Career Ratios of Home HR's to Road HR's, 500 HR Club
1. Mel Ott, 1.718 [ !! Fraud "500 Club" member, but a great player]
2. Ernie Banks, 1.306
3. Jimmie Foxx, 1.272
4. Frank Robinson, 1.211
5. Rafael Palmeiro*, 1.195
6. Sammy Sosa*, 1.163
7. Hank Aaron, 1.041
8. Lou Gehrig, 1.037
9. Harmon Killebrew, 1.032
10. Willie Mays, 1.031
11. Willie McCovey, 1.027
12. Reggie Jackson, 0.989 [I'm suprised he wasn't hurt worse]
13. Mickey Mantle, 0.985
14. Eddie Murray, 0.969
15. Barry Bonds*, 0.962
16. Mark McGwire*, 0.956
17. Babe Ruth, 0.946
18. Mike Schmidt, 0.936 [I'd have guessed he was near the top]
19. Ted Williams, 0.908
20. Eddie Mathews, 0.862 [I'd have guessed even worse]
The notion of crediting a player for "taking what his park gives him" can only go so far. Mel Ott hit tons of gift HR's; Eddie Mathews lost tons of them in the cavernous power alleys of Milwaukee's County Stadium. Banks had a great time with Wrigley Field, where the first "368 FT." sign is almost as close to dead CF as the "400 FT." sign is.
I'm not saying any of these guys was a "fraud" (like Chuck Klein was). But I AM saying it would be silly to disregard the difference between Ott and Mathews as immaterial. I also think this list puts the final nail in the coffin of the idea George Brett is the #2 third baseman of all time. With a reasonably decent home park, Mathews might have hit 600 HR's.
1. Mel Ott, 1.718 [ !! Fraud "500 Club" member, but a great player]
2. Ernie Banks, 1.306
3. Jimmie Foxx, 1.272
4. Frank Robinson, 1.211
5. Rafael Palmeiro*, 1.195
6. Sammy Sosa*, 1.163
7. Hank Aaron, 1.041
8. Lou Gehrig, 1.037
9. Harmon Killebrew, 1.032
10. Willie Mays, 1.031
11. Willie McCovey, 1.027
12. Reggie Jackson, 0.989 [I'm suprised he wasn't hurt worse]
13. Mickey Mantle, 0.985
14. Eddie Murray, 0.969
15. Barry Bonds*, 0.962
16. Mark McGwire*, 0.956
17. Babe Ruth, 0.946
18. Mike Schmidt, 0.936 [I'd have guessed he was near the top]
19. Ted Williams, 0.908
20. Eddie Mathews, 0.862 [I'd have guessed even worse]
The notion of crediting a player for "taking what his park gives him" can only go so far. Mel Ott hit tons of gift HR's; Eddie Mathews lost tons of them in the cavernous power alleys of Milwaukee's County Stadium. Banks had a great time with Wrigley Field, where the first "368 FT." sign is almost as close to dead CF as the "400 FT." sign is.
I'm not saying any of these guys was a "fraud" (like Chuck Klein was). But I AM saying it would be silly to disregard the difference between Ott and Mathews as immaterial. I also think this list puts the final nail in the coffin of the idea George Brett is the #2 third baseman of all time. With a reasonably decent home park, Mathews might have hit 600 HR's.
