MLB History: 5 biggest outlier seasons by active hitters

Sometimes, it all just comes together for an MLB player in a given stretch. Hot streaks can last days, weeks, months… or an entire season.

By definition, an outlier is a statistical observation point that is distant from other observations.

It’s not irregular for baseball players to see a sudden spike in their production over an extended period of time in comparison to what the norm is for them in their career. Perhaps one of the truest examples of this can be found in Roger Maris‘ historical 1961 campaign with the Bronx Bombers.

The product of Fargo, ND had never hit more than 39 home runs in a season until ’61 when he surpassed Babe Ruth‘s mark of 60 for the most long balls ever hit in a single year. In doing so, Maris beat teammate Mickey Mantle out in the race to 60. Mantle would go on to hit 162 more home runs after ’61 en route to 536 in his career.

Maris — who was 26 when he broke Ruth’s then record — would never hit more than 33 in another single season and finished his baseball career with 275 total. At only 34, Maris retired following the 1968 season.

Here are the five greatest outlier seasons by active MLB hitters. Stats from the current 2016 season are excluded.

Next: Josh Hamilton 's 2010