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Old Sluggers Are Rare To Find

Posted by Steve Lombardi on May 25, 2010

Via Baseball-Reference.com's Play Index Batting Season Finder - players 35 and older with the most seasons of an ISO of at least .250 (min 250 PA per season):

Rk   Yrs From To Age  
1 Barry Bonds 7 2000 2007 35-42  
2 Ted Williams 6 1954 1960 35-41  
3 Hank Aaron 4 1969 1973 35-39  
4 Babe Ruth 4 1930 1933 35-38  
5 Jim Thome 3 2006 2008 35-37  
6 Frank Thomas 3 2003 2006 35-38  
7 Rafael Palmeiro 3 2000 2002 35-37  
8 Mark McGwire 3 1999 2001 35-37  
9 Andres Galarraga 3 1996 1998 35-37  
10 Mike Schmidt 3 1985 1987 35-37  
11 Jason Giambi 2 2006 2008 35-37  
12 Moises Alou 2 2004 2006 37-39  
13 Matt Stairs 2 2003 2007 35-39  
14 Reggie Sanders 2 2003 2005 35-37  
15 Larry Walker 2 2002 2004 35-37  
16 Ellis Burks 2 2000 2001 35-36  
17 Ken Caminiti 2 1998 2000 35-37  
18 Carlton Fisk 2 1985 1988 37-40  
19 Willie Stargell 2 1978 1979 38-39  
20 Willie McCovey 2 1973 1974 35-36  
21 Hank Sauer 2 1952 1954 35-37  
22 Johnny Mize 2 1948 1950 35-37  
23 Raul Ibanez 1 2009 2009 37-37  
24 Manny Ramirez 1 2008 2008 36-36  
25 Chipper Jones 1 2007 2007 35-35  
26 Ken Griffey 1 2005 2005 35-35  
27 Jim Edmonds 1 2005 2005 35-35  
28 Sammy Sosa 1 2004 2004 35-35  
29 Vinny Castilla 1 2004 2004 36-36  
30 Jeromy Burnitz 1 2004 2004 35-35  
31 Ruben Sierra 1 2001 2001 35-35  
32 Edgar Martinez 1 2000 2000 37-37  
33 Glenallen Hill 1 2000 2000 35-35  
34 Steve Finley 1 2000 2000 35-35  
35 Jay Buhner 1 2000 2000 35-35  
36 Darryl Strawberry 1 1998 1998 36-36  
37 Eric Davis 1 1998 1998 36-36  
38 Gary Gaetti 1 1995 1995 36-36  
39 Kirk Gibson 1 1994 1994 37-37  
40 Dwight Evans 1 1987 1987 35-35  
41 Darrell Evans 1 1985 1985 38-38  
42 John Lowenstein 1 1982 1982 35-35  
43 Reggie Jackson 1 1982 1982 36-36  
44 Willie Mays 1 1966 1966 35-35  
45 Joe Adcock 1 1966 1966 38-38  
46 Stan Musial 1 1957 1957 36-36  
47 Joe DiMaggio 1 1950 1950 35-35  
48 Hank Greenberg 1 1946 1946 35-35  
49 Mel Ott 1 1944 1944 35-35  
50 Ken Williams 1 1925 1925 35-35  
51 Cy Williams 1 1923 1923 35-35  
52 Gavvy Cravath 1 1919 1919 38-38  
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/25/2010.

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When you look at the ages here, it seems rare for someone to make this list beyond the age of 37.


Here's another way to look at this group:

