Market Share Homeruns
by
Asher B. Chancey,
BaseballEvolution.com
May 8, 2006
The recent nation-wide increases in gas prices has led to much discussion about "markets," and when markets should be allowed to dictate the price of consumable goods, and when the government should step and do something to manage the prices in order to help the consumers. This topic had my attention as I commuted an hour to work and school (both now over) not because I was concerned about gasoline (Toyota Corolla, 30+ miles per gallon), but because I listen to the radio in the car, and gas prices seem to be all they talk about on the radio.
One day as I motored down the road, all the talk about markets got to me in a strange way. Suddenly, I started thinking about everything in terms of market share. After I got home, I went and got a Coca-Cola from the pack of 32 on the back porch – I have one of the 32 Cokes, so the one I have is not particularly valuable. Then I went and grabbed the last of the Corn Pops from above the fridge. I have the last bowl of Corn Pops – this has become a very valuable bowl of cereal (of course I will soon be dead from my diet of Corn Pops and Coca-Cola, but that is a different issue).
Then I sat down to my computer and started looking at (yet) another article about Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth, and who was better, and why. And without even really thinking it was odd, I thought to myself, "Whose homeruns were more valuable, Bonds' in 2001, or Ruth's in 1927. I wonder who had the larger share of homeruns. Hmm."
So, I decided to figure it out. Which player had the larger share of his league's homeruns in the year in which he set the major league single season home run record. Actually, the calculation was very simple – individual homers divided by league homers multiplied by 100. An adjustment had to be made for the number of teams in the league, since there were 8 in 1927 and 16 in 2001, which means Bonds would automatically have a smaller share. So, each number is divided by number of teams.
And . . .
| Player | Player Homers | League Homers | Teams | Share |
| Barry Bonds 2001 | 73 | 2952 | 16 | 39.57 |
| Babe Ruth 1927 | 60 | 439 | 8 | 109.34 |
These numbers have no real signifigance except with respect to each other, and in context. It would seem, though I could be wrong, that we can think of these numbers as era-adjusted homerun totals, meaning a 2001 Bonds homerun would be worth 39/109 1927 Ruth homeruns. We could also think of it as, in an average year, 2001 Bonds would hit 39 homeruns while 1927 Babe Ruth would hit 109 homeruns. Obviously, with a sample size of only two, it is hard to tell what this means. For the sake of reference, and context, I decided to check out the league leaders in homeruns for each year.
