Joe DiMaggio leads all major-leaguers in home runs hit on Father’s Day. The tradition of setting aside a day to honor father’s began in the U.S. in 1909 and the day was moved to the third Sunday in June in 1927, putting it right in the middle of baseball season. The 10 players who hit the most pops on Fathers Day are:
%% PLAYER HRS
Joe DiMaggio 12
Stan Musial 11
Johnny Mize 9
Reggie Jackson 9
Ted Williams 8
Joe Adcock 8
Hank Aaron 8
Eric Karros* 8
Dave Parker 7
Kirk Gibson 7
*-active
%%
B is for bomb
Lost in all the hullabaloo surrounding Barry Bonds’ record-setting home run pace was the fact that earlier this season the San Francisco Giants slugger became the most prolific home run hitter whose last name begins with “B.” According to home run guru David Vincent, Bonds overtook former leader Ernie Banks when he hit his 513th homer of the season on May 19. The five top home run hitters with a capital “B” are:
%% PLAYER HOME RUNS
Barry Bonds* 527
Ernie Banks 512
Johnny Bench 389
Harold Baines* 384
Albert Belle 381
*-active
%% Power pitcher
Mike Hampton of the Colorado Rockies crushed his fifth home run of the season June 10. The left-hander is the ninth pitcher to club five or more in a season since 1961. Including Hampton, the feat has been accomplished 13 times in that 40-year period:
%% PITCHER, YEAR HRS
Don Drysdale, 1965 7
Earl Wilson, 1968 7
Earl Wilson, 1965 6
Ferguson Jenkins, 1971 6
Sonny Siebert, 1971 6
Rick Wise, 1971 6
Don Drysdale, 1961 5
Earl Wilson, 1964 5
Bob Gibson, 1965 5
Tony Cloninger, 1966 5
Johnny Odom, 1969 5
Bob Gibson, 1972 5
Mike Hampton, 2001 5
%% Proud papas
In honor of Father’s Day, below are the 10 major-leaguers who had more than one big-league son:
%% FATHER SONS
Sandy Alomar, Sr. Roberto and Sandy, Jr.
Buddy Bell David and Mike
Bob Boone Bret and Aaron
Jimmy Cooney, Sr. Jimmy, Jr., and Johnny
Larry Gilbert Charlie and Tookie
Sam Hairston Jerry and John
Manny Mota Andy and Jose
George Sisler Dick and Dave
Mel Stottlemyre, Sr. Mel, Jr., and Todd
Dixie Walker, Sr. Dixie, Jr., and Harry
%%
