New York Yankees Sluggers Vow to 'Crush' Home Run Record Again

New York Yankees Sluggers Vow to ‘Crush’ Home Run Record Again

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 3: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a two-run home run in the first inning during the American League Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 22: Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays watches the ball as he runs to 1st base after a hit against the Seattle Mariners on September 22, 2010, at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Matthew Manor/Getty Images) /

In 2010, the Toronto Blue Jays had the best-kept secret in MLB. “Joey Bats” as he’d come to be referred had only hit 13 HR in 2009, his age 28 season. Cut to 2010, and Jose Bautista would increase his HR total by 41.

Yes, you read that correctly: 41!

In 2010, Bautista led the Blue Jays, who as a team hit 257 HR, with 54 HR of his own. Just as the two teams before them did, the Jays also featured nine hitters with double-digit home runs, seven of whom hit 20 or more of their own. Of those seven, only two – Bautista and Vernon Wells (31) – hit 30 or more home runs.

Despite blasting 46 more HR than the 2nd best HR hitting team that season, the Blue Jays also fell short of a playoff spot, finishing third in the division with an 85-77 record.

Even though he led MLB in HR and TB, “Joey Bats” would finish 4th in the MVP voting. He also would make his first All-Star appearance and become one of baseball’s premier power hitters.

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