#1 Barry Bonds (2002) - 268

While 2001 was the year Bonds hit a record 73 homers, it's the following year that was his most impressive all around season. He hit a career high .370 (which lead the league) and set the record for OBP at .582 (he went on to break that record in 2004.) He also set the single season record for walks with 198 (and again he broke that record in 2004.) Bonds also led the Giants to the World Series where he hit .471 with 4 home runs in 17 at bats (and 13 walks, yes the Angels were slightly afraid of Mr. Bonds) All in all, I think 2002 was Bonds' greatest season.

#2 Barry Bonds (2004) - 263

2004 was the year he broke his own records for walks (232) and OBP (.609) and I do believe those two records may be the Bonds records that stand the longest. I think his career home run mark will fall in about 5 years (Alex Rodriguez looks likely to break it) and his single season mark will probably not last all that long either (I could be wrong on that one though) but his single season marks for OBP & walks will probably last for a very long time. There are a lot of amazing things about his 2004 numbers among them are these two breakdowns which show just how ridiculously good Barry Bonds was in 2004: 45 home runs vs. 41 strikeouts & 232 walks vs 41 strikeouts.

#3 Barry Bonds (2001) - 259

In 2001 Bonds set the single season mark for home runs with 73 and for slugging percentage with .863. I personally find the slugging percentage mark far more impressive. I think it's quite possible that some dude (like a Ryan Howard type) may break the 73 mark in the coming years but will they do it while getting walked 177 times and hitting .328? Probably not.

YUP

So yes, Barry Bonds holds the three single season OPS+ of all time. Pretty incredible. I think a lot of people don't realize just how incredibly ridiculously awesome Barry Bonds was from 2001 to 2004. There has never been anyone, ever, who was as dominating as Bonds was during those four years.

#4 through #10 below.

#4 Babe Ruth (1920) - 256
#5 Babe Ruth (1921) - 239
#5 Babe Ruth (1923) - 239
#7 Ted Williams (1941) - 235
#8 Ted Williams (1957) - 233
#9 Barry Bonds (2003) - 231 (Yes, he "slumped" a bit in 2003!)
#10 Babe Ruth (1927) - 226

Bonds, Ruth, & Williams

That top ten list should give a pretty good indication of why when people who know the numbers talk about the greatest hitter of all time there's only three names they seriously consider: Bonds, Ruth, & Williams.

Labels: Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Ted Williams