthday

Would have turn 91 today

Forrest Edward Kennedy

Positions: First Baseman and Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-10, 190lb (178cm, 86kg)
Born: March 20, 1926
Died: June 5, 1998 (Aged 72-077d) in Covina, CA
Full Name: Forrest Edward Kennedy Jr.
Nicknames: Frosty

For the record
One of only 14 men to ever hit 60 home runs in a single season. Hit his 60th in his last at bat in his last game in 1956 for the Plainview Ponies.

Batted over .400 twice during ten year career.

Had a fourty consecutive game hitting streak

Players he's played against;
Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, Tommy Lasorda.

His picture and stats are on display at the Baseball HOF in Cooperstown, NY.
60 Homers Club

60 Homers Club: 2017

60 Homers Club: 2017

2017

2017 MiLB top HR title prospects.

Richie Shaffer

Nick Sanzal

Jesus Aguilar

Hunter Renfroe

Alex Valdez

Dylan Cozens

Rays Hoskins 

 Shaffer a valuable asset. In addition to being able to play any of the four corner positions, Shaffer has some serious power with 71 homers in 501 Minor League games. After the trade, he took away an important lesson -- that a career can change in an 

instant and, often, a player has no control over where he ends up. 

----------------

Nick Sanzal

Like those before him, the right-handed slugger earned his spot with a strong first impression at the lower levels. After going just 5-for-33 (.152) in a 10-game sample at Rookie-level Bilings, Senzel ended up producing a .329/.415/.567 line with seven homers, three triples, 23 doubles and 15 steals over 58 games at Class A Dayton. From his Dragons debut on July 1 through the end of the season, no Class A player produced a higher OPS than Senzel's .982, and he also tied Braves prospect Austin Riley for most extra-base hits at the level with 33. 

-----------

Jesus Aguilar- 

The Brewers added the reigning Triple-A home run king on Thursday when they claimed first baseman Jesus Aguilar off waivers from the Indians.

In 2016 he played 137 games for Colorado Springs in the International League. He hit 30 homers and holds the AAA record for most home runs.

He played in 9 MLB games for Cleveland last year.

--------------------------

Hunter Renfroe- currently in spring training with the San Diego. He hit 30 Homers for

The El Paso Chihuahua in 133 games in the Pacific Coast League last year.

He played his last 11 games for San Diego hitting four homers earning home the National League Player of the week Award for 2016.

-------------------

Alex Valdez- plays for the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. He hit 30 homers in 110 games winning him the league home run title.

------------------------

Dylan Cozens hit 40 homers in 134 games for The Reading Fighting Phils of the AA Eastern League.

He had the most home runs MiLB winning the Joe Bauman Home Run Award Double A as well as the Minor League Home Run Title.

He was called up to the Philadelphia Phillies on Nov. 18, 2016 and is in spring training.

-----------------------------

January 11, 2017	Philadelphia Phillies invited non-roster 1B Rhys Hoskins to spring training.
He played in the Eastern League last year with his teammate Dylan Cozens hitting 38 homers in 135 games, second most in MiLB.
-------------------------
These are the seven top power hitters coming out of the minors.
Look for my future book odds for players to hit 60 homers and to win the 2017 Home Run Title. Be out by March 25th.
If you have ideas on who should be on the list let me know.
Soon we'll cover MLB players who should contend.

Finial 2016 HR title standings

Home run standings as of Sept. 16, 2016

HR...player/team/ league

41....M. Trumbo/BAL/American

40....B. Dozier/MIN/American

40....D. Cozens/REA/Eastern

39....E. Encarnacion/TOR/American

38....R. Hoskins/REA/Eastern

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A total of 41,377,202 fans passed through the gates at Minor League Baseball games in 2016, marking the 12th consecutive year the organization drew over 41 million fans. (MILB)

Congrats to Dylan Cozens for winning the Minor League Home Run Title with 40.

Cozens pays for Readings in double A Eastern Leage. While the majors still have about twenty games left to play, most minor leagues play a 144 game season.

PHR Standings As Of Aug. 26, 2016

Here are the five players who have hit 35 or more home runs this year.

PHR..HR...player/Lg/Div

48.....38....M. Trumbo/A/MLB

45.....35....K. Bryant/A/MLB

45.....35....E. Encarnacion/A/MLB

42.....37....D. Cozens/East/AA

41.....36....D. Hoskins/East/AA

If Trumbo stays on current pace he will the Home Run title but fall short of 50.

Either Cozens or Hoskins will win the MiLB Home Run Title.

PHR Standings as of August 16, 2016

All players with 30 or more Homers are listed:

PHR..HR..player/Lg/Div

48......34..Trumbo, M/A/MLB

46......33..Encarnacion. E/A/MLB

45......31..Frazier, T/A/MLB

44-----35.Hopskins, R/East/AA

43......30..Davis, K/A/MLB

42......30..Arenado. N/N/MLB

42......33..Cozens. D/East/AA

42......30..Nelson. C/A/MLB

39......30..Valdez, A/Mex/AAA

PHR Standings as of Aug 11, 2016.

Hoskins and Trumbo in a ding- dong race with four others right on their tails.

