There have been 83 players in the history of baseball to hit 45 home runs or more in a season. It’s happened 151 times total. Only twice in the history of baseball has the team that had a 45 home run hitter finished in the bottom five in MLB in total team home runs.
As we’ve been tracking the Royals offensive rankings while under the leadership of Dayton Moore at DAWT, the offensive categories where the franchise consistently struggles have become overwhelmingly apparent — walks, home runs, and runs scored are the most notable.
But after looking at the team rankings for the 2021 and 2019 seasons, I realized the 48 home run seasons from Jorge Soler and Salvador Perez, respectively, were included. In those two seasons, the Royals ranked 28th and 27th in all of baseball in total team home runs.
How could it be that a team had a near-50 home run season from a single player and still finished in the bottom five in MLB in team home runs? How many times in the history of baseball has that happened?
Turns out, it’s the most Royals statistic of all time.
In the history of baseball, there have been 151 45-home run seasons by an individual player. Only twice has that player’s team finished in the bottom five in MLB in home runs. Both times it’s been the Royals under Dayton Moore.
The closest another team has come in accomplishing this feat was in 1961 when Jim Gentile hit 46 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles, when there were only 18 teams in Major League Baseball. The Orioles that season finished 11th, two spots from the bottom 5.
It gets worse.
Twice in baseball history, a player hit 45 home runs during a season in which he changed teams — JD Martinez in 2017 and Mark McGwire in 1997. In neither of these seasons did any of the four teams Martinez or McGwire played for finish in the bottom five in team home runs. Detroit traded away Martinez and finished 23rd; Oakland traded away McGwire and still finished fourth.
The Royals franchise offensive futility is well chronicled and yet there are still gems like this. They’ve finished last in baseball in walks (six times) more than they’ve finished in the top 20 in runs (four times) over the last 15 seasons. The teams single-season home run record stood at just 36 for 32 seasons all the way through the Steroid Era.
And now this depressing stat. Even when the Royals do good, the franchise’s ineptness can’t be ignored.
| Name | HRS | Year | Team | Team Rank | MLB # Teams |
| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 48 | 2021 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1 | 30 |
| Salvador Perez | 48 | 2021 | Kansas City Royals | 27 | 30 |
| Shohei Ohtani | 46 | 2021 | Los Angeles Angels | 19 | 30 |
| Marcus Semien | 45 | 2021 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1 | 30 |
| Pete Alonso | 53 | 2019 | New York Mets | 11 | 30 |
| Eugenio Suarez | 49 | 2019 | Cincinnati Reds | 14 | 30 |
| Jorge Soler | 48 | 2019 | Kansas City Royals | 28 | 30 |
| Cody Bellinger | 47 | 2019 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 4 | 30 |
| Mike Trout | 45 | 2019 | Los Angeles Angels | 19 | 30 |
| Khris Davis | 48 | 2018 | Oakland Athletics | 3 | 30 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | 59 | 2017 | Miami Marlins | 19 | 30 |
| Aaron Judge | 52 | 2017 | New York Yankees | 1 | 30 |
| Mark Trumbo | 47 | 2016 | Baltimore Orioles | 1 | 30 |
| Chris Davis | 47 | 2015 | Baltimore Orioles | 3 | 30 |
| Chris Davis | 53 | 2013 | Baltimore Orioles | 1 | 30 |
| Jose Bautista | 54 | 2010 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1 | 30 |
| Albert Pujols | 47 | 2009 | St. Louis Cardinals | 17 | 30 |
| Prince Fielder | 46 | 2009 | Milwaukee Brewers | 10 | 30 |
| Ryan Howard | 45 | 2009 | Philadelphia Phillies | 3 | 30 |
| Ryan Howard | 48 | 2008 | Philadelphia Phillies | 2 | 30 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 54 | 2007 | New York Yankees | 4 | 30 |
| Prince Fielder | 50 | 2007 | Milwaukee Brewers | 1 | 30 |
| Ryan Howard | 47 | 2007 | Philadelphia Phillies | 2 | 30 |
