You know… The Sultans of Swat, the Kings of Influence, the Big Bashers, Or, in days gone by” The Colossus of Clout, Hammerin Hank, The Rajah, The Bash Brothers, Big Mac, Mr October, the Big Hurt and Slammin Sammy.

Let’s start in 1927: Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs in a 154-game season. A record that stood for 34 years. The Babe hit 714 home runs in his career. In 1961, in a 162-game season, an unknown at the time, Roger Maris, came on the scene to hit 61 home runs and break the Babes’ long-standing record. Maris finished his career with 275 popes to his credit. The 1960s were a great time for great baseball players, during this era Hammerin’ Hank Aaron hit the most of his 755 career home runs to take the all-time record. Mr Constancy never hit more than 47 Dingers in a season.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, we witnessed Slammin Sammy Sosa hit 63, 64 and 66 home runs in separate seasons and now sits at 609 for life. Has he finished? he waits and you will see. During this period of long balls, Mark McGwire hit 65 and 70 home runs and left the game with a total of 583 fly balls.

More recently, most baseball fans know that Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in a single season and took the all-time record with 762 home runs.* Of course, with an asterisk.

So where does that leave current fans of the power game? In 2007, A-Rod hit 54, Prince Fielder 50, Ryan Howard 47, Carlos Peña 46, and Adam Dunn 40. In 2008, Ryan Howard hit 48 home runs. He has 177 in 5 seasons. Adam Dunn hit 40 again, giving him 278 in 8 seasons. A-Rod was 40, which gives him 553, and at his young age, he has the best chance of getting to 763 Big Blasts.

The best Homerun Kings to date, including three active players, look like this; Barry Bonds 762*, Hank Aaron 755, Babe Ruth 714, Willie Mays 660, Ken GRIFFEY Jr 611, Sammy Sosa 609, Frank Robinson 586, Mark McGwire 583, A-ROD 553 and Jim Thome 541. Some other long ball threats that FEAR pitchers today include Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols and David Ortiz.

So why did only six players hit 60 or more home runs in a season? And no one in recent years? Let’s just say it takes a combination of talent, focus and eye for the right pitch coupled with the right swing, at the right time, day in and day out, across a 162-game schedule. Probably one home run in every 10 at-bats. And then we have the ‘S’ factor. Three of the players in this category have been suspected of using steroids.

The HOMERUN is one of the most exciting aspects of the American pastime. Perhaps this is the next year baseball fans can cheer on a home run duel that results in the next player hitting 60 or more home runs in a season.