All players with 30 or more homers are listed. Games per season; MLB 162

MiLB 144. Entries; a-NL. b-AL  c- entry of Gonzales,C/Pujols, A/Encarnacion, E/Ortiz, D.  X-MiLB

PHR..HR..player/Lg/Div.          Odds

45.....35/..Hoskins, R/East/AA.  75-1x

45.....32/..Trumbo, M/A/MLB.      3-1b

44.....31...Encarnacion, E/A/MLB18-1c

44.....31...Frazier, T/A/MLB.         3-1b 

43.....30..Arenado, N/N/MLB       4-1a

41.....32...Cozens, D/East/AA.     75-1x

39.....30...Valdez, A/Mex/AAA.     75-1x

PHR Standins as of Aug. 4, 2016

Listed are the six players with 28 or more home runs. MLB played a 162 game season. MiLB plays a 144 game season.

PHR...HR...player/Lg/Div.

47......30....T. Frazier/A/MLB

46......30....M. Trumbo/A/MLB

42......31...R. Hoskins/Eastern/AA

42......29...E. Encarnacion/A/MLB

41.....30....D. Cozens/Eastern/AA

39.....28....V. Valdez/Mex/AAA

60 Homers Club: PHR standings as of July 23, 2016

60 Homers Club: PHR standings as of July 23, 2016: Share

PHR standings as of July 23, 2016

All players with 25 or more homers are listed.

PHR...HR...player/Lg/Div.

50......30....M. Trumbo/A/MLB

47......28....T. Frazier/A/MLB

44......26....E. Encarnacion/A/MLB

44.....26.....T. Story/N/MLB

42......28....R. Haskins/Eastern/AA

41.....25.....K. Bryant/N/MLB

41.....25.....N. Cruz/A/MLB

38.....25.....A. Valdez/Mex/AAA

38.....25.....D. Cozens/Eastern/AA

No one will make the 60 Homers Club this year. Mark Trumbo has very good chance of hitting 50.

GOING BACK MORE THAN 100 YEARS, THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS HAVE PLAYED IN ORGANIZED
BASEBALL, BUT ONLY 14 PLAYERS HAVE HIT
60 OR MORE HOME RUNS IN A SINGLE SEASON. 


THE 60 HOMERS CLUB
1 BARRY BONDS 73
2 JOE BAUMAN 72
3 MARK MCGWIRE 70
4 JOE HAUSER 69 
5 BOB CRUES 69 
6 SAMMY SOSA 66 
7 DICK STUART 66 
MARK MCGWIRE 65 
SAMMY SOSA 64 
8 BOB LENNON 64 
SAMMY SOSA 63
JOE HAUSER 63 
9 MOOSE CLABAUGH 62 
10 KEN GUETTLER 62
11 ROGER MARIS 61 
12 FROSTY KENNEDY 60
13 TONY LAZZERI 60 
14 BABE RUTH 60

14 PLAYERS ON LIS

PHR Standings as of July 12, 2016

PHR Standings at the All Star Break.

All players with 21 or more home runs are listed. MLB play a 162 game season and MiLB play a 144 game season.

PHR- Projected home runs for the season.

PHR...HR...player/Lg/odds

52......28...M. Trumbo/A/3-1e(1)

47......25...K. Bryant/N/4-1e(2)

47.....25...T. Frazier/A/3-1e(1)

43.....23...A. Duvall/N/20-1

42.....23..N. Arenado/N/4-1e(2)

42....23...N. Cruz/A/12-1

42....23...J. Donaldson/A/3-1e(1)

42....23...E. Encarnacion/A/18-1e(3)

42....22...D. Ortiz/A/18-1e(3)

42....22..C. Carter/N/4-1e(2)

42....25..R. Hoskins/East/75-1e(4)

41...22..C. Davis/A/12-1

40....21Y. Cespedes/N/4-1e(2)

40....24..D. Cozens/East/75-1e(4)

40....21...A. Rizzo/N/4-1e(2)2

40....21..T. Story/N/4-1e(2)

40...21....R. Cano/A/3-1e(1)

37..22.....A . Valdez/Mex/75-1e(4)

36..21....H. Renfroe/PC/75-1e(4)

36..21....D. Palma/So/75-1e(4)

Entries:  1- non listed AL.  2- non listed NL.  3- C. Gonzales, E. Encarnacion. D. Ortize, A. Pujols.   4- non listed MiLB

No new 60 Homers Club members this year.

PHR StNdings as of June 30, 2016

All players with 20 or more homers are listed.  MLB play 162 game season, MiLB play 144 game season.

PHR..HR..player/League/odds

48....,23..M, Trumbo/N/4-1Ea

47....22..A. Duvall/N/20-1

47...22...T. Frazier/A/3-1Eb

44...21...E. Encarnacion/A/18-1Ec

43...21...N. Arenado/N/4-1Ea

43..21...K. Bryant/N/4-1Ea

41..20...N. Cruz/A/12-1

40...21..D. Cozens/Eastern/75-1Ed

40...21..R. Hoskins/Eastern/75-1Ed

38..20..T. Demerite/Calif/75-1Ed

Ea- entry of any NL player not listed

Eb- Entry of any AL player not listed

Ec- entry of four players

Ed- entry of any MiLB player not listed

Don't think any player will 50 home runs this year.

65/20  49

65/19. 47

67/19. 49

All players with 19 homers are listed

PHR... HR...player/Lg/Div

49........20....M. Trumbo/A/MLB

49........20....A. Duvall/N/MLB

49........20...N. Arenado/N/MLB

47........19...R. Cano/A/MLB

47........19..T. Grazer/A/MLB

40........19.. D. Cozens/Eastern/AA

Mark Trumbo makes it to the lead. t the moment it is possible no one will hit 50 homers this year.