First, the American League:
| Year | League Homers | Teams | HR/TEAM | Player | HR | Adjusted |
| 2005 | 2437 | 14 | 174.0714286 | Alex Rodriguez | 48 | 27.57 |
| 2004 | 2605 | 14 | 186.0714286 | Manny Ramirez | 43 | 23.11 |
| 2003 | 2499 | 14 | 178.5 | Alex Rodriguez | 47 | 26.33 |
| 2002 | 2464 | 14 | 176 | Alex Rodriguez | 57 | 32.39 |
| 2001 | 2506 | 14 | 179 | Alex Rodriguez | 52 | 29.05 |
| 2000 | 2688 | 14 | 192 | Troy Glaus | 47 | 24.48 |
| 1999 | 2635 | 14 | 188.2142857 | Ken Griffey* | 48 | 25.50 |
| 1998 | 2499 | 14 | 178.5 | Ken Griffey* | 56 | 31.37 |
| 1997 | 2477 | 14 | 176.9285714 | Ken Griffey* | 56 | 31.65 |
| 1996 | 2742 | 14 | 195.8571429 | Mark McGwire | 52 | 26.55 |
| 1995 | 2164 | 14 | 154.5714286 | Albert Belle | 50 | 32.35 |
| 1994 | 1774 | 14 | 126.7142857 | Ken Griffey* | 40 | 31.57 |
| 1993 | 2074 | 14 | 148.1428571 | Juan Gonzalez | 46 | 31.05 |
| 1992 | 1776 | 14 | 126.8571429 | Juan Gonzalez | 43 | 33.90 |
| 1991 | 1953 | 14 | 139.5 | Canseco/Fielder | 44 | 31.54 |
| 1990 | 1796 | 14 | 128.2857143 | Cecil Fielder | 51 | 39.76 |
| 1989 | 1718 | 14 | 122.7142857 | Fred McGriff* | 36 | 29.34 |
| 1988 | 1901 | 14 | 135.7857143 | Jose Canseco | 42 | 30.93 |
| 1987 | 2634 | 14 | 188.1428571 | Mark McGwire | 49 | 26.04 |
| 1986 | 2290 | 14 | 163.5714286 | Jesse Barfield | 40 | 24.45 |
| 1985 | 2178 | 14 | 155.5714286 | Darrell Evans* | 40 | 25.71 |
| 1984 | 1980 | 14 | 141.4285714 | Tony Armas | 43 | 30.40 |
| 1983 | 1903 | 14 | 135.9285714 | Jim Rice | 39 | 28.69 |
| 1982 | 2080 | 14 | 148.5714286 | Reggie Jackson* | 39 | 26.25 |
| 1981 | 1062 | 14 | 75.85714286 | Four Players | 22 | 29.00 |
| 1980 | 1844 | 14 | 131.7142857 | Reggie Jackson* | 41 | 31.13 |
| 1979 | 2006 | 14 | 143.2857143 | Gorman Thomas | 45 | 31.41 |
| 1978 | 1680 | 14 | 120 | Jim Rice | 46 | 38.33 |
| 1977 | 2013 | 14 | 143.7857143 | Jim Rice | 39 | 27.12 |
| 1976 | 1122 | 12 | 93.5 | Graig Nettles* | 32 | 34.22 |
| 1975 | 1465 | 12 | 122.0833333 | Reggie Jackson* | 36 | 29.49 |
| 1974 | 1369 | 12 | 114.0833333 | Dick Allen | 32 | 28.05 |
| 1973 | 1552 | 12 | 129.3333333 | Reggie Jackson* | 32 | 24.74 |
| 1972 | 1175 | 12 | 97.91666667 | Dick Allen | 37 | 37.79 |
| 1971 | 1484 | 12 | 123.6666667 | Bill Melton | 33 | 26.68 |
| 1970 | 1746 | 12 | 145.5 | Frank Howard | 44 | 30.24 |
| 1969 | 1649 | 12 | 137.4166667 | Harmon Killebrew | 49 | 35.66 |
| 1968 | 1104 | 10 | 110.4 | Frank Howard | 44 | 39.86 |
| 1967 | 1197 | 10 | 119.7 | Harmon Killebrew | 44 | 36.76 |
