After just turning 30 years old, Leroy Jones finished the season with 46 home runs to again lead the league. Jones now has 278 career home runs, has 4 of the top 10 home run seasons, and has now moved up to 5th place on the all-time home run list.
While Babe Ruth has disappointed, Leroy Jones has certainly stepped up. Ruth did have a nice comeback season in Brooklyn though, and his 31 home runs this year are a career high for Ruth, who will turn 36 before next season.
Lou Gehrig was also traded this season, from the Phillies to St. Louis. His 26 home runs also reversed a downward trend.
It's already feeling like Mel Ott has been in the league forever, but Ott is still just 21 years old and has shown steady improvement in each season.
Two notable players made their debut this season, the Big Cat Johnny Mize, and Negro Leaguer Josh Gibson. We'll see how the two Hall of Famers do, and in the end see if Josh Gibson is the "Black Babe Ruth" or Babe Ruth turns out to be the "White Josh Gibson".
Rogers Hornsby debuted on the career home run list, while Dobie Moore fell off the list again. With 112 home runs, Moore is still active, and could make a reappearance next year.
The 400 Club
Active Members of the 400 Club
Babe Ruth (714) 296
Lou Gehrig (493) 231
Mel Ott (511) 93
Jimmie Foxx (534) 72
Players to Debut
(45) - next debut: 1936 - Ted Williams (521)
1930 Home Run Leaders
1. Leroy Jones - 46
2. Mule Suttles - 43
3. Syl Simon - 39
4. Mel Ott - 31
5. Babe Ruth - 31
6. Lou Gehrig - 26
7. Ray Flood - 25
1930 Home Run Rookie Leader
Bill DeLancey - 13
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Season Home Run Leaders:
1. Leroy Jones (1929) 48
2. Leroy Jones (1930) 46
3. Mule Suttles (1929) 43
4. Mule Suttles (1930) 43
5. Leroy Jones (1928) 42
6. Syl Simon (1930) 39
7. Bud Davis (1923) 38
8. Leroy Jones (1925) 36
9. Bud Davis (1921) 35
10. Ed Breckenridge (1894) 34
11. Ed Breckenridge (1900) 34
Season Home Run Rookie Leaders:
1. Lou Gehrig (1921) 25
2. George Selkirk (1927) 17
3. Frank Reiger (1914) 16
4. Mickey Cochrane (1922) 13
5. Gene Moore Jr. (1929) 13
6. Bill DeLancey (1930) 13
7. Al Simmons (1922) 12
8. Babe Ruth (1914) 11
9. Len Koenecke (1923) 11
10. Vince Bartan (1928) 11
11. Josh Gibson (1930) 11
12. Johnny Mize (1930) 11
Career Home Run Leaders:
1. Ed Breckenridge - 355
2. Babe Ruth #-296
3. Mule Suttles #-282
4. Yam Yaryan -281
5. Leroy Jones #-278
6. Dan Lally - 255
7. Henry Cote - 237
8. Lou Gehrig #-231
9. Syl Simon #-227
10. Buster Burrell - 224
11. Frank Reiger #-207
12. Oscar Charleston #-206
13. Bud Davis #-195
14. Billy Klusman - 189
15. Dan Boone #-153
16. Cy Williams -153
17. Chick Tolson #-142
18. Frank Brazill #-136
19. Hunkey Hines -134
20. Joe Hauser #-123
21. Louis Santop -121
22. Gabby Hartnett #-119
23. Frank Brower -117
24. Rogers Hornsby #-115
25. Ed Delahanty -113