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Mr. Roberts
2005-04-19 22:32
by Mike Carminati
I realize in wartime they have to scrape the bottom of the barrel, but where did they ever scrape you up?
—Mr. Roberts in "Mr. Roberts"

Two weeks into the season and no Barry Bonds…So who's the best player in baseball? Brian Roberts, of course.

Roberts hit his sixth homer of the season tonight after collecting just 12 all of last season. He's scored 16 runs, driven in 17, is 6-for-7 in steals, and has ungodly ratios (.421/.507/.860/1.367).

If that weren't enough, his stats project to 69 home runs 197 RBI and 185 runs. His career totals for those stats at the start of the season were 12, 122, and 232, respectively.

Can he keep up that sort of production? Is there such a precedent?

Well, Roberts' HR total is 5.75 times his previous career totals. Has that ever been done? Lemme—and I don't mean the guy from Motorhead—check…

There are twenty guys who have out-produced their previous career HR totals by at least that much (min. 500 career ABs):

NameYrHRPrev HR HR Breakout
Fred Pfeffer1884252 12.50
Jigger Statz1923101 10.00
Kirby Puckett1986314 7.75
Jo-Jo Moore1934152 7.50
Johnny Barrett194471 7.00
Tommy Corcoran189171 7.00
Del Unser196971 7.00
Jack Crooks189271 7.00
Fred Mann188471 7.00
Dickie Thon1983203 6.67
John O'Brien189661 6.00
Maury Wills196261 6.00
Joe Harris192261 6.00
Tom O'Brien189961 6.00
Pat Meares1995122 6.00
Cozy Dolan190461 6.00
Barry Bonnell1979122 6.00
Baldy Louden191461 6.00
Bill Crowley188461 6.00
Bill Hinchman190861 6.00
Abner Dalrymple1884224 5.50
Al Kaline1955275 5.40
Norm McMillan192951 5.00
Ski Melillo192951 5.00
Bill Sweeney191051 5.00
Buck Ewing1883102 5.00
Austin McHenry1920102 5.00
Ed Gremminger190351 5.00
Fred Corey188451 5.00
Jackie Tavener192751 5.00

So, in the last thirty years, there are four guys. Of course none hit nearly as many as Roberts' projection, and all were either at or within one of their career highs.

So don't go stocking up on Brian Roberts rookie cards just yet.

Comments
2005-04-20 06:04:35
1.   rbj
That should be 5 all of last season. He has 12 for his career entering the season. He was a great base stealer in college, not a power hitter.
2005-04-20 06:29:09
2.   Mike Carminati
So was Ski Melillo.
2005-04-20 07:01:34
3.   rbj
Yeah, but I never got to see Ski play college ball. Brian's the first one I get to see at college and the pros.

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