Fielder amongst some esteemed company

[homer]

There are only 9 other players in the history of baseball that have hit 45 or more home runs by or before age 23. They are all Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers, or cheaters http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

Mark McGwire, Troy Glaus, Reggie Jackson, Eddie Matthews, Juan Gonzalez, Orlando Cepeda, Joe DiMaggio, Ken Griffey, Johnny Bench.

 

Had Braun played the entire season, he could presumably be knocking on that door as well.

 

 

 

(as an interesting aside, Tony Canigliaro hit 24 home runs as a 19 year old - most ever by a teenager)

 

 

(added tags --1992)

[pitchleague]

I'm assuming you meant 45 homers in a season, since Prince has 75 or so for his career now.

[homer]

Yes, 45 home runs in a season by someone age 23 or younger.

[pitchleague]

sorry, didn't mean to sound all smart-mouthy.

 

Anyways, it is quite an accomplishment. Amazing that the kid is only 23-years old. I hope when the season is over, there will be more raves about Prince in the same way Ryan Howard, aged 26 last season (I believe), did last off-season.

[Mike Felder]

Wow! That is an impressive list. A couple of those names are surprising (I didn't think Juan Gone hit that many, that young), but good company nonetheless.

[DHarris34Phan]

I don't remember Glaus hitting 45 when he was 23...which was what 10 years ago?

[1992casey]

Based on homer's list, here are the times players have hit 40 homers at age 23 or earlier:

 

Player	Age	Year	Homers
Joe DiMaggio	1937	22	46
Eddie Mathews	1953	21	47
	1954	22	40
	1955	23	41
Orlando Cepeda	1961	23	46
Reggie Jackson	1969	23	47
Johnny Bench	1970	22	45
Mark McGwire	1987	23	49
Juan Gonzalez	1992	22	43
	1993	23	46
Ken Griffey Jr.	1993	23	45
Troy Glaus	2000	23	47
Prince Fielder	2007	23	45

[bretsky07]

So Prince has a decent shot at being the only player, age 23 or under, to hit 50 homers in a single season? That would be unbelievable!

[Mr QL]

Who is the youngest to hit 50?

[princeginterhallhelms04]

He should if he gets on a HR binge be able to hit 50 easy. Now i don't think we can expect 50 every year but one can dream of years of 40-50 HR's from both Braun and Fielder!

[Mr QL]

I looked it up. Willie Mays is the youngest ever to hit 50 at 24 years old.

[And That]

4 more HR in 15 games is certainly possible, though that's not a likely feat for any ballplayer. I'd be great to see him hit 50, but I'd trade a playoff spot for it.

 

Then again, Prince hitting 50 or more may be key to that. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[pogokat]

still can't believe that people thought prince was too fat...or that braun wouldn't be a power hitter

[drezdn]

still can't believe that people thought prince was too fat...or that braun wouldn't be a power hitter

I love how in Moneyball it implies that taking Prince was another bad move by the Brewers, when really it was a decision that fit right in with the theme of the book. Prince was a potentially good-great player that was being undervalued because he didn't "look" like a baseball player should.

[1992casey]

Another tidbit... Prince and his dad are the first father-son pair to each have a 40-homer season in the major leagues. Obviously, if Prince can hit 50, they'll be the first father-son pair to reach that mark, too.

[crewcrazy]

Another tidbit... Prince and his dad are the first father-son pair to each have a 40-homer season in the major leagues. Obviously, if Prince can hit 50, they'll be the first father-son pair to reach that mark, too.

Another tidbit of a tidbit...the Bonds father/son combo was 1 HR shy of being in that club, too -- Bobby Bonds' career high was 39.

 

[areacodes]

Another tidbit of a tidbit...the Bonds father/son combo was 1 HR shy of being in that club, too -- Bobby Bonds' career high was 39.

 

That means they were only 31 short of being the first father/son combo to each hit 70 in a season. Get Bobby on the roids!

[tigerbrew]

Wow, if Prince hits 50 homers this season, he will set a new MLB record for most homers in a season by a 23 or younger player, not to mention the youngest ever to hit 50 homers in a MLB season. At the rate Prince is going now, it's very possible.

[pogokat]

anyon e else see that list and appreciate how awesome eddie matthews was? that definitely stood out more to me than anything else

[Mike Felder]

I too was blown away by Mathews' numbers. 47 homers at age 21? In that era? Ridiculous!

[brewblue1]

What's more impressive to me is that only 4 gentlemen on that list got to 45 in a season sooner than Prince: DiMaggio, Matthews, Bench and Jackson.

 

THAT'S good company if you ask me.

 

Nice work P!

[Brawndo the Thirst Mutilat]

Also worth mentioning, this is the list of the top SLG % age 23 seasons in MLB history:

Slugging %

Rank	Player		SLG		Year
1.	Willie Mays		0.667		1954
	Albert Pujols		0.667		2003
3.	Rudy York		0.651		1937
4.	Ted Williams		0.648		1942
5.	Hal Trosky		0.644		1936
6.	Juan Gonzalez		0.632		1993
7.	Mark McGwire		0.618		1987
8.	Kal Daniels		0.617		1987
	Ken Griffey		0.617		1993
10.	Mickey Mantle		0.611		1955

If the season ended today, this would need updating. Braun is at .632 and Fielder is at .619. Off the top of my head, I have a tough time thinking of ANY two teammates who were this good THIS YOUNG (as hitters anyway). Griffey and A-Rod? Griffey was 26 by the time Rodriguez had a great season. Mathews and Aaron are the only other case I can think of. In 1955, a 21 year old Aaron went .314/.366/.540 while a 23 year old Mathews was posting his third straight 170 OPS+ season.

I'm trying to keep this stuff in my mind as much as possible in case tonight's game continues to go south. Let's just hope Braun and Fielder are better between ages 24-28 than Kal Daniels was.

(I don't know about you, but I'd completely forgotten about that guy.)

[Phenomenal Smith]

I too was blown away by Mathews' numbers. 47 homers at age 21? In that era? Ridiculous!

Mathews is one my favorite players of all-time. He's very underrated.

 

[homer]

Bumping after today's ridiculous dinger.

[lukevan]

Prince is going to rule the NL for the next 5 seasons. The season he's had at this age is unreal.