Tuesday Trivia: Polar Bear in Rare Air
 

Earlier this month, Pete Alonso hit is 35th Home Run of the year, becoming only the 4th player to hit 35 Home Runs in 4 of his first 5 seasons (he got screwed by the strike season). No one has ever hit 35 Home Runs or more in each of their first 5 seasons.

Question: Who are the other 3 players to hit at least 35 Home Runs in 4 of their first 5 seasons?

Miggy? Pujols?

Pujols is correct! Two more

Frank Robinson I think set a rookie record so maybe him?

Maybe the OTHER Albert: Joey Belle?



.

Johnny Mize maybe

Ralph Kiner?

Ralph Kiner led the National League in Home Runs his first 7 seasons, and hit above 35 Home Runs (including over 50 twice) in each of those seasons except his Rookie season, when he hit 23. Well done!

Frank Robinson hit a whopping 38 Home Runs in his Rookie year, but only cleared 35 Home Runs one other time in his first 5 years

Albert Belle and Johnny Mize didn't hit their power stride until their 3rd or 4th seasons.

One more to go.

Eddie Mathews used to be the fastest to 100 HR so how about him.

Ding Ding Ding! Eddie Mathews hit 23 Home Runs his Rookie season, but hit at least 37 in each of his next 4 seasons.

By the way Polar Bear Pete Alonso was the 2nd fastest ever to reach 100 Home Runs.

The list is:

1) Ryan Howard: 325 games
2) Pete Alonso: 347 games
3) Gary Sanchez: 355 games
4) Fernando Tatis Jr.: 362 games
5) Aaron Judge: 371 games
6) Yordan Alvarez: 372 games
7) Ralph Kiner: 376 games
8) Joey Gallo: 377 games
9) Ronald Acuna Jr.: 378 games
10) Chuck Klein: 390 games
11) Bob Horner: 390 games
12) Mark McGwire: 393 games
13) Joe DiMaggio: 395 games
14) Eddie Mathews: 397 games

Maybe Eddie was the youngest not the fastest, but there was some feat always associated with him. REALLY surprised to see Sanchez on that list.

Great question! Another name that came to mind is Nolan Arenado, who hit 35 in 5 of his first 7 seasons.

With Pete Alonso's 40th (and 41st) Home Runs yesterday, he is now part of another exclusive club--those that have hit at least 40 Home Runs in 3 of their first 5 seasons.

The other members of the club are Kiner, who is the only person to have hit 40 Home Runs in 4 of his first 5 seasons, Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, and Eddie Matthews.