Rk     ISO PA Year Age Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
1 Barry Bonds   .288 477 2007 42 SFG NL 126 340 75 94 14 0 28 66 132 43 54 3 0 2 13 5 0 .276 .480 .565 1.045 *7/D
2 Ted Williams   .329 390 1960 41 BOS AL 113 310 56 98 15 0 29 72 75 7 41 3 0 2 7 1 1 .316 .451 .645 1.096 *7
3 Barry Bonds   .275 493 2006 41 SFG NL 130 367 74 99 23 0 26 77 115 38 51 10 0 1 9 3 0 .270 .454 .545 .999 *7/D
4 Carlton Fisk   .265 298 1988 40 CHW AL 76 253 37 70 8 1 19 50 37 9 40 5 1 2 6 0 0 .277 .377 .542 .919 *2
5 Ted Williams   .255 517 1958 39 BOS AL 129 411 81 135 23 2 26 85 98 12 49 4 0 4 19 1 0 .328 .458 .584 1.042 *7
6 Willie Stargell   .271 480 1979 39 PIT NL 126 424 60 119 19 0 32 82 47 12 105 3 0 6 10 0 1 .281 .352 .552 .904 *3
7 Matt Stairs   .261 405 2007 39 TOR AL 125 357 58 103 28 1 21 64 44 5 66 2 0 2 7 2 1 .289 .368 .549 .917 379/D
8 Barry Bonds   .450 617 2004 39 SFG NL 147 373 129 135 27 3 45 101 232 120 41 9 0 3 5 6 1 .362 .609 .812 1.422 *7/D
9 Moises Alou   .270 378 2006 39 SFG NL 98 345 52 104 25 1 22 74 28 2 31 1 0 4 15 2 1 .301 .352 .571 .923 *97/D
10 Hank Aaron   .342 465 1973 39 ATL NL 120 392 84 118 12 1 40 96 68 13 51 1 0 4 7 1 1 .301 .402 .643 1.045 *79
11 Ted Williams   .343 546 1957 38 BOS AL 132 420 96 163 28 1 38 87 119 33 43 5 0 2 11 0 1 .388 .526 .731 1.257 *7
12 Frank Thomas   .275 559 2006 38 OAK AL 137 466 77 126 11 0 39 114 81 3 81 6 0 6 13 0 0 .270 .381 .545 .926 *D
13 Willie Stargell   .272 450 1978 38 PIT NL 122 390 60 115 18 2 28 97 50 10 93 7 0 3 8 3 2 .295 .382 .567 .949 *3
14 Babe Ruth   .281 575 1933 38 NYY AL 137 459 97 138 21 3 34 103 114 0 90 2 0 0 0 4 5 .301 .442 .582 1.023 *97/13
15 Darrell Evans   .271 594 1985 38 DET AL 151 505 81 125 17 0 40 94 85 12 85 1 1 2 5 0 4 .248 .356 .519 .875 *3D/5
16 Gavvy Cravath   .299 255 1919 38 PHI NL 83 214 34 73 18 5 12 45 35 0 21 2 4 0 0 8 0 .341 .438 .640 1.078 *9/78
17 Barry Bonds   .408 550 2003 38 SFG NL 130 390 111 133 22 1 45 90 148 61 58 10 0 2 7 7 0 .341 .529 .749 1.278 *7/D
18 Joe Adcock   .303 265 1966 38 CAL AL 83 231 33 63 10 3 18 48 31 6 48 0 0 3 11 2 2 .273 .355 .576 .930 *3
19 Ted Williams   .260 503 1956 37 BOS AL 136 400 71 138 28 2 24 82 102 11 39 1 0 0 13 0 0 .345 .479 .605 1.084 *7
20 Larry Walker   .291 316 2004 37 TOT NL 82 258 51 77 16 4 17 47 49 3 57 8 0 1 8 6 0 .298 .424 .589 1.013 *9/8D
21 Jim Thome   .258 602 2008 37 CHW AL 149 503 93 123 28 0 34 90 91 9 147 4 0 4 17 1 0 .245 .362 .503 .865 *D
22 Mike Schmidt   .255 613 1987 37 PHI NL 147 522 88 153 28 0 35 113 83 15 80 2 0 6 17 2 1 .293 .388 .548 .936 *5/36
23 Hank Sauer   .275 605 1954 37 CHC NL 142 520 98 150 18 1 41 103 70 0 68 6 2 7 8 2 1 .288 .375 .563 .938 *9/7
24 Reggie Sanders   .275 329 2005 37 STL NL 93 295 49 80 14 2 21 54 28 1 75 4 0 2 8 14 1 .271 .340 .546 .886 *7/9
