Picture courtesy of everyjoe.com
You don't have to go very far to identify some of the games best power hitters (despite some being synthetically induced). Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Griffey. Of course there is Ruth and Mantle and Mays. While another great power hitter named Frank Robinson also gets overlooked, it is already the one year anniversary of the death of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.
While he has regarded as a one-dimentional player by some, he was one of the greatest power hitters the game has ever seen. He hit 393 of his 575 career HRs in the 1960s, the most of anybody of that decade, including Mays and Aaron. He was an 11 time All Star and won the AL MVP in 1968, hitting a career high 49 HR and 140 RBI. Six times he led the AL in HRs in his career. He had 8 40 HR seasons and 9 100 RBI seasons.
Despite only batting .256 during his career, he was clearly one of the most feared hitters in the game. Perhaps that was the reason he had to wait until his 4th year of eligibility to make Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1984. At the time he retired, only Aaron, Ruth, Mays and Robinson had more HRs. He currently sits at number 11. He struck out 1699 times in his career, but nearly balanced it out with his 1559 career walks.
He also owns some dubious destinctions. When he hit 48 HRs in 1962, it was the most ever by a batter who hit under .250; he hit .243. In 1963, when he hit 45 HR, that was the most ever hit by somebody with less than 100 RBI; he had 96. In 1964, his 49 HRs were hit in the same season he had just 11 2Bs. Despite these distinctions, some say he was the model for the MLB logo.
He played regularly at 1B, 3B and in the OF during his career (969 games at 1B, 791 at 3B, 471 in OF). He also played in what many considered the second dead ball era- in the mid to late 1960s. The die-hard baseball fan should take a moment to remember or look up the great Harmon Killebrew, who passed away a year ago today at the age of 74.
While he has regarded as a one-dimentional player by some, he was one of the greatest power hitters the game has ever seen. He hit 393 of his 575 career HRs in the 1960s, the most of anybody of that decade, including Mays and Aaron. He was an 11 time All Star and won the AL MVP in 1968, hitting a career high 49 HR and 140 RBI. Six times he led the AL in HRs in his career. He had 8 40 HR seasons and 9 100 RBI seasons.
Despite only batting .256 during his career, he was clearly one of the most feared hitters in the game. Perhaps that was the reason he had to wait until his 4th year of eligibility to make Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1984. At the time he retired, only Aaron, Ruth, Mays and Robinson had more HRs. He currently sits at number 11. He struck out 1699 times in his career, but nearly balanced it out with his 1559 career walks.
He also owns some dubious destinctions. When he hit 48 HRs in 1962, it was the most ever by a batter who hit under .250; he hit .243. In 1963, when he hit 45 HR, that was the most ever hit by somebody with less than 100 RBI; he had 96. In 1964, his 49 HRs were hit in the same season he had just 11 2Bs. Despite these distinctions, some say he was the model for the MLB logo.
He played regularly at 1B, 3B and in the OF during his career (969 games at 1B, 791 at 3B, 471 in OF). He also played in what many considered the second dead ball era- in the mid to late 1960s. The die-hard baseball fan should take a moment to remember or look up the great Harmon Killebrew, who passed away a year ago today at the age of 74.
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