The Other Home Run Race

Dave Paisley

Just in case you hadn't noticed, we're gripped by home run hysteria this year.

No, really, we are.

However, lost in the shuffle of McGwire vs. Maris and Griffey vs. Ruth is a somewhat obscure but significant harbinger of things to come from the budding superstar that is Alex Rodriguez.

Sure he's a household name already, but he's usually lumped in with Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra these days as some shortstop triumvirate of the future. The fact is, A-Rod is a couple of notches above the other two, although it's been hidden by Seattle's terrible year coupled with the Yankees' amazing run and Garciaparra's Rookie of the Year award last year.

Going into this season, Rodriguez had 64 career home runs, while Jeter had a mere 20 and Garciaparra 34 (admittedly in fewer at bats.) Take into account the fact that Jeter is a year older and Garciaparra two years older than Alex, and the gap widens considerably.

By now you're getting impatient, I'll bet. "What's the big deal with Alex Rodriguez?", you ask.

Well, it just so happens that barring some unbelievable misfortune, Alex Rodriguez is about to become the fourth-youngest hitter to reach 100 career home runs.

Is this supposed to be terribly impressive, you ask? I'd have to answer that by showing you the kind of company he'll be keeping on that short list.

Top of the heap is Mel Ott, who started in 1927 and passed the 100-homer mark in his 5th season, at the tender age of 22 years and 48 days. He went on to hit 511 in his career, currently standing at 14th on the all-time list. He just happened to hit his career high of 42 in 1929, just as the home run explosion of the late 20's and early 30's was getting rolling.

Next we have the ill-fated Tony Conigliaro, who started hitting homers in 1964 at the age of 19 (his 24 jacks lead all teenagers) and could have been one of the best of all time if not for the unfortunate beaning in 1967 that ultimately cut short his career.

After that comes Eddie Mathews, who started in 1952 with 25, hit a career high 47 the following year and passed 100 in 1954 at the tender age of 22 years and 107 days. Over 27 seasons, he managed to amass 512 homers, 12th on the all-time list.

If Alex Rodriguez hits 6 more home runs before September 24th this season, he moves onto the list right behind these guys. That's about 60 games to go, and he has 30 in 100 games this season, on a pace to hit around 48 by season's end.

What kind of company will he beat out, if he does indeed achieve the feat? Who's next on the list?

Next is a favorite of many, I suspect. Johnny Bench, who was 23 years and 58 days old when he belted his 100th in 1970, his fourth season, on his way to a career-high 45 that season.

And one more spot down the list is someone else you may have heard of, Mr. Henry Aaron. Just 12 days older than Bench when he hit his 100th, Aaron started early and finished late, passing the 100 mark in 1957 on his way to hitting 44. He wouldn't hit his career high of 47 until 14 years later.

So A-Rod is in good company. Apart from the unfortunate Conigliaro, all of these guys showed that early talent doesn't fade, and that barring freak injury, it bodes well for a long and storied career.

And oh yeah - except for Conigliaro, they're all in the Hall of Fame.

Dave Paisley has almost finished his life's work: building a detailed replica of Wrigley Field in a bottle...Scratch that. We heard wrong, and he built the replica while hoisting a bottle. Congratulate him on his steady hands at drdjp@strikethree.com.