25 Babe Ruth   .319 589 1932 37 NYY AL 133 457 120 156 13 5 41 137 130 0 62 2 0 0 0 2 2 .341 .489 .661 1.150 *97/3
Rk     ISO PA Year Age Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
26 Rafael Palmeiro   .299 663 2002 37 TEX AL 155 546 99 149 34 0 43 105 104 16 94 6 0 7 10 2 0 .273 .391 .571 .962 *3D
27 Johnny Mize   .318 305 1950 37 NYY AL 90 274 43 76 12 0 25 72 29 0 24 2 0 0 4 0 1 .277 .351 .595 .946 *3
28 Mark McGwire   .304 364 2001 37 STL NL 97 299 48 56 4 0 29 64 56 3 118 3 0 6 7 0 0 .187 .316 .492 .808 *3
29 Edgar Martinez   .255 665 2000 37 SEA AL 153 556 100 180 31 0 37 145 96 8 95 5 0 8 13 3 0 .324 .423 .579 1.002 *D/3
30 Raul Ibanez   .280 565 2009 37 PHI NL 134 500 93 136 32 3 34 93 56 8 119 4 0 5 16 4 0 .272 .347 .552 .899 *7/D
31 Kirk Gibson   .273 382 1994 37 DET AL 98 330 71 91 17 2 23 72 42 3 69 3 2 5 2 4 5 .276 .358 .548 .906 *D89
32 Jason Giambi   .255 565 2008 37 NYY AL 145 458 68 113 19 1 32 96 76 5 111 22 0 9 6 2 1 .247 .373 .502 .876 *3D
33 Andres Galarraga   .290 648 1998 37 ATL NL 153 555 103 169 27 1 44 121 63 11 146 25 0 5 8 7 6 .305 .397 .595 .991 *3/D
34 Carlton Fisk   .250 620 1985 37 CHW AL 153 543 85 129 23 1 37 107 52 12 81 17 2 6 9 17 9 .238 .320 .488 .808 *2D
35 Ken Caminiti   .279 253 2000 37 HOU NL 59 208 42 63 13 0 15 45 42 8 37 1 0 2 7 3 0 .303 .419 .582 1.001 *5
36 Barry Bonds   .429 612 2002 37 SFG NL 143 403 117 149 31 2 46 110 198 68 47 9 0 2 4 9 2 .370 .582 .799 1.381 *7/D
37 Moises Alou   .265 675 2004 37 CHC NL 155 601 106 176 36 3 39 106 68 2 80 0 0 6 12 3 0 .293 .361 .557 .919 *7/D
38 Hank Aaron   .341 573 1971 37 ATL NL 139 495 95 162 22 3 47 118 71 21 58 2 0 5 9 1 1 .327 .410 .669 1.079 *39/7
39 Ted Williams   .347 417 1955 36 BOS AL 98 320 77 114 21 3 28 83 91 17 24 2 0 4 8 2 0 .356 .496 .703 1.200 *7
40 Jim Thome   .287 536 2007 36 CHW AL 130 432 79 119 19 0 35 96 95 11 134 6 0 3 10 0 1 .275 .410 .563 .973 *D/3
41 Frank Thomas   .292 311 2004 36 CHW AL 74 240 53 65 16 0 18 49 64 3 57 6 0 1 2 0 2 .271 .434 .563 .997 *D/3
42 Darryl Strawberry   .295 345 1998 36 NYY AL 101 295 44 73 11 2 24 57 46 4 90 3 0 1 1 8 7 .247 .354 .542 .896 *D7
43 Mike Schmidt   .257 657 1986 36 PHI NL 160 552 97 160 29 1 37 119 89 25 84 7 0 9 8 1 2 .290 .390 .547 .937 *53
44 Babe Ruth   .328 663 1931 36 NYY AL 145 534 149 199 31 3 46 163 128 0 51 1 0 0 0 5 4 .373 .495 .700 1.195 *97/3
45 Manny Ramirez   .270 654 2008 36 TOT ML 153 552 102 183 36 1 37 121 87 24 124 11 0 4 17 3 0 .332 .430 .601 1.031 *7D
46 Rafael Palmeiro   .290 714 2001 36 TEX AL 160 600 98 164 33 0 47 123 101 8 90 7 0 6 8 1 1 .273 .381 .563 .944 *3D
47 Stan Musial   .261 579 1957 36 STL NL 134 502 82 176 38 3 29 102 66 19 34 2 1 8 13 1 1 .351 .422 .612 1.034 *3
