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MLB all-time: Top 10 Greatest DH Seasons of All Time, Part 2

By Manny Gómez

ST LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 28: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox hits an RBI double scoring Dustin Pedroia #15 in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Five of the 2013 World Series at Busch Stadium on October 28, 2013 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 28: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox hits an RBI double scoring Dustin Pedroia #15 in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Five of the 2013 World Series at Busch Stadium on October 28, 2013 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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MLB all-time
Cleveland Indians DH Travis Hafner homers against the Chicago White Sox on June 11, 2006 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois. Westbrook and the Indians led the White Sox 8-2 in the 6th inning. (Photo by Chuck Rydlewski/Getty Images) /

3. Travis Hafner, 2006

Travis Hafner played 12 big league seasons before deciding to hang it up after the 2013 season. While his career numbers don’t compare to his peers on this list, for a brief three year stretch, he was arguably the most feared hitter in MLB.

From 2004 through 2006, Hafner put together 103 HR, 334 RBI, a .419 OBP and .611 SLG. In 2006, he led MLB in SLG (.659), OPS (1.097), and OPS+ (181). That season, Hafner finished 8th in the MVP voting despite having, arguably, the best numbers of anyone ahead of him.

These were his stats in 2006.

  • .439 OBP (Tied 1st in AL)
  • .659 SLG (1st in AL)
  • 100 RS (11th in AL)
  • 176 WRC+ (1st in AL)
  • 6.0 fWAR (3rd in AL)
MLB all-time
Aug 29, 2007 – New York, NY, USA – BASEBALL: Boston Red Sox DAVID ORTIZ home run against New York Yankees JASON VARITEK at Yankee Stadium in New York, NY. The Yankees won 4-3. (Photo by John Dunn/Sporting News via Getty Images) /

2. David Ortiz, 2007

In six seasons with the Minnesota Twins, David Ortiz only managed to hit 58 HR, 238 RBI, with a .348 OBP and .461 SLG. Right before the 2003 season, the Twins released Ortiz. Soon thereafter, fate would put Ortiz in the same restaurant as Pedro Martinez in the Dominican Republic. Ortiz looking down in the dumps, Martinez got on the horn with Theo Epstein and told him to sign “Big Papi.” That turned out to be one of the greatest pick ups of all time.

Beginning in 2003, with Papi in the mix, the Red Sox would make eight post season appearances, winning three World Series titles. In 85 postseason games, the 2013 World Series MVP has 17 HR, .404 OBP, and .543 SLG.

In 2007, Ortiz had one of the greatest seasons a DH has ever had, leading MLB in BB (111), OBP (.445), extra base hits (88). With 541 career HR, Ortiz places 17th on the all-time HR list.

These were his stats for 2007.

  • .445 OBP (1st in AL)
  • .621 SLG (3rd in AL)
  • 116 RS (6th in AL)
  • 175 WRC+ (Tied 1st in AL)
  • 6.3 fWAR (5th in AL)
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