Power hitter

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Iconic Major League Baseball player Ted Williams, pictured here in 1949, is known as a famous "power hitter". Ted Williams BBall Digest May 1949 raw.jpg
Iconic Major League Baseball player Ted Williams, pictured here in 1949, is known as a famous "power hitter".

Power hitter is a term used in baseball for a skilled player that has a higher than average ability in terms of his batting, featuring a combination of dexterity and personal strength that likely leads to a high number of home runs as well as doubles and triples. In baseball, a power hitter typically bats fourth or "Cleanup" in a Major League lineup, which consists of 9 hitters in a rotating order. [2]

Contents

In terms of detailed analysis, looking at a player's ability as a power hitter often involves using statistics such as someone's 'slugging percentage' (a function that's calculated by evaluating someone's number of moments at bat in relation to the nature of their hits and strikes). 'Isolated Power' (ISO), a measure showing the number of extra bases earned per time at bat that's calculated by subtracting someone's batting average from his slugging percentage, is another statistic used. [3]

The concept generally is analogous to that of a power pitcher, a player who relies on the velocity of his pitches (perhaps at the expense of accuracy) and a high record of strikeout associated with them (statistics such as strikeouts per nine innings pitched are common measures).

Famous power hitters in baseball history

Barry Bonds, who set the record for the most home runs in a season in Major League Baseball history, is often cited as a power hitter. His career was later bogged down by allegations regarding performance enhancing drugs. However, he managed a total of 762 home runs while also earning a comparatively high ISO compared to his rivals, with the publication Business Insider labeling him #3 in a list of the greatest power hitters of all time. [3]

Prior to Barry Bonds breaking the single season home run record in 2001, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire closely competed for the record in 1998 with Sosa finishing at a respective 66 home runs and McGwire with a respective 70 home runs to secure the title. [4]

Other baseball figures so cited include the famous hitters Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Lou Gehrig, and Ted Williams. [3] Popular newspaper writer Victor O. Jones wrote about Williams in particular, "Ted is lucky to come along in a baseball age that worships on the shrine of power, pure, unadulterated power." [1]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Major League Baseball home run record chase</span>

During Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1998 season, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs pursued the league's long-standing and highly coveted single-season home run record (61), set in 1961 by Roger Maris. The season-long chase culminated on September 8, 1998, when McGwire, facing Sosa and the Cubs, hit his 62nd home run of the season to break the record. McGwire finished the season with 70 home runs, while Sosa finished with 66. The 1998 home run record chase, as well the previous's year pursuit of the record, was widely credited by sports analysts with restoring interest in MLB among its fan base following the 1994 strike that resulted in that season prematurely ending and the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. McGwire's record was later broken in 2001 by Barry Bonds, who hit 73 home runs.

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The St. Louis Cardinals 1998 season was the team's 117th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 107th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-79 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League Central division, 18 games behind the Houston Astros. First baseman Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris' single-season home run record this season by hitting 70 home runs, battling with the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa, who finished runner-up in the National League with 66.

The 1998 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees sweeping the San Diego Padres in the World Series, after they had won a then AL record 114 regular season games. The Yankees finished with 125 wins for the season, which remains the MLB record.

The 1999 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees sweeping the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

The Colorado Rockies' 1999 season was the seventh for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Denver, Colorado, their seventh in the National League (NL), and fifth at Coors Field. The team competed in the National League West, finishing in fifth and last place with a record of 72–90. Jim Leyland, a longtime manager in MLB, debuted as the Rockies' new manager, and resigned following the season.

The Texas Rangers1989 season involved the Rangers finishing fourth in the American League West with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses.

The Houston Astros' 1994 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the inaugural season of the National League Central division; they finished in second place. First baseman Jeff Bagwell was a unanimous selection for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. Despite nearly the last two months of the being cancelled due to the 1994–95 strike, Bagwell set a then-club record for home runs with 39 and a club record for batting average (.368) and slugging percentage (.750).

The 2001 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 119th year in Major League Baseball, their 44th year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and their second at Pacific Bell Park. The team finished in second place in the National League West with a 90–72 record, two games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they finished three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the Wild Card spot. The Giants set franchise records for home runs (235) and pinch hit home runs (14).

The 1998 San Diego Padres season was the 30th season in franchise history. The Padres won the National League championship and advanced to the World Series for the second time in franchise history.

References

  1. 1 2 Seidel, Michael (2003). Ted Williams: A Baseball Life. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 46–63. ISBN   9780803293083.
  2. ↑ Rees, Loren P., Terry R. Rakes, and Jason K. Deane. "Using Analytics to Challenge Conventional Baseball Wisdom." Journal of Service Science (Online), vol. 8, no. 1, 2015, pp. 11. ProQuest
  3. 1 2 3 Gaines, Cork (May 23, 2012). "The 20 Greatest Power Hitters Of All-Time". Business Insider . Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  4. ↑ dx.doi.org. doi:10.17658/issn.2058-5462/issue-19/conversation/figure17 http://dx.doi.org/10.17658/issn.2058-5462/issue-19/conversation/figure17 . Retrieved February 23, 2022.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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