48 Mark McGwire   .441 321 2000 36 STL NL 89 236 60 72 8 0 32 73 76 12 78 7 0 2 5 1 0 .305 .483 .746 1.229 *3/467
49 Willie McCovey   .253 442 1974 36 SDP NL 128 344 53 87 19 1 22 63 96 9 76 1 0 1 8 1 0 .253 .416 .506 .922 *3
50 Reggie Jackson   .257 621 1982 36 CAL AL 153 530 92 146 17 1 39 101 85 12 156 2 0 4 10 4 5 .275 .375 .532 .907 *9/D
Rk     ISO PA Year Age Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
51 Andres Galarraga   .267 674 1997 36 COL NL 154 600 120 191 31 3 41 140 54 2 141 17 0 3 16 15 8 .318 .389 .585 .974 *3
52 Gary Gaetti   .257 578 1995 36 KCR AL 137 514 76 134 27 0 35 96 47 6 91 8 3 6 7 3 3 .261 .329 .518 .846 *53/D
53 Eric Davis   .254 508 1998 36 BAL AL 131 452 81 148 29 1 28 89 44 0 108 5 0 7 13 7 6 .327 .388 .582 .970 9D8
54 Vinny Castilla   .264 648 2004 36 COL NL 148 583 93 158 43 3 35 131 51 6 113 6 0 8 22 0 0 .271 .332 .535 .867 *5
55 Ellis Burks   .262 515 2001 36 CLE AL 124 439 83 123 29 1 28 74 62 2 85 5 0 9 16 5 1 .280 .369 .542 .911 *D7/9
56 Barry Bonds   .536 664 2001 36 SFG NL 153 476 129 156 32 2 73 137 177 35 93 9 0 2 5 13 3 .328 .515 .863 1.379 *7/D
57 Hank Aaron   .275 598 1970 36 ATL NL 150 516 103 154 26 1 38 118 74 15 63 2 0 6 13 9 0 .298 .385 .574 .958 *93
58 Ted Williams   .290 526 1954 35 BOS AL 117 386 93 133 23 1 29 89 136 0 32 1 0 3 10 0 0 .345 .513 .635 1.148 *7
59 Ken Williams   .282 462 1925 35 SLB AL 102 411 83 136 31 5 25 105 37 0 14 3 11 0 0 10 5 .331 .390 .613 1.003 *7
60 Cy Williams   .282 604 1923 35 PHI NL 136 535 98 157 22 3 41 114 59 0 57 7 3 0 0 11 10 .293 .371 .576 .947 *8
61 Larry Walker   .264 553 2002 35 COL NL 136 477 95 161 40 4 26 104 65 6 73 7 0 4 8 6 5 .338 .421 .602 1.023 *9/D
62 Jim Thome   .310 610 2006 35 CHW AL 143 490 108 141 26 0 42 109 107 12 147 6 0 7 4 0 0 .288 .416 .598 1.014 *D/3
63 Frank Thomas   .295 662 2003 35 CHW AL 153 546 87 146 35 0 42 105 100 4 115 12 0 4 11 0 0 .267 .390 .562 .952 *D3
64 Matt Stairs   .269 357 2003 35 PIT NL 121 305 49 89 20 1 20 57 45 3 64 5 0 2 7 0 1 .292 .389 .561 .950 93/7D
65 Sammy Sosa   .264 539 2004 35 CHC NL 126 478 69 121 21 0 35 80 56 4 133 2 0 3 9 0 0 .253 .332 .517 .849 *9/D
66 Ruben Sierra   .270 369 2001 35 TEX AL 94 344 55 100 22 1 23 67 19 0 52 0 0 6 13 2 0 .291 .322 .561 .884 *D9/7
67 Mike Schmidt   .255 645 1985 35 PHI NL 158 549 89 152 31 5 33 93 87 8 117 3 0 6 10 1 3 .277 .375 .532 .907 *35/6
68 Hank Sauer   .261 649 1952 35 CHC NL 151 567 89 153 31 3 37 121 77 0 92 4 1 0 14 1 2 .270 .361 .531 .892 *7
69 Reggie Sanders   .283 498 2003 35 PIT NL 130 453 74 129 27 4 31 87 38 4 110 5 0 2 10 15 5 .285 .345 .567 .913 *97/D
70 Babe Ruth   .373 676 1930 35 NYY AL 145 518 150 186 28 9 49 153 136 0 61 1 21 0 0 10 10 .359 .493 .732 1.225 *97/1
