Home runs were down slightly this year based on what they should have been, but things at the top were a lot lower than in real life, as Babe Ruth hit 47 in 1926, while we had Syl Simon and Mule Suttles leading with 22.
I've already talked about Suttles recently, but while Syl Simon has appeared on the leaderboards, I haven't talked about him much.
Simon played in the majors for two seasons, and eleven years in the minors. Simon has an interesting story though, losing part of his palm and four of his fingers in an accident in a furniture factory, which earned his release from Milwaukee. But Simon came back to play in the minors, with a special bat and glove, both of which made it to Cooperstown. Here is some more information about Simon:
TheDeadballEra.com :: Syl Simon's Obit
Mel Ott also debuted this season, and we'll have four active players for the next 10 years until the next debut. That is if the Bambino can stay healthy, which I'm doubting as he missed time again with injury this season, and at 31 years old need to get busy if he is going to reach 500.
The 400 Club
Active Members of the 400 Club
Babe Ruth (714) 219
Lou Gehrig (493) 121
Jimmie Foxx (534) 18
Mel Ott (511) 9
Players to Debut
(45) - next debut: 1936 - Ted Williams (521)
1926 Home Run Leaders
1. Syl Simon - 22
2. Mule Suttles - 22
3. Yam Yaryan - 21
4. Lou Gehrig - 15
5. Carr Smith - 15
6. Bud Davis - 14
7. Frank Reiger - 13
1926 Home Run Rookie Leader
Leo Ostenberg - 10
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Season Home Run Leaders:
1. Bud Davis (1923) 38
2. Leroy Jones (1925) 36
3. Bud Davis (1921) 35
4. Ed Breckenridge (1894) 34
5. Ed Breckenridge (1900) 34
6. Mule Suttles (1925) 33
7. Yam Yaryan (1922) 33
8. Bud Davis (1922) 32
9. Buster Burrell (1894) 31
10. Ed Breckenridge (1901) 30
11. Lou Gehrig (1922) 30
12. Mule Suttles (1924) 30
Season Home Run Rookie Leaders:
1. Lou Gehrig (1921) 25
2. Frank Reiger (1914) 16
3. Mickey Cochrane (1922) 13
4. Al Simmons (1922) 12
5. Babe Ruth (1914) 11
6. Len Koenecke (1923) 11
7. Don Boone (1915) 10
8. Jimmie Foxx (1925) 10
9. Leo Ostenberg (1926) 10
10. Gabby Hartnett (1920) 9
11. John Jones (1921) 9
12. Ollie Tucker (1921) 9
13. Mel Ott (1926) 9
14. Phil Weintraub (1926) 9
Career Home Run Leaders:
1. Ed Breckenridge - 355
2. Yam Yaryan #-266
3. Dan Lally - 255
4. Henry Cote - 237
5. Buster Burrell - 224
6. Babe Ruth #-219
7. Bud Davis #-195
8. Billy Klusman - 189
9. Frank Reiger #-172
10. Oscar Charleston #-157
11. Mule Suttles #-155
12. Cy Williams -153
13. Syl Simon #-150
14. Lou Gehrig #-141
15. Hunkey Hines -134
16. Dan Boone #-133
17. Louis Santop #-121
18. Leroy Jones #-120
19. Frank Brower #-117
20. Ed Delahanty -113
21. Chick Tolson #-113
22. Mike Tiernan -102
23. Cristobal Torriente #-101
24. Joe Hauser #-97
25. Jack Clements - 94