| 1966 | 1365 | 10 | 136.5 | Frank Robinson | 49 | 35.90 |
| 1965 | 1370 | 10 | 137 | Tony Conigliaro | 32 | 23.36 |
| 1964 | 1551 | 10 | 155.1 | Harmon Killebrew | 49 | 31.59 |
| 1963 | 1489 | 10 | 148.9 | Harmon Killebrew | 45 | 30.22 |
| 1962 | 1552 | 10 | 155.2 | Harmon Killebrew | 48 | 30.93 |
| 1961 | 1534 | 10 | 153.4 | Roger Maris* | 61 | 39.77 |
| 1960 | 1086 | 8 | 135.75 | Mickey Mantle | 40 | 29.47 |
| 1959 | 1091 | 8 | 136.375 | Colavito/Killebrew | 42 | 30.80 |
| 1958 | 1057 | 8 | 132.125 | Mickey Mantle | 42 | 31.79 |
| 1957 | 1024 | 8 | 128 | Roy Sievers | 42 | 32.81 |
| 1956 | 1075 | 8 | 134.375 | Mickey Mantle | 52 | 38.70 |
| 1955 | 961 | 8 | 120.125 | Mickey Mantle | 37 | 30.80 |
| 1954 | 823 | 8 | 102.875 | Larry Doby* | 32 | 31.11 |
| 1953 | 879 | 8 | 109.875 | Al Rosen | 43 | 39.14 |
| 1952 | 794 | 8 | 99.25 | Larry Doby* | 32 | 32.24 |
| 1951 | 839 | 8 | 104.875 | Gus Zernial | 33 | 31.47 |
| 1950 | 973 | 8 | 121.625 | Al Rosen | 37 | 30.42 |
| 1949 | 769 | 8 | 96.125 | Ted Williams* | 43 | 44.73 |
| 1948 | 710 | 8 | 88.75 | Joe DiMaggio | 39 | 43.94 |
| 1947 | 679 | 8 | 84.875 | Ted Williams* | 32 | 37.70 |
| 1946 | 653 | 8 | 81.625 | Hank Greenberg | 44 | 53.91 |
| 1945 | 430 | 8 | 53.75 | Vern Stephens | 24 | 44.65 |
| 1944 | 459 | 8 | 57.375 | Nick Etten* | 22 | 38.34 |
| 1943 | 473 | 8 | 59.125 | Rudy York | 34 | 57.51 |
| 1942 | 533 | 8 | 66.625 | Ted Williams* | 36 | 54.03 |
| 1941 | 734 | 8 | 91.75 | Ted Williams* | 37 | 40.33 |
| 1940 | 883 | 8 | 110.375 | Hank Greenberg | 41 | 37.15 |
| 1939 | 796 | 8 | 99.5 | Jimmie Foxx | 35 | 35.18 |
| 1938 | 864 | 8 | 108 | Hank Greenberg | 58 | 53.70 |
| 1937 | 806 | 8 | 100.75 | Joe DiMaggio | 46 | 45.66 |
| 1936 | 758 | 8 | 94.75 | Lou Gehrig* | 49 | 51.72 |
| 1935 | 663 | 8 | 82.875 | Foxx/Greenberg | 36 | 43.44 |
| 1934 | 688 | 8 | 86 | Lou Gehrig* | 49 | 56.98 |
| 1933 | 607 | 8 | 75.875 | Jimmie Foxx | 48 | 63.26 |
| 1932 | 707 | 8 | 88.375 | Jimmie Foxx | 58 | 65.63 |
| 1931 | 576 | 8 | 72 | Gehrig/Ruth | 46 | 63.89 |
| 1930 | 673 | 8 | 84.125 | Babe Ruth* | 49 | 58.25 |
| 1929 | 595 | 8 | 74.375 | Babe Ruth* | 46 | 61.85 |
| 1928 | 483 | 8 | 60.375 | Babe Ruth* | 54 | 89.44 |
| 1927 | 439 | 8 | 54.875 | Babe Ruth* | 60 | 109.34 |
| 1926 | 424 | 8 | 53 | Babe Ruth* | 47 | 88.68 |
| 1925 | 533 | 8 | 66.625 | Bob Meusel | 33 | 49.53 |
| 1924 | 397 | 8 | 49.625 | Babe Ruth* | 46 | 92.70 |
| 1923 | 442 | 8 | 55.25 | Babe Ruth* | 41 | 74.21 |
| 1922 | 525 | 8 | 65.625 | Ken Williams* | 39 | 59.43 |
| 1921 | 477 | 8 | 59.625 | Babe Ruth* | 59 | 98.95 |
| 1920 | 369 | 8 | 46.125 | Babe Ruth* | 54 | 117.07 |
