11 Sluggers With the Most 40-Homer Seasons in MLB History

There are some familiar names, but a handful of worthy new entrants.

Dec 06, 2024

After talking about sluggers with the most consecutive 40-homer campaigns, you had to know this was coming, right? Right.

Each of the following hitters accomplished this feat at least six times throughout their career. Some of the dudes I discussed on Wednesday will once again be popping up here, which isn’t surprising. However, a few new names are also making an appearance.

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Babe Ruth: New York Yankees

It’s no surprise that Babe Ruth tops this list. Producing seven straight seasons of 40-plus homers certainly helped. too.

The man wasn’t just a hitter; he was an institution. Over 11 seasons between 1920 and 1932, Ruth redefined what power-hitting looked like. His most prolific stretch came in 1927 when he smashed 60 home runs with a .772 slugging percentage. But the most impressive part is that he did this in an era where few others could match his output. In 1920, his 54 homers alone eclipsed the team totals of every other MLB squad.

And just in case you were curious — an *average* year for Ruth from 1920-32 included 46 homers, 138 RBI, and a 1.219 OPS. Lol.

8 Seasons of 40-Plus Home Runs

Harmon Killebrew: Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins

Harmon Killebrew wasn’t called “Killer” for nothing. With his compact swing and prodigious power, Killebrew collected eight seasons of 40-plus homers across three decades.

His 1969 campaign stands out since he earned AL MVP honors after launching 49 homers with 140 RBI. He owns the Twins’ single-season home run leaderboard, too. All eight of his 40-homer campaigns appear in the franchise’s top-10 most powerful seasons.

Hank Aaron: Atlanta Braves

Hank Aaron’s eight 40+ home run seasons are a masterclass in longevity and reliability. Spanning from 1957 to 1973, Aaron’s power didn’t wane with age.

He hit 44 homers with 31 steals as a 29-year-old in 1963, showing that he was more than just a pure slugger. And speaking of 44, that was Hammer’s favorite number. While it’s associated with him because that was his jersey number, Aaron finished with exactly 44 homers four different times.

His 755 dingers are second on the all-time leaderboard, and he got there without ever hitting more than 47 taters in one year. That’s what consistent excellence looks like.

Barry Bonds: San Francisco Giants

All of Barry Bonds’ 40-homer campaigns occurred between 1993 and 2004. He didn’t slug fewer than 33 dingers in the four years he couldn’t reach 40. An average year for him during this 1,706-game stretch included 44 homers, 107 RBI, 141 walks, and a 1.159 OPS.

His 2001 season remains untouchable—73 home runs, a .863 slugging percentage, and a 259 OPS+. But Bonds wasn’t just about raw power; his selective eye at the plate led to 177 walks that year, making him virtually impossible to pitch to. That performance kickstarted a four-year stretch from 2001-04 where his triple slash was .349/.559/.809.

I mean…what?!

Alex Rodriguez: Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees

A-Rod showcased his ability to adapt and thrive in different environments (even though he had a little help along the way). His 2005 AL MVP campaign with the Yankees included 48 home runs while driving in 130 RBI.

There have been just 50 different occurrences of at least 50 homers in a season, and he owns three of them. Rodriguez slugged 52 in 2001 and 57 in 2002 for the Rangers before hitting another 54 in 2007 with New York.

Beyond his power, A-Rod’s defensive versatility at shortstop and third base made him a rare blend of slugger and fielder. Few players have combined talent and production quite like him, and it’s a shame PEDs will force him to likely be looking at the Hall of Fame from the outside.

Ken Griffey Jr.: Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds

Over his seven seasons of 40-plus homers, "The Kid" showcased his pure, smooth swing that captivated a generation. I mean, if you grew up in the ‘90s and didn’t imitate his swing in the backyard or your bedroom, what were you doing??

His 1997 season was especially magical because it included 56 home runs, 147 RBI, a Gold Glove and his only MVP Award. Griffey won a Gold Glove during every single one of his 40-homer campaigns, except for one — in 2000 with the Cincinnati Reds.

That was also the final time the sweet-swinging left-handed slugger reached the benchmark in his career.

Sammy Sosa: Chicago Cubs

From 1996 to 2003, Sammy Sosa was the toast of Chicago.

Sosa didn’t just hit 40-plus home runs—he often blew past that mark. His 1998 season stands out for its drama, as he slugged 66 homers and finished just behind Mark McGwire in the Great Home Run Chase. But Sosa’s consistency is equally noteworthy; he led the league in total bases three times during this span.

What I love the most is that despite posting three seasons of 60-plus homers, he didn’t lead the league in dingers during any of those efforts. He took home two single-season home run crowns during his career: 2000 when he hit 50 and 2002 when he hit 49.

Albert Pujols: St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels

Albert Pujols earned his nickname “The Machine” by methodically dismantling pitchers. Although he has seven seasons of 40-plus homers under his belt, the first six were different — mostly because they happened between 2003 and 2009.

He finished in the top three of NL MVP voting seven times during this span, winning the award three times. An average year during this stretch of dominance included a .334/.433/.635 line with 42 homers, 42 doubles, 122 RBI and 120 runs scored.

6 Seasons of 40-Plus Home Runs

Mark McGwire: Oakland A’s, St. Louis Cardinals

Mark McGwire’s six seasons of 40+ homers include the unforgettable 1998 season when he broke Roger Maris’ record with 70 home runs. This was part of a historic run between his time with the A’s and Cardinals.

After hitting 52 homers in 1996 and another 58 in 1997, Big Mac’s 70 taters in ‘98 was the third straight year he surpassed the half-century mark. He became the first player in MLB history to do it in four consecutive years by hitting 65 in 1999.

Jim Thome: Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox

Despite being among baseball’s best power hitters with 612 career homers, Jim Thome feels underrated to me. Like, seriously — were you expecting to see him on this list?

He hit a Cleveland record 52 home runs in 2002, which was accompanied by a 1.122 OPS. From 2001-06, he slugged at least 40 homers on four occasions. He finished in the top 10 of MVP voting three times, yet somehow was selected to the All-Star Game just twice during that span.

Known for his gentlemanly demeanor off the field, Thome let his bat do the talking, quietly carving out an amazing Hall of Fame career.

Adam Dunn: Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox

Adam Dunn’s approach was simple: hit the ball hard, strike out trying, or settle for a walk. His six 40+ home run seasons include his peak years with the Reds, where he hit 46 homers in 2004. He only hit eight homers with the DBacks in 2008, but without those dingers, he wouldn’t have hit exactly 40 homers for the fourth straight year.

His 2012 campaign with the White Sox is a fever dream for three-true-outcome apologists. He posted a .800 OPS with 41 homers and 96 RBI while leading the league in walks (105) and strikeouts (222).

Willie Mays: New York/San Francisco Giants

Willie Mays combined power with grace over his six seasons of 40+ home runs. While the Say Hey Kid posted two efforts of 50-plus homers, his best work came in his age-34 campaign in 1965.

Mays slugged a career-high (and league-leading) 52 homers to go along with 112 RBI. He also led the league in on-base percentage (.398), slugging percentage (.645) and total bases (360) while winning a Gold Glove and his second MVP Award.

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