| Carlos Pena | 46 | 2007 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 7 | 30 |
| Ryan Howard | 58 | 2006 | Philadelphia Phillies | 4 | 30 |
| David Ortiz | 54 | 2006 | Boston Red Sox | 10 | 30 |
| Albert Pujols | 49 | 2006 | St. Louis Cardinals | 12 | 30 |
| Alfonso Soriano | 46 | 2006 | Washington Nationals | 21 | 30 |
| Lance Berkman | 45 | 2006 | Houston Astros | 17 | 30 |
| Andruw Jones | 51 | 2005 | Atlanta Braves | 10 | 30 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 48 | 2005 | New York Yankees | 2 | 30 |
| David Ortiz | 47 | 2005 | Boston Red Sox | 6 | 30 |
| Derrek Lee | 46 | 2005 | Chicago Cubs | 7 | 30 |
| Manny Ramirez | 45 | 2005 | Boston Red Sox | 6 | 30 |
| Adrian Beltre | 48 | 2004 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 8 | 30 |
| Adam Dunn | 46 | 2004 | Cincinnati Reds | 11 | 30 |
| Albert Pujols | 46 | 2004 | St. Louis Cardinals | 7 | 30 |
| Barry Bonds | 45 | 2004 | San Francisco Giants | 17 | 30 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 47 | 2003 | Texas Rangers | 1 | 30 |
| Jim Thome | 47 | 2003 | Philadelphia Phillies | 15 | 30 |
| Barry Bonds | 45 | 2003 | San Francisco Giants | 12 | 30 |
| Richie Sexson | 45 | 2003 | Milwaukee Brewers | 8 | 30 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 57 | 2002 | Texas Rangers | 1 | 30 |
| Jim Thome | 52 | 2002 | Cleveland Indians | 7 | 30 |
| Sammy Sosa | 49 | 2002 | Chicago Cubs | 5 | 30 |
| Barry Bonds | 46 | 2002 | San Francisco Giants | 6 | 30 |
| Barry Bonds | 73 | 2001 | San Francisco Giants | 2 | 30 |
| Sammy Sosa | 64 | 2001 | Chicago Cubs | 15 | 30 |
| Luis Gonzalez | 57 | 2001 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 8 | 30 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 52 | 2001 | Texas Rangers | 1 | 30 |
| Shawn Green | 49 | 2001 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 9 | 30 |
| Todd Helton | 49 | 2001 | Colorado Rockies | 4 | 30 |
| Jim Thome | 49 | 2001 | Cleveland Indians | 5 | 30 |
| Rafael Palmeiro | 47 | 2001 | Texas Rangers | 1 | 30 |
| Richie Sexson | 45 | 2001 | Milwaukee Brewers | 6 | 30 |
| Sammy Sosa | 50 | 2000 | Chicago Cubs | 15 | 30 |
| Barry Bonds | 49 | 2000 | San Francisco Giants | 6 | 30 |
| Jeff Bagwell | 47 | 2000 | Houston Astros | 1 | 30 |
| Troy Glaus | 47 | 2000 | Anaheim Angels | 4 | 30 |
| Mark McGwire | 65 | 1999 | St. Louis Cardinals | 12 | 30 |
| Sammy Sosa | 63 | 1999 | Chicago Cubs | 14 | 30 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | 48 | 1999 | Seattle Mariners | 1 | 30 |
| Rafael Palmeiro | 47 | 1999 | Texas Rangers | 3 | 30 |
| Chipper Jones | 45 | 1999 | Atlanta Braves | 11 | 30 |
| Greg Vaughn | 45 | 1999 | Cincinnati Reds | 9 | 30 |
| Mark McGwire | 70 | 1998 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2 | 30 |
| Sammy Sosa | 66 | 1998 | Chicago Cubs | 6 | 30 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | 56 | 1998 | Seattle Mariners | 1 | 30 |
| Greg Vaughn | 50 | 1998 | San Diego Padres | 13 | 30 |
| Albert Belle | 49 | 1998 | Chicago White Sox | 11 | 30 |
| Jose Canseco | 46 | 1998 | Toronto Blue Jays | 3 | 30 |
| Vinny Castilla | 46 | 1998 | Colorado Rockies | 12 | 30 |
| Juan Gonzalez | 45 | 1998 | Texas Rangers | 9 | 30 |
| Manny Ramirez | 45 | 1998 | Cleveland Indians | 10 | 30 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | 56 | 1997 | Seattle Mariners | 1 | 28 |
| Larry Walker | 49 | 1997 | Colorado Rockies | 2 | 28 |
| Mark McGwire | 52 | 1996 | Oakland Athletics | 3 | 28 |
| Brady Anderson | 50 | 1996 | Baltimore Orioles | 1 | 28 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | 49 | 1996 | Seattle Mariners | 2 | 28 |
| Albert Belle | 48 | 1996 | Cleveland Indians | 6 | 28 |
| Andres Galarraga | 47 | 1996 | Colorado Rockies | 4 | 28 |
| Juan Gonzalez | 47 | 1996 | Texas Rangers | 5 | 28 |
| Albert Belle | 50 | 1995 | Cleveland Indians | 1 | 28 |
| Barry Bonds | 46 | 1993 | San Francisco Giants | 5 | 28 |
| Juan Gonzalez | 46 | 1993 | Texas Rangers | 1 | 28 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | 45 | 1993 | Seattle Mariners | 8 | 28 |