71 Rafael Palmeiro   .269 678 2000 35 TEX AL 158 565 102 163 29 3 39 120 103 17 77 3 0 7 14 2 1 .288 .397 .558 .954 *3D
72 Mel Ott   .256 494 1944 35 NYG NL 120 399 91 115 16 4 26 82 90 0 47 3 2 0 3 2 0 .288 .423 .544 .967 *9/5
73 Johnny Mize   .275 658 1948 35 NYG NL 152 560 110 162 26 4 40 125 94 0 37 4 0 0 7 4 0 .289 .395 .564 .959 *3
74 Mark McGwire   .418 661 1999 35 STL NL 153 521 118 145 21 1 65 147 133 21 141 2 0 5 12 0 0 .278 .424 .697 1.120 *3
75 Willie McCovey   .279 495 1973 35 SFG NL 130 383 52 102 14 3 29 75 105 25 78 1 0 6 6 1 0 .266 .420 .546 .966 *3
Rk     ISO PA Year Age Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
76 Willie Mays   .268 629 1966 35 SFG NL 152 552 99 159 29 4 37 103 70 11 81 2 1 4 13 5 1 .288 .368 .556 .924 *8/97
77 John Lowenstein   .283 384 1982 35 BAL AL 122 322 69 103 15 2 24 66 54 10 59 1 3 4 6 7 6 .320 .415 .602 1.017 *7/9
78 Chipper Jones   .267 600 2007 35 ATL NL 134 513 108 173 42 4 29 102 82 10 75 0 0 5 21 5 1 .337 .425 .604 1.029 *5/D6
79 Glenallen Hill   .307 321 2000 35 TOT ML 104 300 45 88 9 1 27 58 19 2 76 1 0 1 6 0 1 .293 .336 .600 .936 7D
80 Ken Griffey   .275 555 2005 35 CIN NL 128 491 85 148 30 0 35 92 54 3 93 3 0 7 9 0 1 .301 .369 .576 .946 *8/D
81 Hank Greenberg   .327 604 1946 35 DET AL 142 523 91 145 29 5 44 127 80 0 88 0 1 0 17 5 1 .277 .373 .604 .977 *3
82 Jason Giambi   .305 579 2006 35 NYY AL 139 446 92 113 25 0 37 113 110 12 106 16 0 7 10 2 0 .253 .413 .558 .971 *D3
83 Andres Galarraga   .297 691 1996 35 COL NL 159 626 119 190 39 3 47 150 40 3 157 17 0 8 6 18 8 .304 .357 .601 .958 *3/5
84 Steve Finley   .263 623 2000 35 ARI NL 152 539 100 151 27 5 35 96 65 7 87 8 2 9 9 12 6 .280 .361 .544 .904 *8/D
85 Dwight Evans   .264 657 1987 35 BOS AL 154 541 109 165 37 2 34 123 106 6 98 3 0 7 10 4 6 .305 .417 .569 .986 *3*9/D
86 Jim Edmonds   .270 567 2005 35 STL NL 142 467 88 123 37 1 29 89 91 10 139 4 1 4 6 5 5 .263 .385 .533 .918 *8
87 Joe DiMaggio   .284 606 1950 35 NYY AL 139 525 114 158 33 10 32 122 80 0 33 1 0 0 14 0 0 .301 .394 .585 .979 *8/3
88 Ken Caminiti   .257 535 1998 35 SDP NL 131 452 87 114 29 0 29 82 71 4 108 4 0 8 6 6 2 .252 .353 .509 .862 *5
89 Jeromy Burnitz   .276 606 2004 35 COL NL 150 540 94 153 30 4 37 110 58 7 124 5 0 3 7 5 6 .283 .356 .559 .916 *987/D
90 Ellis Burks   .262 458 2000 35 SFG NL 122 393 74 135 21 5 24 96 56 5 49 1 0 8 10 5 1 .344 .419 .606 1.025 *9/D
91 Jay Buhner   .269 430 2000 35 SEA AL 112 364 50 92 20 0 26 82 59 3 98 4 1 2 10 0 2 .253 .361 .522 .883 *9/D
92 Barry Bonds   .381 607 2000 35 SFG NL 143 480 129 147 28 4 49 106 117 22 77 3 0 7 6 11 3 .306 .440 .688 1.127 *7
93 Hank Aaron   .307 639 1969 35 ATL NL 147 547 100 164 30 3 44 97 87 19 47 2 0 3 14 9 10 .300 .396 .607 1.003 *9/3
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/25/2010.