| 1919 | 240 | 8 | 30 | Babe Ruth* | 29 | 96.67 |
| 1918 | 96 | 8 | 12 | Ruth/Tilly Walker | 11 | 91.67 |
| 1917 | 133 | 8 | 16.625 | Wally Pipp* | 9 | 54.14 |
| 1916 | 144 | 8 | 18 | Wally Pipp | 12 | 66.67 |
| 1915 | 160 | 8 | 20 | Braggo Roth | 7 | 35.00 |
| 1914 | 148 | 8 | 18.5 | Frank Baker* | 9 | 48.65 |
| 1913 | 159 | 8 | 19.875 | Frank Baker* | 12 | 60.38 |
| 1912 | 156 | 8 | 19.5 | Baker/Speaker | 10 | 51.28 |
| 1911 | 198 | 8 | 24.75 | Frank Baker* | 11 | 44.44 |
| 1910 | 147 | 8 | 18.375 | Jake Stahl | 10 | 54.42 |
| 1909 | 109 | 8 | 13.625 | Ty Cobb | 9 | 66.06 |
| 1908 | 116 | 8 | 14.5 | Sam Crawford | 7 | 48.28 |
| 1907 | 104 | 8 | 13 | Harry Davis | 8 | 61.54 |
| 1906 | 137 | 8 | 17.125 | Harry Davis | 12 | 70.07 |
| 1905 | 156 | 8 | 19.5 | Harry Davis | 8 | 41.03 |
| 1904 | 156 | 8 | 19.5 | Harry Davis | 10 | 51.28 |
| 1903 | 184 | 8 | 23 | Buck Freeman | 13 | 56.52 |
| 1902 | 258 | 8 | 32.25 | Socks Seybold | 16 | 49.61 |
| 1901 | 228 | 8 | 28.5 | Nap Lajoie | 14 | 49.12 |
And now the National League
| Year | League HR | Teams | lgHR/Teams | National League | HR | Share |
| 2005 | 2580 | 16 | 161.25 | Andruw Jones | 51 | 31.63 |
| 2004 | 2846 | 16 | 177.875 | Adrian Beltre | 48 | 26.99 |
| 2003 | 2708 | 16 | 169.25 | Jim Thome* | 47 | 27.77 |
| 2002 | 2595 | 16 | 162.1875 | Sammy Sosa | 49 | 30.21 |
| 2001 | 2952 | 16 | 184.5 | Barry Bonds* | 73 | 39.57 |
| 2000 | 3005 | 16 | 187.8125 | Sammy Sosa | 50 | 26.62 |
| 1999 | 2893 | 16 | 180.8125 | Mark McGwire | 65 | 35.95 |
| 1998 | 2565 | 16 | 160.3125 | Mark McGwire | 70 | 43.66 |
| 1997 | 2163 | 14 | 154.5 | Larry Walker* | 49 | 31.72 |
| 1996 | 2220 | 14 | 158.5714286 | Andres Galarraga | 47 | 29.64 |
| 1995 | 1917 | 14 | 136.9285714 | Dante Bichette | 40 | 29.21 |
| 1994 | 1532 | 14 | 109.4285714 | Matt Williams | 43 | 39.30 |
| 1993 | 1956 | 14 | 139.7142857 | Barry Bonds* | 46 | 32.92 |
| 1992 | 1262 | 12 | 105.1666667 | Fred McGriff* | 35 | 33.28 |
| 1991 | 1430 | 12 | 119.1666667 | Howard Johnson | 38 | 31.89 |
| 1990 | 1521 | 12 | 126.75 | Ryne Sandberg | 40 | 31.56 |
| 1989 | 1365 | 12 | 113.75 | Kevin Mitchell | 47 | 41.32 |
| 1988 | 1279 | 12 | 106.5833333 | Darryl Strawberry* | 39 | 36.59 |
| 1987 | 1824 | 12 | 152 | Andre Dawson | 49 | 32.24 |
| 1986 | 1523 | 12 | 126.9166667 | Mike Schmidt | 37 | 29.15 |
| 1985 | 1424 | 12 | 118.6666667 | Dale Murphy | 37 | 31.18 |
| 1984 | 1278 | 12 | 106.5 | Dale Murphy | 36 | 33.80 |
| 1983 | 1398 | 12 | 116.5 | Mike Schmidt | 40 | 34.33 |
| 1982 | 1299 | 12 | 108.25 | Dave Kingman | 37 | 34.18 |
| 1981 | 719 | 12 | 59.91666667 | Mike Schmidt | 31 | 51.74 |