| Cecil Fielder | 51 | 1990 | Detroit Tigers | 1 | 26 |
| Kevin Mitchell | 47 | 1989 | San Francisco Giants | 4 | 26 |
| Andre Dawson | 49 | 1987 | Chicago Cubs | 4 | 26 |
| Mark McGwire | 49 | 1987 | Oakland Athletics | 6 | 26 |
| George Bell | 47 | 1987 | Toronto Blue Jays | 2 | 26 |
| Mike Schmidt | 48 | 1980 | Philadelphia Phillies | 11 | 26 |
| Dave Kingman | 48 | 1979 | Chicago Cubs | 12 | 26 |
| Mike Schmidt | 45 | 1979 | Philadelphia Phillies | 18 | 26 |
| Gorman Thomas | 45 | 1979 | Milwaukee Brewers | 2 | 26 |
| Jim Rice | 46 | 1978 | Boston Red Sox | 2 | 26 |
| George Foster | 52 | 1977 | Cincinnati Reds | 6 | 26 |
| Willie Stargell | 48 | 1971 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 5 | 24 |
| Hank Aaron | 47 | 1971 | Atlanta Braves | 6 | 24 |
| Johnny Bench | 45 | 1970 | Cincinnati Reds | 2 | 24 |
| Harmon Killebrew | 49 | 1969 | Minnesota Twins | 5 | 24 |
| Frank Howard | 48 | 1969 | Washington Senators | 6 | 24 |
| Reggie Jackson | 47 | 1969 | Oakland Athletics | 7 | 24 |
| Willie McCovey | 45 | 1969 | San Francisco Giants | 11 | 24 |
| Frank Robinson | 49 | 1966 | Baltimore Orioles | 4 | 20 |
| Willie Mays | 52 | 1965 | San Francisco Giants | 5 | 20 |
| Harmon Killebrew | 49 | 1964 | Minnesota Twins | 1 | 20 |
| Willie Mays | 47 | 1964 | San Francisco Giants | 4 | 20 |
| Harmon Killebrew | 45 | 1963 | Minnesota Twins | 1 | 20 |
| Willie Mays | 49 | 1962 | San Francisco Giants | 2 | 20 |
| Harmon Killebrew | 48 | 1962 | Minnesota Twins | 4 | 20 |
| Hank Aaron | 45 | 1962 | Milwaukee Braves | 5 | 20 |
| Roger Maris | 61 | 1961 | New York Yankees | 1 | 18 |
| Mickey Mantle | 54 | 1961 | New York Yankees | 1 | 18 |
| Orlando Cepeda | 46 | 1961 | San Francisco Giants | 4 | 18 |
| Jim Gentile | 46 | 1961 | Baltimore Orioles | 11 | 18 |
| Harmon Killebrew | 46 | 1961 | Minnesota Twins | 7 | 18 |
| Rocky Colavito | 45 | 1961 | Detroit Tigers | 5 | 18 |
| Eddie Mathews | 46 | 1959 | Milwaukee Braves | 1 | 16 |
| Ernie Banks | 45 | 1959 | Chicago Cubs | 4 | 16 |
| Ernie Banks | 47 | 1958 | Chicago Cubs | 1 | 16 |
| Mickey Mantle | 52 | 1956 | New York Yankees | 2 | 16 |
| Willie Mays | 51 | 1955 | New York Giants | 5 | 16 |
| Ted Kluszewski | 47 | 1955 | Cincinnati Redlegs | 3 | 16 |
| Ted Kluszewski | 49 | 1954 | Cincinnati Redlegs | 5 | 16 |
| Eddie Mathews | 47 | 1953 | Milwaukee Braves | 5 | 16 |
| Ralph Kiner | 47 | 1950 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 7 | 16 |
| Ralph Kiner | 54 | 1949 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 4 | 16 |
| Ralph Kiner | 51 | 1947 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 | 16 |
| Johnny Mize | 51 | 1947 | New York Giants | 1 | 16 |
| Hank Greenberg | 58 | 1938 | Detroit Tigers | 2 | 16 |
| Jimmie Foxx | 50 | 1938 | Boston Red Sox | 6 | 16 |
| Joe DiMaggio | 46 | 1937 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Lou Gehrig | 49 | 1936 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Lou Gehrig | 49 | 1934 | New York Yankees | 2 | 16 |
| Jimmie Foxx | 48 | 1933 | Philadelphia Athletics | 2 | 16 |
| Jimmie Foxx | 58 | 1932 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1 | 16 |
| Lou Gehrig | 46 | 1931 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 46 | 1931 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Hack Wilson | 56 | 1930 | Chicago Cubs | 1 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 49 | 1930 | New York Yankees | 2 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 46 | 1929 | New York Yankees | 2 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 54 | 1928 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 60 | 1927 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Lou Gehrig | 47 | 1927 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 47 | 1926 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 46 | 1924 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 59 | 1921 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
| Babe Ruth | 54 | 1920 | New York Yankees | 1 | 16 |
