The Line Score: Easiest numbers in baseball to understand and, in the end, only the "runs per game" relative to your opponent's comparable total is the only stat that ultimately matters.
A recent addition to the Baseball Almanac site simply confirms what we all seem to know to the bone from other anecdotal experience with baseball history, The major production of home runs comes from players at the first base position, followed quickly by the two corner outfielders. In theory, the other corner power man is supposed to be the third baseman, but home runs from that slot position in the defense are slightly fewer than those produced by center fielders. That makes sense when you think about all the power guys who’ve played the central outfield garden spot over the years. Try toting up all the HR-bashing third basemen once you get past Mike Schmidt and Chipper Jones, Ron Santo and Ken Boyer.
The Baseball Almanac chart claims to account for all home runs in big league history, except for 21 shots that are still under study and remain uncategorized. One other interesting note: In spite of the relative newness of its existence in only one of the two major leagues, designated hitters still account for 9,296 of all home runs, exceeding the contributions of all pinch hitters and pitchers from the beginning of time.
Here are the total home runs by position for almost all home runs, save 21, all time:
P: 3,623
C: 22,973
1B: 37,222
2B: 15,874
3B: 26,665
SS: 14,462
LF: 33,719
CF: 27,006
RF: 34,506
DH: 9,296
PH: 4,961
What follow via link is an easy-on-the-eyes clor graph of how these home numbers by position break down relative to each other:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/charts/HR/home_runs_by_position.shtml
Sometimes its nice to contemplate a straightforward bowl of baseball stats that are easy to see, confirming, and not confusing.
Have a nice weekend, everybody!
The Pecan Park Eagle 
January 21, 2012 at 7:40 pm |
I think the figures above should be whole numbers, not percentages. For instance, 1st base has 37,222 of all of the HR’s ever hit, sans 11 still under review. Otherwise, your totals go way over 100.0%.
January 22, 2012 at 1:51 pm |
Banks, Ripken, and Tejada messed up the SS numbers, LOL.
January 23, 2012 at 7:42 pm |
Bill,
I was trying to figure this out and attempted to post a response from my Blackberry Saturday when you posted this; as the percentages add up to a little over 230%. This made no sense to me, nor to my Blackberry as it wouldn’t let me post my comment.
Looking at your link on my PC today, these are not percentages that are listed in the by-position graph, but all-time home run totals: 26,665 for 3rd basemen to date, not 26.665%. Many of these by Eddie Matthews, Matt Williams, King Kong Keller, Aramis Ramariz, Cal Ripken, Jr. and A-Rod to name a few.
Mike
January 23, 2012 at 8:44 pm |
Thanks, Mike! My reading vision is now so bad that I couldn’t tell the difference between a comma and a decimal point. Thanks to you I’ve now corrected all the data and even the error in the title of this column.
Hope the IRS is equally understanding if I happen to make similar mistakes elsewhere on my tax return.