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I remember one of the first things I would do as a kid during the summer was to grab the newspaper (FYI - they were those outdated black and white papers things that would have information a date late on your doorstep) and turn directly to the MLB box scores page and look at the league's statistical leaders (dork!).
In those pre-juice days and pre-small ballpark days I was always astonished when Ryne Sandberg was throwing up 15+ home runs before the All-Star Break, and then the Bash Brothers came around -- OK, maybe not pre-juice days -- which made the home run column a must glance.
Now, thanks to these Interwebs, the leaders are at our disposal by the minute, but I'm guilty of looking at them less and less.
Thus, I was caught a bit off guard by the Good Phight's good insight today into the Phillies trio of home run sluggers topping the NL charts. What are the chances they could finish 1-2-3, and has this even been done before?
Here's the current standings:
R. Howard 29Has this happened before? Good Phight notes that it has, but would like to place an asterisk next to it.
A. Dunn 28
C. Utley 25
P. Burrell 25
So what you're saying is Babe Ruth was a freak? OK, so aside from the 1927 Yankees this feat has never been accomplished.Home Runs
Ruth-NYY 60 Gehrig-NYY 47 Lazzeri-NYY 18 Williams-SLB 17 Simmons-PHA 15 While they did lead the league, times were a different back then and I really don't put much credence into this when the top guy hits 42 more homeruns than the 3rd guy. Maybe I should rephrase the question to modern days.
The 1973 Braves had positions 2-3-4 with Davey Johnson, Darrell Evans and Hank Aaron. The 1997 Colorado Rockies put a good run at it as well.
So can the Phillies accomplish this rare and stunning feat? The way Adam Dunn hacks at it I'd be surprised, as he's benefited by an accommodating right field porch, and Pat Burrell will likely fall off pace. But either way, impressive work, and a record worth following.
I'd also argue that if the 1927 Yankees get an asterisk, shouldn't Citizens Bank Playground deserve one, too?
Has it been done before? [The Good Phight]
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