| 1980 | 1243 | 12 | 103.5833333 | Mike Schmidt | 48 | 46.34 |
| 1979 | 1427 | 12 | 118.9166667 | Dave Kingman | 48 | 40.36 |
| 1978 | 1276 | 12 | 106.3333333 | George Foster | 40 | 37.62 |
| 1977 | 1631 | 12 | 135.9166667 | George Foster | 52 | 38.26 |
| 1976 | 1113 | 12 | 92.75 | Mike Schmidt | 38 | 40.97 |
| 1975 | 1233 | 12 | 102.75 | Mike Schmidt | 38 | 36.98 |
| 1974 | 1280 | 12 | 106.6666667 | Mike Schmidt | 36 | 33.75 |
| 1973 | 1550 | 12 | 129.1666667 | Willie Stargell* | 44 | 34.06 |
| 1972 | 1359 | 12 | 113.25 | Johnny Bench | 40 | 35.32 |
| 1971 | 1379 | 12 | 114.9166667 | Willie Stargell* | 48 | 41.77 |
| 1970 | 1683 | 12 | 140.25 | Johnny Bench | 45 | 32.09 |
| 1969 | 1470 | 12 | 122.5 | Willie McCovey* | 45 | 36.73 |
| 1968 | 891 | 10 | 89.1 | Willie McCovey* | 36 | 40.40 |
| 1967 | 1102 | 10 | 110.2 | Hank Aaron | 39 | 35.39 |
| 1966 | 1378 | 10 | 137.8 | Hank Aaron | 44 | 31.93 |
| 1965 | 1318 | 10 | 131.8 | Willie Mays | 52 | 39.45 |
| 1964 | 1211 | 10 | 121.1 | Willie Mays | 47 | 38.81 |
| 1963 | 1215 | 10 | 121.5 | Hank Aaron | 44 | 36.21 |
| 1962 | 1449 | 10 | 144.9 | Willie Mays | 49 | 33.82 |
| 1961 | 1196 | 8 | 149.5 | Orlando Cepeda | 46 | 30.77 |
| 1960 | 1042 | 8 | 130.25 | Ernie Banks | 41 | 31.48 |
| 1959 | 1159 | 8 | 144.875 | Eddie Mathews* | 46 | 31.75 |
| 1958 | 1183 | 8 | 147.875 | Ernie Banks | 47 | 31.78 |
| 1957 | 1178 | 8 | 147.25 | Hank Aaron | 44 | 29.88 |
| 1956 | 1219 | 8 | 152.375 | Duke Snider* | 43 | 28.22 |
| 1955 | 1263 | 8 | 157.875 | Willie Mays | 51 | 32.30 |
| 1954 | 1114 | 8 | 139.25 | Ted Kluszewski* | 49 | 35.19 |
| 1953 | 1197 | 8 | 149.625 | Eddie Mathews* | 47 | 31.41 |
| 1952 | 907 | 8 | 113.375 | Ralph Kiner | 37 | 32.64 |
| 1951 | 1024 | 8 | 128 | Ralph Kiner | 42 | 32.81 |
| 1950 | 1100 | 8 | 137.5 | Ralph Kiner | 47 | 34.18 |
| 1949 | 935 | 8 | 116.875 | Ralph Kiner | 54 | 46.20 |
| 1948 | 845 | 8 | 105.625 | Ralph Kiner | 40 | 37.87 |
| 1947 | 886 | 8 | 110.75 | Ralph Kiner | 51 | 46.05 |
| 1946 | 562 | 8 | 70.25 | Ralph Kiner | 23 | 32.74 |
| 1945 | 557 | 8 | 69.625 | Tommy Holmes* | 28 | 40.22 |
| 1944 | 575 | 8 | 71.875 | Bill Nicholson* | 33 | 45.91 |
| 1943 | 432 | 8 | 54 | Bill Nicholson* | 29 | 53.70 |
| 1942 | 538 | 8 | 67.25 | Mel Ott* | 30 | 44.61 |
| 1941 | 597 | 8 | 74.625 | Dolph Camilli* | 34 | 45.56 |
| 1940 | 688 | 8 | 86 | Johnny Mize* | 43 | 50.00 |
| 1939 | 649 | 8 | 81.125 | Johnny Mize* | 28 | 34.51 |
| 1938 | 611 | 8 | 76.375 | Mel Ott* | 36 | 47.14 |
| 1937 | 624 | 8 | 78 | Joe Medwick | 31 | 39.74 |
| 1936 | 606 | 8 | 75.75 | Mel Ott* | 33 | 43.56 |
| 1935 | 662 | 8 | 82.75 | Wally Berger | 34 | 41.09 |
