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It's all about the long ball these days. A league record 6,776 home runs were hit in 2019 and the Minnesota Twins set a single-season team record with 307 blasts (the Yankees were second with 306). With the emphasis on exit velocities, launch angles, and fly balls, teams are constructing rosters that can hit home runs early and often to maximize success.
While I can talk player development all day long, let's step in the time machine and seek out the teams throughout MLB history who could absolutely rake. While we're at it, let's rank them! We picked five teams in Major League lore that were known for hitting home runs and high-octane offense. I account for regular season and postseason success, data, and of course, sheer home run totals. I acknowledge that there might be some clubs that were missed. If you feel this way, let me know in the comments!
Let's get after it:
5. Blake Street Bombers (1995-1997):
In my opinion, these Colorado Rockies teams were some of the most underrated clubs in the game's history. While some will argue the Coors Field factor contributed to their video game numbers, the talent that the Blake Street Bombers had was unquestionable. Comprised of Larry Walker, Dante Bichette, Andres Galarraga, Vinny Castilla, and Ellis Burks, they powered a startup franchise in Colorado to its first postseason berth in 1995, two years after its inaugural season.
Amassing 243 regular season wins and 660 home runs from 1995 to 1997, these teams put the pop in "pop off the bat." Their collective Isolated Power (ISO) of 0.188 ranks 2nd in this timeframe, behind only the Mariners. These teams could also reach base on a variety of ways, relative to other units, reflected in a wOBA of 0.360, which is tied for 2nd with the Mariners from 1995 to 1997 (don't worry, we'll get to Seattle later).
As beloved as they are, there are two factors as to why the Blake Street Bombers are not higher on this list. First, the main core of players was only together for three years, as Galarraga left in free agency after the 1997 season. If they stayed in Colorado for an additional, let's say, five seasons, they would rank more favorably. Second, they only made the playoffs once. I understand it was an organization in its infancy at the time, but there was enough talent across the board to make more runs at the postseason.
4. Bomba Squad (2019):
Before you ask, no, this is not a case of recency bias. When a team sets the single season record for home runs hit in a season (307), they deserve some recognition. It seemed that this Minnesota Twins team came out of nowhere last year and shocked the baseball universe. Dubbed the "Bomba Squad," it was a roster that consisted of highly skilled veterans and homegrown talent on offense.
Statistically, they led the league in ISO (0.224) and were adept in drawing quality contact, as they ranked in the top 1% in the 2019 season in xBA (0.266), xSLG (0.489), xwOBA (0.347), and xwOBAcon (0.405). Amongst their Batted Ball Events (BBE) in 2019, their Barrel% of 10.1% was tops in the Majors, with an average launch angle of 89.4 degrees. If a team is looking to implement player development methodologies into their processes, the Bomba Squad Twins are a perfect model.
Making the postseason last year, they must maintain success to climb the list. I don't want any "one-year wonder" stuff. Another element that baseball fans should also account for is how opposing staffs will approach them next year. For example, Minnesota ranked 5th last year in 1st Swing Pitch% (31.9%). What that should tell you is whatever pitchers threw to Twins' hitters from the start of an at-bat, they will most likely alter their pitch selection to prevent moonshots whose probability of landing are low.
The Bomba Squad should be better this year, having added former AL MVP Josh Donaldson in free agency. But until they show long-term consistency, I believe they are properly placed in the rankings.
3. 1990's Mariners (1990-1999):
That's right, these teams could smack the baseball all over the yard with the best of them. The Mariners of the 1990's are a little bit of a Darkhorse on this list, as they led the Majors in home runs in the decade (1,865). Our hypothesis is that given the market they played in, combined with only two playoff appearances in this timeframe, provided little exposure to baseball fans nationally and globally.
The offensive talent that the Mariners had in the 90's was something to behold. Hitters such as Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Omar Vizquel, Jay Buhner, Bret Boone, and Alex Rodriguez all made major contributions to the franchise's success in this decade. From an advanced analytics perspective, their offenses were as effective as any other team in baseball. According to Fangraphs, their ISO of 0.166 and wRC+ of 104 ranked 2nd and tied for 2nd respectfully. While some considered this collection of talent to have underachieved, they are still wildly underrated in the context of power hitting.
2. Bash Brothers (1987-1992):
What if you had two plyers on your team known as "The Chemist" and "Big Mac?" What if this tandem had a cool nickname that reflected their home run prowess? Sounds good so far right? Now let me raise the stakes by telling you that they made three straight World Series and won a title in the five years they were together. That is what the Bash Brothers of Oakland did. Making three straight appearances in the Fall Classic from 1988 to 1990, the Athletics became one of the most effective offenses in Major League history. Headlined by Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, these squads finished 3rd in home runs (947), 3rd in ISO (0.139) and 1st in wRC+ (109) between 1987 and 1992.
The Bash Brothers Athletics were also highly productive in another offensive category, aside from power hitting: drawing walks. In this five-year window, they finished 2nd in BB% (10.0%). These teams' general ability to reach base via the walk shows that their plate discipline was both elite and overlooked.
The Bash Brothers were only together for a short period of time, as Canseco was traded mid-season in 1992. If they were together for more seasons, there is no doubt in anyone's mind that the Oakland Athletics would have had more success than they did
1. Murderer's Row (1927):
Now I know what you're thinking: "But you didn't see the 1927 Yankees play! How can you rank them number one on this list!?" You would be right in the sense that I was not alive in the 1920's to see Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig swing the lumber. But that is what statistics and advanced analytics are for: to catalogue history. What the numbers tell me is that the 1927 Yankees crushed every team in their path.
In the middle of the Live Ball Era and in a 16-team league, New York hit 158 dingers that season, leading all of baseball (the New York Giants were 2nd with 109). With two of the greatest hitters in baseball mythology in Ruth and Gehrig combining for 107 long balls, Murderer's Row had an impressive run differential of +371. Regarding advanced analytics, they ranked 1st in every major hitting category, including ISO (0.181), wOBA (0.400), wRC+ (126) on their way to 110 wins and a four-game sweep of Pittsburgh in the World Series.
While some would argue that it is unfair to put Murderer's Row first on this list, mainly because of the Babe Ruth factor, the overwhelming offensive production is undeniable, particularly in an era of the game that was about offense. The 1927 Murderer's Row New York Yankees top our list as the greatest home run hitting club in MLB history.
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