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Related posts:

    Short Term Sluggers
    Slow sluggers
    Find Franchises with Most of Something – Play Index
    Find the unifying theme
    Prince Fielder’s Rare Season Ending Walk

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at 10:29 am and is filed under Season Finders. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

14 Responses to “Old Sluggers Are Rare To Find”

  1. Johnny Twisto Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 10:49 am

    Obviously Ted Williams was on steroids. Please asterisk his records.

  2. Disrespectful Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 11:01 am

    One difference is that weird stuff happened to TW's head after he died-

  3. DavidRF Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 11:06 am

    Much is made of Babe Ruth's poor conditioning habits, but he aged better than almost all of his contemporaries. He ranks pretty high compared to many modern players as well.

  4. Frank Clingenpeel Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 12:15 pm

    In this day of HGHs and all, isn't it appropriate that Aaron's consistency -- like his status as the greatest non-juiced slugger of all time -- seems to be getting just as overlooked as it {and he} always did. Maybe we should put an asterisk after his name, too; after all, he was "juiced" by all that discipline.

  5. JeffW Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    It should be noted that Aaron received a huge boost midway through his career with the move to Atlanta.

    In 1013 home games in Milwaukee (Braves and Brewers), Aaron hit 195 homers in 3742 at bats, a ratio of 1:19.19 ABs. The Launching Pad sent that HR/AB ratio into the stratosphere: 190 homers in 2226 at bats, or 1:11.72.

    Aaron was already 32 when the Braves relocated, so I don't think it's natural progression (entering his peak productivity years), so much as it was an extremely friendly environment.

    If he stays in Milwaukee for those 2226 at bats, with that 1:19.19 ratio, he potentially loses 75 homers off his totals.

    He falls much closer to Mays, which makes these numbers all the more interesting: In 479 career at bats at Candlestick Park, Aaron batted just .267, with a relatively meager 18 home runs.

    He still beats Mays, 680-660, but finishes second to Ruth.

    No one ever talks about just how much Aaron was aided by moving to Atlanta.

  6. Steve Lombardi Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 2:42 pm

    Or how much Mays was hurt by Candlestick Park.

  7. JeffW Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    DavidRF,

    G.H. Fleming's book, Murderers' Row: The 1927 New York Yankees, has some fascinating entries on Ruth's conditioning.

    He had made a movie during the off-season, and had to be in top condition for filming. He carried that ethic into camp, and astounded everyone. Right away, he had the rookies rounded up, so he could greet them personally.

    Ruth shagged flies, fielded bunts, and pitched for nearly a half-hour during drills.

    He begged Miller Huggins to let him pitch in exhibition games, despite a charley horse that limited his running. Hug (of course) said "No," but Ruth could ususally be found on the sidelines in a heavy sweatshirt, warming up the other hurlers.

  8. DavidRF Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    Lots of people have talked about Aaron's move to Atlanta being a boost to his career. I've read about that in several places. It never raises any red flags, because Milwaukee County Stadium was a pitchers park... so it all evened out.

