CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL: 1953 Home Run Leaders

By TJ Troup 

Once upon a time, Sport Magazine was an outstanding publication chock full of insightful stories, and for some of us who enjoyed the "numbers" a short column by stat man Alan Roth that always had real fun stats. 

Couple Mr. Roth's column concerning the Home Run leaders in 1953 with the humorous commercial with Maddux and Glavine where they learned that "chicks dig the long ball". 

During the 1952 season the two men that hit the most home runs were Ralph Kiner and Hank Sauer with 37, and while that total is rock solid; it pales in comparison to what the following six sluggers did in 1953. Will begin with the sixth man on the list "Big Klu"—as he hit 40 homers. 

The most he had hit previously was 25. An excellent first baseman and for many years he hit for average. When I first saw him play with the White Sox in the stretch drive of the '59 pennant race heard the stories about how he wore his uniform with Cincinnati because of his massive arms. 

Next up is the National League MVP and one of the handful of truly great all-around catchers of all-time—Mr. Roy Campanella. Campy hit 41 homers, which is eight more than he had ever hit before. My dad shared with me that as great as left-hander Warren Spahn was; Braves managers hesitated having him start games at Ebbetts due to Dodger right-handed power, which of course included Campanella. 

The third member of our group is a teammate of Roy, one of the three best centerfielders in baseball during the decade of the '50's (bet you can guess the other two)—Duke Snider. Mr. Snider belted 42 homers and finished third in the MVP balloting that year, but even more impressive this is the first of his five straight 40 homer seasons. 

The least known of our six is Gus Zernial and previously the most homers he had hit was 33, but during '53 he slugged 42. Zernial finished second in the American League in home runs in '53 and was bested by league MVP Al Rosen who hit 43. Rosen was the best third baseman in the AL and had a high of 37 homers previously.  

Finally, the youngster who exploded hitting the long ball in his second season Mr. Eddie Mathews. His rookie season total of 25 demonstrated he could hit for power, but how many men who hit at least 25 as a rookie, improve that total by 22 in their second campaign? 

Mathews finished second in the National League MVP balloting and set a new standard for hitting on the road. Eddie hit just .258 at home, but when wearing road gray he hit .343! Though hitting for a high average on the road is no doubt impressive, the new standard he set was home runs on the road with 30! 

So, we have six men who hit at least 40 home runs in a season—the first time ever in baseball history. 

Chart: Stathead

Was there a day where they all hit one out? Sadly no, but on August 9th, August 1st, May 30th, and today May 29th sixty-eight years ago four of these sluggers hammered one out of the park, and yes Eddie Mathews is the only man of the six who accomplished this on all four days. 

LITTLE LEAGUE DAY: Tigers vs. White Sox

 By TJ Troup 

Playing baseball was a huge part of my childhood, and when I turned 10 in February of 1961 signed up for Little League, and was immediately put on the Sox. Winfield, Illinois Little League was mismanaged by those in charge, and had rules that to me made no sense? 

Based upon age, and notability determined what level you played at. Being the youngest, least talented, and raw as hell, my season on the Sox was a nightmare. 

The manager had me hit 9th, and start in centerfield, but when it became my turn to hit—he pinch hit for me. This went on for 11 games with the two exceptions where there were two out when I came to the plate.

Entering the final day of a twelve-game season was 0 for 2, and as a team we were mired in the middle of the standings. Last day of the season I did not start, and entered the game in the middle innings. Struck out my first at-bat, but he left me in the game, and in my final at-bat of the season hit a duck snort to right field for a single. 

A .250 batting average in Little League is just flat terrible, but my enthusiasm for the game did not diminish......just knew I would not return to the Sox. Had an outstanding year as a shortstop for the Yanks in '62, but that is not what this story is about. 

Was told we would have Little League Day and go to old Comiskey Park on a Saturday in May to see the White Sox battle the now contending Tigers. As you can imagine this was the highlight of the season for me. Wearing my wool uniform that was way too big for me did not matter; was proud to get on the bus with all the other little league players and travel to Chicago. 

The White Sox in winning the pennant in 1959 captured the heart of the city of Chicago, and learning the game at the age of eight was a joy as my grandfather taught me all about HIS team (he was born in 1884). 

Though the Pale Hose fell to third in '60 they still were considered contenders in 1961, and their opponent on this cool Saturday afternoon by Lake Michigan was the suddenly prolific Detroit Tigers. Detroit would improve by 30 wins from 1960 to 1961 and had a line-up that featured Cash, Kaline, and Colavito. 

On the mound would be Jim Bunning and for the Sox veteran lefty Billy Pierce. Billy got hammered in his short stint in the game (1/3 of an inning), and at age of 34 maybe he just did not have it anymore? Down 5-0 and coming to bat and leading off was not my favorite player on the Sox; all-star shortstop Luis Aparicio but diminutive right fielder Floyd Robinson(tomorrow is Floyd's birthday). 

Bunning delivers and Robinson hits a rocket line drive to right for a triple. Floyd would go on to have an outstanding season and finish 3rd in the rookie of the year balloting. Bunning gets rocked for 4 runs, and folks we have what looks like to be a "barn burner" at old Comiskey. Because Pierce was taken out in the first, manager Al Lopez (Señor Al) used his bullpen effectively as the Sox rallied. 

Was even able to see the legendary Herb Score pitch. Centerfielder Jim Landis of the Sox was outstanding defensively, and hit a homer, thus going into the top of the 8th Chicago now led 7-5. 

Norm Cash had failed to hold onto the first base position when he was with the Sox, but 1961 he had an OPS of 1.148 for the season...WOW! He was impressive hitting the ball, as was Al Kaline who at the age of 26 would go to the all-star game for the seventh year in a row. 

Detroit would score 3 in the 8th, and 3 more in the 9th. The Sox had made a trade with the Braves for the talented, mercurial Juan Pizarro and though he struggled in this game, he became with Lopez tutelage a quality pitcher. Always being adventurous wandered around Comiskey and just had a fantastic day taking in the sights, sounds, smells, and all the action. 

Late in the game, the Sox catcher Sherm Lollar tried to score (he moved like a glacier), and was thrown out at the plate by Kaline. Later being a right fielder at Anaheim High School under the legendary John Balaam I knew what was expected when runners try to advance.....Kaline had a "gun" and showed it. Final Detroit 11 Chicago 8. 

The most impressive player on the field that day for me? Mr. Rocky Colavito, so tough to pitch to at the plate. The attendance that day was 5,710, but the sparse crowd was of no consequence since I was so focused. Though could write a book about all of the men who played that day, will end with the one that in 1962 had one more moment in the sun. The White Sox traded Billy Pierce to the Giants, and he was the final piece to a San Francisco team in '62 that am convinced remains one of the best teams I ever saw play.