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What Team Has Gone the Longest Without a Home Run Champion?

by yak max

Each year a home run champion is declared in the American League and the National League. There is no vote. There is no politicking. This is simply statistical. A player can burn every bridge with the media and still win the award if he can back it up on the field. History will show some teams have had more home run champions than others. Here we will determine which team or teams have gone the longest.

First let us knock out this century by taking a look at the home run champions going backwards from 2013 to 2000.

2013

American League

Chris Davis – Baltimore Orioles 53

National League

Pedro Alvarez – Pittsburgh Pirates 36

Paul Goldschmidt – Arizona Diamondbacks 36

2012

American League

Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers 44

National League

Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers 41

2011

American League

Jose Bautista – Toronto Blue Jays 43

National League

Matt Kemp – Los Angeles Dodgers 39

2010

American League

Jose Bautista – Toronto Blue Jays 54

National League

Albert Pujols – St. Louis Cardinals 42

2009

American League

Carlso Pena – Tampa Bay Devil Rays 39

Mark Teixeira – New York Yankees 39

National League

Albert Pujols – St. Louis Cardinals 47

2008

American League

Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers 37

National League

Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies 48

2007

American League

Alex Rodriguez – New York Yankees 54

National League

Prince Fielder – Milwaukee Brewers 50

2006

American League

David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox 54

National League

Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies 58

2005

American League

Alex Rodriguez – New York Yankees 48

National League

Andruw Jones – Atlanta Braves 51

2004

American League

Manny Ramirez – Boston Red Sox 43

National League

Adrian Beltre – Los Angeles Dodgers 48

2003

American League

Alex Rodriguez – Texas Rangers 47

National League

Jim Thome – Philadelphia Phillies 47

2002

American League

Alex Rodriguez – Texas Rangers 57

National League

Sammy Sosa – Chicago Cubs 49

2001

American League

Alex Rodriguez – Texas Rangers 52

National League

Barry Bonds – San Francisco Giants 73

2000

American League

Troy Glaus – Anaheim Angels 47

National League

Sammy Sosa – Chicago Cubs 50

From these seasons we can eliminate several teams from contention for this disreputable record.

American League East

Baltimore Orioles – Chris Davis 2013

Boston Red Sox – David Ortiz 2006

New York Yankees – Mark Teixiera 2009

Tampa Bay Devil Rays – Carlos Pena 2009

Toronto Blue Jays – Jose Bautista 2011

American League Central

Chicago White Sox – ?

Cleveland Indians – ?

Detroit Tigers – Miguel Cabera 2012

Kansas City Royals – ?

Minnesota Twins – ?

American League West

Houston Astros – ?

Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels – Troy Glaus 2000

Oakland Athletics – ?

Seattle Mariners – ?

Texas Rangers – Alex Rodriguez 2003

National League East

Atlanta Braves – Andruw Jones 2005

Florida/Miami Marlins – ?

New York Mets – ?

Philadelphia Phillies – Ryan Howard 2008

Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos – ?

National League Central

Chicago Cubs – Sammy Sosa 2002

Cincinnati Reds – ?

Milwaukee Brewers – Ryan Braun 2012

Pittsburgh Pirates – Pedro Alvarez 2013

St. Louis Cardinals – Albert Pujols 2010

National League West

Arizona Diamondbacks – Paul Goldschmidt 2013

Colorado Rockies – ?

Los Angeles Dodgers – Matt Kemp 2011

San Diego Padres – ?

San Francisco Giants – Barry Bonds 2001

This leaves us with the following teams yet to be determined: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Florida/Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres

Without going through it year-by-year, these are the most recent players to lead the league in home runs from the remaining teams:

1999 Seattle Mariners – Ken Griffey Jr. – 48

1997 Colorado Rockies – Larry Walker – 49

1996 Oakland Athletics – Mark McGwire – 52

1995 Cleveland Indians – Albert Belle – 50

1992 San Diego Padres – Fred McGriff – 35

1991 New York Mets – Howard Johnson – 38

1978 Cincinnati Reds – George Foster – 40

1974 Chicago White Sox – Dick Allen – 37

1969 Minnesota Twins – Harmon Killebrew – 49

As of now we are left with five teams: Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Florida/Miami Marlins, and Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos.

The Marlins and Nationals/Expos franchises have never had a home run champion. However, in 1970 Frank Howard did league the American League in home runs for the Washington Senators, a separate franchise from the Nationals/Expos so this does not count.

Also, it has been determined that the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros have never had anyone lead the league in home runs. They join the Marlins and Nationals/Expos having never achieved this feat.

The longest drought, however, goes to the Minnesota Twins. This is a team that during the steroid era had distanced themselves from allegations. Marty Cordova led the team in home runs in 1996 with 16 and in 1997 with 15. Matt Lawton hit 21 in 1998 and Ron Coomer dropped the team lead down to 16 in 1999. Thank goodness for Harmon Killebrew.

Source:
Baseball-Reference

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