    Home-Road splits:
    Bonds - 379/383
    Aaron - 385/370
    Ruth - 347/367
    Mays - 335/325

    That all seems within the margin of error to me. Most players hit a bit better at home and the order wouldn't change if you just looked at the road numbers. As for Ruth, no one would suggest that Yankee Stadium or the Polo Ground should have had shorter porches in right.

    For more on Milwaukee's park, check out Eddie Mathew's home/road splits as he was pretty much done by the time the team moved to Atlanta: 238/274.

  9. DoubleDiamond Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 5:49 pm

    Looks like I didn't pay close enough attention to when the ISO statistic was introduced. Can someone please give me a refresher? Then I'll likely be able to understand this list better. Thanks.

  10. JeffW Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    You're right, in that it does even out with Aaron.

    County Stadium didn't hurt Mays any, either. He hit 31 homers in 454 ABs there.

    I'm not sure that Mays really benefitted as much from the Polo Grounds for his home run totals as one might think. I don't know if he was really a dead-pull hitter in those days. In the one season he led the league (51, in 1955), he hit 29 on the road, including nine in just 46 at bats at Ebbets Field.

    His high rate for triples would seem to indicate he did use the whole field more. He hit more three-baggers at the Polo Grounds (31) than anywhere else. Despite playing many more games at the Stick (889-339), he hit just 19 triples there.

    Ruth, of course, had it easy, as both the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium had short porches. But Ruth was a guy who could hit the ball over the roof of double-decked stadiums, so no park shy of Yellowstone was going to hold him.

    In fact, Comiskey Park had just been double-decked for the '27 season, and Charlie was saying it would be flat-out impossible to clear the roof. Second trip in, Babe "initiated" the new structure, homering over the right field roof.

    He had already done it in BP, on the Yanks' first visit.

  11. Johnny Twisto Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    ISO is simply SLG minus BA. Isolated slugging %. A good proxy for measuring power.

  12. Gerry Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    Old ballplayers who do anything well are rare to find. Take drawing walks - that's usually considered an old player's skill, right? How many ballplayers 35 and over have ever drawn 110 walks in a season? Only 15. How many have done it more than once? Only 5; Ted Williams, Tony Phillips, and Rickey Henderson, twice each; Babe Ruth, 4 times; and Barry Bonds, 7 times. Really, "sluggers" is a red herring.

  13. JeffW Says:
    May 26th, 2010 at 2:54 am

    Edgar Martinez was consistently close, though he never reached the specific number of 110 after turning 35. His peak years, however, were ages 32-40. In essence, I believe that's what you're looking for, right, Gerry?

    Edgar's problem was the hamstrings that forced him into DH duty and out of the lineup for 8-10 games every year in the N.L. parks. Here are Gar's totals, in age/games/walks, for ages 34-40:

    1997 34/155/119
    1998 35/154/96
    1999 36/142/97
    2000 37/153/96
    2001 38/132/93
    2002 39/97/67 (re-injured the hamstring)
    2003 40/145/92

    Pro-rated to 162 games, he makes it to at least 100 walks each year in that span, except maybe once (2002). Yeah, I know: should, coulda, woulda. Still, the skill set was there.

    At ages 35 and 36, he led the league in OBP and times on base. At 38 (2001), he finished second, while drawing 93 walks in just 132 games.

    In 2003, at the ripe old age of 40, Gar ranked fourth in OBP. His career OBP (.418) is 10 points higher than Rickey Henderson's.

    You can say "slugger," too. His lowest OPS during that span was .888, in 2002. He was in the top 10 every year, from 1997 through 2001.

    And, for all the talk that he was a Kingdome hitter, he was as good on the road as he was at home. His Safeco Field averages were in line with his career numbers, until he re-injured the hamstring in 2002.

    When neutralized, his stats get even better!

    His career batting average is over .300 for every month of the season, except April (.297). His lifetime home average is exactly one point lower than his road average. His first/second half averages differ by five points (.309/.314)

    Oh, for healthy hamstrings and an earlier call-up...

    He had a pretty good late-career run, though.

  14. Patrick Says:
    May 26th, 2010 at 11:48 pm

    Hank Aaron played with a known roider.

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