Buzz
Creating a roster of exceptional home run hitters or focusing solely on power stats might seem simple, as home runs undoubtedly captivate audiences. However, this approach overlooks other critical offensive elements like batting average, speed, base running for doubles and triples, and stolen bases. Elite hitters master most of these skills, and below, we highlight the absolute best. It’s worth noting that statistics, particularly historical ones, hold greater significance in Major League Baseball than in any other sport.
The data for this list was sourced from readily available online platforms, with straightforward comparisons used to determine the rankings. For those unfamiliar with baseball stats: batting average reflects a player’s likelihood of getting any hit during an at-bat. RBIs, or 'runs batted in,' measure a hitter’s ability to drive in runs with their hits. Slugging percentage highlights players who excel at hitting doubles, triples, or home runs. Additional stats will be explored in each player’s profile. On a contentious note, players from the steroid era—or those suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs—have been excluded. Thus, names like Bonds, McGuire, Sosa, or Manny won’t appear here. Another challenge in compiling this list is comparing batters from vastly different eras.
Several factors must be considered, such as the ballparks they played in, the pitchers they faced, rules favoring hitters or pitchers, and the differences between the dead ball and live ball eras. I anticipate lively discussions in the comments, including remarks like, 'How could you leave out Player X?' While anyone can review the stats, any omissions are not due to a lack of thorough research.
10. Babe Ruth 1921, New York Yankees
Anyone familiar with baseball recognizes the legendary Babe Ruth. He transformed the sport by hitting home runs at an unprecedented rate. While his 1927 season, where he smashed 60 home runs, is iconic, his 1921 season stands out even more. That year, he hit 59 homers, scored 177 runs, drove in 171 RBIs, maintained a .378 batting average, recorded 44 doubles, 16 triples, and stole 17 bases. With a staggering .8463 slugging percentage and 457 total bases, Ruth delivered what many consider the greatest offensive season in history. Before 1920, the single-season home run record was 27; Ruth shattered that with 54 in 1920 and 59 in 1921. Unlike modern power hitters linked to steroids, Ruth famously indulged in hot dogs and beer, even during games.
9. Lou Gehrig 1927, New York Yankees
Lou Gehrig, a cornerstone of the Yankees' famed 'murderers row,' exemplified consistency and endurance, playing 2,130 consecutive games—a record later surpassed by Cal Ripken in 1995. While 1927 was arguably his peak season, his career is filled with remarkable achievements. For instance, his 184 RBIs in 1931 remain an American League record. In 1927, Gehrig posted a .373 batting average, 218 hits, 52 doubles, 18 triples, 47 home runs, 175 RBIs, 149 runs scored, a .765 slugging percentage, and 447 total bases, solidifying his place among the all-time greats.
8. Jimmy Foxx 1932, Philadelphia Athletics
Jimmy Foxx was one of the most intimidating hitters of his era, consistently ranking among the league's best in slugging and RBIs. In 1932, he smashed 58 home runs, scored 151 runs, and drove in 169 runs. He ended the season with a .749 slugging percentage and 438 total bases. Following this stellar year, he clinched the Triple Crown in 1933 with a .356 batting average, 163 RBIs, and 48 homers. His dominance earned him consecutive MVP awards in 1932 and 1933.
7. Hack Wilson 1930, Chicago Cubs
Hack Wilson's 1930 season remains one of the most remarkable in National League history. He set an all-time record with 191 RBIs, a feat many believe will never be surpassed. Additionally, he smashed 56 home runs, becoming the first National League player to exceed 50 homers in a single season. This record stood until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa broke it in 1998, albeit under the cloud of steroid use. Wilson's 1930 stats include a .356 batting average, 146 runs scored, a .722 slugging percentage, and 423 total bases, alongside his historic home run and RBI totals.
6. Ty Cobb 1911, Detroit Tigers
Ty Cobb, known as 'The Georgia Peach,' is widely regarded as the greatest hitter of the dead-ball era. Many of his records still stand today, including his career batting average (.367), 11 batting titles, and 2,245 runs scored. A feared base runner, Cobb stole 83 bases in 1911, an extraordinary feat for that time. That year, he led every major offensive category except home runs, finishing with a .420 batting average, 248 hits, 147 runs, 127 RBIs, 83 stolen bases, 47 doubles, 24 triples, a .621 slugging percentage, and 367 total bases. Despite his undeniable talent and determination, Cobb's legacy is marred by his abrasive personality and racist behavior. One infamous incident involved him attacking a heckler in the stands, reportedly saying, 'I don’t care if he has no feet,' when fans pleaded for him to stop because the man had no hands.