| 1934 | 656 | 8 | 82 | Ripper Collins | 35 | 42.68 |
| 1933 | 460 | 8 | 57.5 | Chuck Klein* | 28 | 48.70 |
| 1932 | 651 | 8 | 81.375 | Chuck Klein* | 38 | 46.70 |
| 1931 | 493 | 8 | 61.625 | Chuck Klein* | 31 | 50.30 |
| 1930 | 892 | 8 | 111.5 | Hack Wilson | 56 | 50.22 |
| 1929 | 754 | 8 | 94.25 | Chuck Klein* | 43 | 45.62 |
| 1928 | 610 | 8 | 76.25 | Jim Bottomley* | 31 | 40.66 |
| 1927 | 483 | 8 | 60.375 | Cy Williams* | 30 | 49.69 |
| 1926 | 439 | 8 | 54.875 | Hack Wilson | 21 | 38.27 |
| 1925 | 636 | 8 | 79.5 | Rogers Hornsby | 39 | 49.06 |
| 1924 | 499 | 8 | 62.375 | Jack Fournier* | 27 | 43.29 |
| 1923 | 538 | 8 | 67.25 | Cy Williams* | 41 | 60.97 |
| 1922 | 530 | 8 | 66.25 | Rogers Hornsby | 42 | 63.40 |
| 1921 | 460 | 8 | 57.5 | George Kelly | 23 | 40.00 |
| 1920 | 261 | 8 | 32.625 | Cy Williams* | 15 | 45.98 |
| 1919 | 207 | 8 | 25.875 | Gavvy Cravath | 12 | 46.38 |
| 1918 | 139 | 8 | 17.375 | Gavvy Cravath | 8 | 46.04 |
| 1917 | 202 | 8 | 25.25 | Gavvy Cravath | 12 | 47.52 |
| 1916 | 239 | 8 | 29.875 | Dave Robertson* | 12 | 40.17 |
| 1915 | 225 | 8 | 28.125 | Gavvy Cravath | 24 | 85.33 |
| 1914 | 267 | 8 | 33.375 | Gavvy Cravath | 19 | 56.93 |
| 1913 | 310 | 8 | 38.75 | Gavvy Cravath | 19 | 49.03 |
| 1912 | 287 | 8 | 35.875 | Heinie Zimmerman | 14 | 39.02 |
| 1911 | 316 | 8 | 39.5 | Frank Schulte* | 21 | 53.16 |
| 1910 | 214 | 8 | 26.75 | Fred Beck* | 10 | 37.38 |
| 1909 | 151 | 8 | 18.875 | Red Murray | 7 | 37.09 |
| 1908 | 151 | 8 | 18.875 | Tim Jordan* | 12 | 63.58 |
| 1907 | 141 | 8 | 17.625 | Dave Brain | 10 | 56.74 |
| 1906 | 126 | 8 | 15.75 | Tim Jordan* | 12 | 76.19 |
| 1905 | 182 | 8 | 22.75 | Fred Odwell* | 9 | 39.56 |
| 1904 | 175 | 8 | 21.875 | Harry Lumley* | 9 | 41.14 |
| 1903 | 151 | 8 | 18.875 | Jimmy Sheckard* | 9 | 47.68 |
| 1902 | 98 | 8 | 12.25 | Tommy Leach | 6 | 48.98 |
| 1901 | 227 | 8 | 28.375 | Sam Crawford* | 16 | 56.39 |
Truth be told, this doesn't rise to the level of "a new stat," and it doesn't significantly change the way I look at Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth.
However, this does provide some measure for looking at homerun success as a product of era, or more specifically, season. And it is rather clear that Babe Ruth had a stronger hold on the home run market in 1927 than Barry Bonds did in 2001, for what its worth.
Oh, and one more thing - it also makes it clear that Mike Schmidt deserves a lot more props than he tends to get.
View list in order by "Share".
Disagree with something? Got something to add? Wanna bring up something totally new? Asher resides in Alexandria, VA, and can be reached at asher@baseballevolution.com.