5. Rogers Hornsby 1922, St. Louis Cardinals
In 1922, Rogers Hornsby achieved a historic milestone, becoming the only player in Major League Baseball to hit over 40 home runs while maintaining a batting average above .400. He capitalized on the live-ball era, where rule changes and new baseball designs significantly favored hitters. That season, Hornsby set records with 152 RBIs, a .722 slugging percentage, 46 doubles, 250 hits, and an impressive 450 total bases. By the end of his career, only Ty Cobb's .367 batting average surpassed Hornsby's .358. Interestingly, according to Wikipedia, musician Bruce Hornsby is a distant relative of the baseball legend.
4. Chuck Klein 1930, Philadelphia Phillies
1930 was an extraordinary year for hitters, as evidenced by Hack Wilson's performance. Chuck Klein, in his second full season with the Phillies, delivered an impressive 40 home runs, 59 doubles, and a .386 batting average. His other stats were equally remarkable, including 158 runs scored, 250 hits, and a .687 slugging percentage, culminating in 445 total bases. Despite these incredible numbers, Klein received no MVP votes that year. He also holds the record for the most home runs in a player's first two full seasons, with 83.
3. Albert Pujols 2003, St. Louis Cardinals
Albert Pujols exemplifies modern-day hitting excellence. In 2003, he delivered one of the most outstanding offensive seasons in Cardinals history, boasting a .359 batting average, 43 home runs, 124 RBIs, 212 hits, 51 doubles, a .667 slugging percentage, and 137 runs scored. Despite these stellar numbers, he finished second in MVP voting to Barry Bonds. Pujols continued to dominate in 2009, with mid-season stats including 32 homers, 87 RBIs, 73 runs, 222 total bases, and a .773 slugging percentage. If he maintained this pace, it would surpass his already remarkable 2003 campaign.
Other notable seasons not included in the list: Hank Greenburg – 1937 (.668 slugging), Hank Aaron – 1959 (46 doubles, 400 total bases, .636 slugging), Al Simmons – 1925 (43 doubles, .387 average, 392 total bases), George Brett – 1980 (.390 average, 158 runs), Nap Lajoie – 1901 (.426 average, 350 total bases), Mickey Mantle – 1956 (52 home runs, .353 average, .705 slugging, 376 total bases), Willie Mays, 1954, 1955 (1954 – .667 slugging, 377 total bases, 1955 – 51 home runs, .659 slugging, 382 total bases), Frank Robinson – 1962 – (51 doubles, .342 average, .624 slugging, 380 total bases), George Sisler – 1920 (257 hits, 49 doubles, 18 triples, .407 average, .632 slugging, 399 total bases), Ichiro Suzuki – 2004 (MLB record 262 hits), Ted Williams – 1941 (Last man to hit over .400 batting average, .735 slugging, 335 total bases), Ricky Henderson – 1982 (130 stolen bases)
2. Joe DiMaggio 1937, New York Yankees
Joe DiMaggio, famously known as 'Joltin’ Joe,' played a pivotal role in securing 9 World Series titles for the Yankees over 13 years. In 1937, his second season, DiMaggio dominated the American League with 167 RBIs, 151 runs, 46 home runs, a .346 batting average, and 418 total bases. He led the league in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage, and total bases, finishing second in MVP voting. That year, the Yankees clinched another World Series championship. DiMaggio is also remembered for his marriage to Marilyn Monroe and his mention in the Simon & Garfunkel song, 'Mrs. Robinson.'
1. Stan Musial 1948, St. Louis Cardinals
Stan Musial was unstoppable in 1948, leading nearly every major offensive category except home runs, where he fell just one short. He posted a .376 batting average, 43 points higher than the runner-up, and topped the league in hits (230), doubles (50), triples (18), RBIs (131), on-base percentage (.450), slugging (.702), and total bases (429). His stellar performance earned him his third MVP award. Though Musial never led the league in home runs, he retired as the sixth all-time home run leader. A unique aspect of his career was his equal number of hits at home and away—1,815 each. Musial began his career in 1941 with two hits and ended it 22 years later with two hits, prompting a sportswriter to humorously remark that he hadn’t improved at all.
